Mike Flanagan directed an eight-part Carrie miniseries for Prime Video that departs from both Stephen King's 1974 novel and Brian De Palma's 1976 film adaptation. Flanagan, known for The Haunting of Hill House and Gerald's Game, made several creative changes to the source material.
In this version, Carrie and her mother Margaret have a less overtly abusive relationship, giving Margaret more complexity as a villain. The bullies who torment Carrie receive deeper backstories that make them feel more human. The show also expands Carrie's high school experience beyond typical bullying, incorporating active shooter drills and metal detectors to critique America's underfunded public education system.
Character dynamics shift in Flanagan's adaptation. Sue Snell is initially crueler to Carrie, while her boyfriend Tommy shows unexpected sympathy. Margaret White vacillates between appearing to want the best for her daughter and reverting to the zealous abuser from King's original story.
Flanagan balanced a particular challenge with Margaret's characterization. The show depicts violent Christian nationalism as a contemporary threat while avoiding making Margaret excessively sympathetic, which could minimize her harmful behavior, or reducing her to a flat villain, which would strip the character of pathos.
The miniseries retains the major plot points audiences expect while complicating the narrative enough to keep readers uncertain about where the story heads next.