Ninetoes vs. Mike Flanagan’s Carrie.

Carrie is Ninetoes’ favorite Stephen King story. He has seen every movie. His question is: Can Mike Flanagan do the story justice?

After her father’s sudden death, sheltered teenager Carrie White, raised by her domineering mother, enters public high school, where she faces a viral bullying scandal and the awakening of mysterious telekinetic powers.

Created by Mike Flanagan

Starring Summer H. Howell, Samantha Sloyan, Sienna Agudong, and Alison Thornton

Hey there, television lovers. It is your old pal, Ninetoes, coming to you from Ninetoes HQ. Today I am looking at Mike Flannnagan’s Carrie. I have coffee in my system, and my thinking cap on, so let’s get to it!

I have seen every version of Carrie, except on stage. I will be the first to admit that when I first heard Mike Flanagan was going to do a series based on Stephen King’s first novel, my initial thought was “Do we need another one?”

This time, the answer is yes. Wait…let me rephrase that. This time, the answer is YES! Oh, ladies and gentlemen, we have a banger of a show on our hands, and I can already smell the Emmy nominations.

Go back in time, get a high school student in the 1950’s, and bring them to school in 2026. That is pretty much how this show runs. Carrietta White has never been to school, has no friends, and lives a very religious life. She has been sheltered her entire life. After an accident kills her father, Carrie has to go to school. Oh, the education she will receive.

The genius in this show is how Mike Flanagan handles everything kids in school go through on a daily basis. From active shooter drills to social media to bullying to cyberbullying to parties, etc., Flannagan hits the nail on the head with a 20-pound sledgehammer! He not only breathed new life into the source material, but he brought this monster roaring to life and off the table with 1.21 gigawatts of electricity!

The acting is off the charts good across the board. Summer H. Howell is sheer perfection as Carrie White, and Alison Thornton is the perfect “villain” against Carrie. Watching these two work is like watching a high-level chess match where winner takes all. Add Samantha Sloyan as Margaret White, Sienna Agudong as Sue Snell, and Matthew Lillard as Principal Grayle, and it goes from chess to chicken, and I was left with bated breath waiting to see who blinks! Oh, my stars, this is a Masterclass in acting and storytelling.

Keep your eyes open because there are several nods in this show that caught my attention. The first is to the original Evil Dead franchise starring Bruce Campbell. For those who know, you will catch it immediately. The second is a kind of nod to Stephen King’s The Institute. Maybe even beyond that, and acknowledging “The Shop” from King’s novel Firestarter. I would also be remiss to not mention the nods to The Shining and Doctor Sleep. Flannagan has done a fantastic job bringing Stephen King’s universe to life and together in this show.

The show wraps up in a way that leaves it wide open for a sequel or, at the very least, a spin-off series. I will be the first to say that I am down for it! This show also begs the question: when will you shine?

If you are a fan of teen angst, high school antics, feminine rage, shadowy organizations, Stephen King, or Mike Flanagan, then this show is a definite must-watch for you!

Darren “Ninetoes” Perdue is a book and media reviewer. When he is not reading, he is watching true crime shows, cooking for his family, or working on a plan for universal domination. If you see him on his porch, say hi. He does not bite…much.

PLEASE NOTE: The views and opinions of the staff of Memento Mori Ink do not necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or Crystal Lake Publishing, nor do the views or opinions of Crystal Lake necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or its staff. Thank you for understanding.