Mike Flanagan’s Next Horror Has To Achieve the Near-Impossible Feat This $84M Hit Failed At

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It’s always risky when a well-known horror director remakes a classic film. Audiences have high expectations, and any mistake will be heavily criticized. In this case, it’s not enough to simply be as good as the original; the remake needs to feel necessary and offer a new perspective. Luckily, Mike Flanagan has a strong track record of creating both quality and original horror, as seen in works like The Haunting series and his reimagining of Doctor Sleep. While he’s proven he can deliver, this project is particularly challenging. As he tackles another Stephen King story, he needs to do more than just frighten viewers – he must present a modern and compelling portrayal of the central character to justify why this remake exists. It’s a tough job, to say the least.

Production on the new Carrie remake has finished, and it’s hard not to compare it to the 2013 version. The previous remake felt unnecessary – it didn’t offer a compelling reason to revisit the story beyond updated effects and a new cast. While not poorly made (it earned $84 million globally), it lacked depth. The lead character was adequate but didn’t evoke strong feelings, the suspense never truly built, and the dramatic climax fell flat for many viewers. The director of the new film, Flanagan, understands that simply recreating famous scenes won’t be enough; he needs to give audiences a real reason to connect with this new version of Carrie.

Flanagan excels at building suspense in a way that feels authentic. He’s shown in films like Doctor Sleep and Gerald’s Game that he creates characters audiences genuinely connect with, avoiding simple, startling scares. His horror is deeply psychological, but still visually compelling and dramatic – something the 2013 film was missing. To truly engage with the story, viewers needed to feel the main character’s loneliness and the weight of the bullying and religious extremism she faced, while also believing in the potential of her abilities. That emotional resonance – central to Stephen King’s writing – is what makes a remake successful.

The 2013 remake attempted to modernize the story, but it didn’t quite succeed. Even then, over a decade ago, the digital world was already a major part of life. Bullying had expanded beyond the schoolyard to include harsh and widespread online attacks – something older films couldn’t portray. When revisiting a story like this, it’s important to update it to reflect how people experience the world today. Director Mike Flanagan has the opportunity to really improve things by showing how the main character faces exclusion not only at school, but also on social media, and how those hurtful comments can build up until she’s overwhelmed. This is a new element that wasn’t present before, and failing to address it would repeat the previous remake’s mistake – offering nothing new.

Carrie Needs a Smart Approach to Work as a TV Series

As a huge fan, I’m really excited about this new Carrie project! The fact that it’s going to be a series is a massive win, honestly. Mike Flanagan is great at both movies and TV, and stretching Carrie out into a show gives him so much more room to work with. It’s not just about getting to the prom night, it’s about how we get there. He can really dig into the characters, explore the family dynamics, show how Carrie’s trauma develops over time, and even how her powers grow. It’s about building everything up so the tragedy feels truly earned and heartbreaking. A two-hour movie just couldn’t have done that kind of deep dive, and that’s why I think this version has the potential to be something really special.

As a huge movie fan, I always find it fascinating when filmmakers revisit classic stories. It’s such a tightrope walk, isn’t it? You don’t want to just rehash something we’ve already seen – a simple copy isn’t enough. But stray too far from the original, and you risk alienating the people who love it. What really works, I think, is keeping the heart of the story intact while adding layers that resonate with what’s going on in the world today. We, as viewers, want to feel like this isn’t just another remake, but something that actually has something to say about life now – things like how teenagers deal with difficult experiences, and the impact of violence. That’s what Flanagan is up against, and honestly, everything he does will be scrutinized. One wrong move, one forced update, and the whole thing could fall apart.

Ultimately, the core of this adaptation comes down to the source material: it’s a Stephen King story. While not one of his longest novels, it’s ideal because it delves deeply into the character’s psychology. Carrie is a complex person, and her story requires a sensitive and thoughtful approach. This isn’t simply a scary movie; it’s an exploration of trauma, isolation, power dynamics, and revenge. The audience needs to recognize that Carrie’s climactic outburst isn’t a senseless act, but a direct consequence of everything she’s suffered. It needs to feel impactful and meaningful. Only by truly understanding this will this new adaptation resonate beyond mere nostalgia or a marketing gimmick.

If Flanagan succeeds, he’ll achieve something the 2013 remake failed to do: create a fresh and vital adaptation of this classic story that appeals to both new and longtime fans of Stephen King. If he doesn’t, it risks being another unnecessary adaptation, leaving the 1976 version as the definitive one. The stakes are incredibly high, but Flanagan is uniquely capable of delivering a truly effective reimagining. Hopefully, he pulls it off.

Carrie is expected to be released in 2026 on Prime Video.

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2025-11-01 16:41