In the gripping opening scene of Carrie, set in 1995, we find ourselves inside the sorrowful White household, where a desperate Margaret White (Julianne Moore) is heard crying out in pain. The camera captures the upstairs floor where Margaret wrestles with her anguish, her cries directed toward God. The scene pans to a Bible marred by blood droplets and a water puddle, a striking contrast to her agony. In a torment of confusion and agony, she believes she is suffering from cancer, all while writhing on her bed, awaiting death.
But just as despair seems to take her, a shocking discovery awaits—she has given birth, unknowingly carrying her daughter all along. As she gazes at her newborn, she initially contemplates a horrifying act, saying, "It's a test," with scissors in hand, ready to inflict harm on her child, until a mysterious force stops her. Instead, she embraces her daughter in a moment of twisted mercy.
Fast forward to present-day Castle Rock, Maine, where we meet Carrie White (Chloe Moretz), now 17 or 18. An introverted and timid girl, Carrie struggles to navigate the social minefield of her high school life, often fading into the background. During a P.E. class, while playing water volleyball, everything spirals out of control when she accidentally hits Sue Snell (Gabriella Wilde) in the head. What should have been a harmless mistake turns into laughter directed at Carrie when Chris Hargensen (Portia Doubleday) insults her, leading to a cruel escalation.
The situation takes a tragic turn when Carrie, isolated in the shower after gym class, discovers she is having her first period. Confused and terrified, she seeks help from her peers but is met with mockery instead. Rather than offering support, the girls, led by Chris, unleash a barrage of tampons and cruel chants: "plug it up." Carrie is left feeling humiliated, especially after Ms. Desjardin (Judy Greer) tries to intervene, resulting in another surge of bullying.
As the events unfold, Carrie finds herself in the principal's office, overwhelmed by dread about what her mother will say. Despite the principal, Henry Grayle, and Ms. Desjardin assuring her, she panics, leading to a strange occurrence—a nearby water cooler shatters in her distress.
When Margaret finally arrives to pick Carrie up, the story delves deeper into their fraught relationship. Carrie feels guilt and shame for the trouble her mother must endure because of her. At home, she attempts to confront Margaret about the past, lamenting, "I thought I was dying," which only angers her mother further. Margaret, a figure of religious fanaticism, dismisses Carrie’s fears, claiming they are sinful. The fight spirals as Carrie inadvertently unleashes her growing telekinetic abilities, creating chaos in the house.
Meanwhile, the subplot unfolds with Sue and her boyfriend Tommy Ross (Ansel Elgort) initially planning a prom event in the backdrop of Carrie’s turmoil. Sue becomes conflicted with guilt over her role in the bullying, leading to pivotal moments between the characters as they intertwine Carrie’s and her tormentors’ narratives.
After a series of escalating events at school, Carrie asserts herself, beginning to explore her powers amid the ridicule she endures. Caught up in a whirlwind of teenage angst and supernatural retribution, the film builds towards the inevitable prom night—a venue for both glory and disaster.
As Carrie prepares for her chance to shine in an ethereal gown of her creation, she faces the crushing weight of expectation and maternal wrath. With Margaret's dark and twisted interpretations of faith looming over her, Carrie’s desire for acceptance clashing with her mother’s rigid beliefs leads to catastrophic consequences.
Prom night, meant to be a celebration, turns into a nightmare orchestrated by Chris and Billy, who plot revenge against Carrie, culminating in a heart-wrenching and catastrophic climax. In a pivotal moment where Carrie is drenched in pig’s blood, the emotional and physical tumult leads her to unleash her full powers in a terrifying display of rage and desperation.
As a heated confrontation unfolds between mother and daughter later that night, the tragic tale concludes with Carrie grappling with her identity and the costs of rejection, culminating in a devastating finale, steeped in both horror and sorrow. The film delivers a poignant commentary on the fragility of hope and the consequences of cruelty, leaving viewers with an unforgettable reminder that those who are wronged may eventually break, leading to irrevocable change.
In the closing moments, the echoes of Carrie's resolve resonate as she faces the result of her actions. The haunting imagery and emotional depth ensure that Carrie remains not just a story of horror, but a tragic tale of a girl merely seeking acceptance in a world that could not understand her.
