Moretz: The CARRIE Novel Drove The Film

In this interview, Moretz discusses the Stephen King novel and her choice not to watch previous versions of Carrie before taking on the role herself.

CARRIE 2013 ROCKS!

Carrie rocks!   really. . . there's rocks. . .

I took my mom and two of my daughters to see Carrie.  They are now being seen to by a trauma unit as they recover from shock.  Nah -- it was good stuff.

Do you need to be told there might be spoilers?  I will not tell you how it ends.  I will not tell you if there will be a sequel.  I will tell you that I thought it was just as good a telling of Carrie as the DePalma film. 

Tell ya up front, I liked it a lot.  No use giving movies stars or grades, just saying honestly that I thought it was a strong film is enough.  Carrie 2013 can stand toe to toe with any other Stephen King adaptation. 

Random thoughts:

• The relationship between Carrie and mama is nicely played out.  They love each other deeply, but one is so broken that she is unable to overcome that brokenness and embrace her daughter.  In fact, the moment her daughter needs her most is the moment Margaret's own brokenness reaches its zenith. 
• Though  the story takes place in the present, the world for Margaret White has not progressed  a bit.  Her house seems like something from the 70's.
• I like it that Carrie has a sense of God's love and  rejects her mothers whacky theology.  She is bold, declaring that God is a God of love and telling her mother  that the things she is saying aren't even in the Bible.  Glad the Bible is the standard of truth.
• Carrie's power is not telekinesis.  I don't know what she has, but it's not telekinesis.  It's more like -- the force.  This girl is like Darth Vader.  Her power goes terrifyingly beyond telekinesis.
• This Carrie might be a little socially awkward because of scars from her  mother, but she's not an emotional  weakling.  That's probably good, since Chloe Moretz has an inner strength that can't be hidden. 
• Is the movie a remake, or is it a reimagining of the book?  Both I think.  There are definitely scenes in the movie that were also in DePalma's that are not in the book.  However, the story does more with King's source  material than the classic did.
• Who is the hero in Carrie?  Teachers.
• Scenes with the principal seem forced, rehearsed and awkward.

The story is beautiful  -- until the pigs blood.  A traumatized girl is swept away from her abusive mother by a handsome young man, taken in a limo to her school prom where  she  is complimented, loved on and  affirmed -- and then she is crowned queen. . . that's awesome!  I leaned in to my daughters, "Listen, this movie isn't going to get  better than it is right now," I said as they announced Carrie the prom queen.  "Let's go now."  Of  course, they didn't want to leave, so the fairy tale gets blown up -- scissored -- crushed -- knifed -- and everything else. 

Despite what previous reviewers have implied, there are no swipes or digs at homeschoolers, or faith itself.  I had no sense of a political "statement" being made.  Margaret White is a broken person, so everything in her life is broken as well.  Her relationships are broken, her daughter is broken, her understanding of God is broken, her attitude toward her own body is broken.  It is amazing that in real life I see young people who come from really messed up homes, but they are emotionally okay.  They might have some debris, some small scars, but really they made it through unscathed.  Carrie has  that kind of strength.

I found the prom scene where everyone is laughing at Carrie quite unbelievable.  When someone is picked on publically like that, the response is not that kind of laughter.  That doesn't give young people enough credit.  The whole school doesn't follow the mean girls.  The school was enjoying her  triumph -- they wouldn't so quickly turn on her.  They would be outraged by what was done.

I think this Carrie pulls the viewer in better emotionally than the original.  However, I have never  seen the original in a theater -- that might matter.

Carrie is one of Stephen King's strongest characters.  Emotionally she is able to stand up to and rebel against her abusive mother.  Physically, she has powers that could hold off Superman.  Sign the kid up for the Justice League -- where do you get an application? 

Moore and Moretz Photo

photo credit: JOSE DOMINGUEZ
(www.portclintonnewsherald.com)

Julianne Moore (L) and Chloe Grace Moretz (R) pose for photographers while attending the presentation of the movie 'Carrie' in the framework of the Five Summer Fest of Sony on April 18, 2013 in Cancun, Mexico.

Chloë Grace Moretz Talks Carrie

I like this interview a lot!  Stay with it through the foreign clips, the interviews are in English.

Could CARRIE Send Morets To The Oscar's?

contactmusic.com headlines an article about Chloe Grace Moretz that asks the question, "Will ‘Carrie’ be Chloe Grace Moretz’ First Oscar Nominated Role?"  This on the heels of the new Carrie trailer that has gotten a lot of positive attention.  The site notes that her "stock has been rising" and that  Carrie could be the project that moves her out of the realm of "child actor" and into "Oscar contender".

Of course, the idea of Moretz at the Oscar's makes me think of Carrie at the Oscars.  How much more fun would it be to see her reign terror on egocentric Hollywood instead of a High School prom.  I mean, think about it -- they're kind of the same thing. It's all about who is going with who, what you wear and who will be made king and queen.

About Moretz, the article says,

She’s proved her worth for years now, and, barring the drug, alcohol and over-spending tendencies that come with being a Hollywood actress, she should have a long and glittering career ahead, with people remembering Carrie as the film that ‘made her’

Chloe Moretz and Aeropostale

So what's CARRIE star Chloe Moretz doing these days?  Well, for one she is the spokesperson for Aeropostale.  I learned this thanks to my wife.  Of course, the next question is: "So, what's Aeropostale?"  She looks at me like I'm nuts.  "A clothing store."  Oh, of course.   A clothing store. "A clothing store for juniors and women," she clarifies.

Check it out at aeropostale.com

Moretz Likes Playing Characters That Are Messed Up

contactmusic.com has an interesting article about Chloe Grace Moretz who plays Carrie. The young actress is quoted as telling Teen Vogue that she likes being challenged and playing characters that are "a little messed up."  I guess she got her fill of that with Carrie!

She says that she doesn't need to play happy characters with good lives, since she already is a pretty happy person with a good life.  Actually, a pretty profound attitude for a young woman.

She told Teen Vogue, ''When I was auditioning for Carrie, I was told, 'Well, look, you're too young, you're too pretty, you're too accomplished.' ''

Carrie Pictures

I like this picture, with the caption, "They deserved it."

photo credit: HERE

With the note, "Chris and Billy's Car."

With the caption, "Bloody"

All of the pictures in this post are from the Carrie facebook page HERE.

Also, check out the clip of the Making Of Carrie which includes this note:

"The scene in question takes place at an indoor pool with bratty teenagers and doesn’t feature any dialogue from Carrie but instead gives you an idea of how she’s being bullied by her peers. It’s also possible that this is the new opening to the film (the original opened with Carrie discovering her powers in the locker room showers). So it's probable that Carrie will have her first period in the swimming pool."  (HERE) 

Carrie: The Beauty Of Prom Night

Ken Syme posted at examined, "New 'Carrie' set photos show Chloe Moretz dressed for the prom." There are about 40 photo's posted.  (HERE)

Dread Central: Presenting Carrie White

image credit: Dread Central

Uncle Creepy at Dread Central posted, "Entertainment Weekly scored the very first images of Chloe Moretz as Carrie White and Julianne Moore as her crazy mama!"  (HERE)

Not quite as . . . clean and neat. . . as the original, is it?  Or even the remake.  This looks like a girl who really could take down the house!

Carrie Cast Prepares To Shoot The Prom Scene

picture credit: www.eonline

EONLINE posted an article titled, “Carrie Remake: Bloody Prom Scene Is ‘Gorgeous,’ Says Costar” by Mark Malkin.

The article gushes over plans for the prom scene in the new Carrie, quoting Judy Greer (who plays Mrs. Desjardin) as saying it is “amazeballs.”  I didn’t even know that was a word.  Shooting for the scene begins next week.

Malkin notes:

Chloë Grace Moretz calls Carrie Remake "Very Different...Like This Dark Black Swan Version"

"Weirdly, it's kind of beautiful," Greer told us last night at the Dannijo and Tucker Tea event in Beverly Hills. "It's really totally jarring and creepy but also in a strange way gorgeous."

The full post is HERE.

Day 1 Of Carrie Filming Wraps Up

Mail Online has put together some posts, news and photo's related to the first day of filming on the new Carrie set.  HERE (No pictures of filming actually taking place!)


Mail Online gives this summery:

Chloë Moretz reported for her first day on the Toronto set of the Carrie remake today, it was clear she'd already altered her hair to slip into the skin of the telekinetic teenager in the classic Stephen King horror tale.

Sporting a blonder, washed-out look, the 15-year-old star was seen walking from her trailer in all black - a simple T-shirt and loose Capri pants.

Moretz tweeted: "First day done :) Amazing day.. So happy to be apart of something do exciting :) Day 2 here we go ;)"


Mail Online has also posted a picture of the tweet of the cast dinner.  Cool stuff.

photo credit: Mail Online HERE

Chloe Building Own 'Carrie' Prom Dress

ETonline has this interesting paragraph about Carrie remake star, Chloe Moretz:

"I'm actually building my own dress and kind of going really deep into it, and I've never gone so deep into a role before," says Chloe, presumably talking about the prom dress Carrie wears in the film's third act. "Yeah, it's cool, it's a lot of work. Fun, but a lot of work."

Chloe Moretz Says Carrie Will Be More Psychological Than the Original

Work on the new Carrie starts in just a few days.  Chloe Moretz had an interesting interview www.comingsoon.net.  She notes that she likes the fan poster that's out, and that she is not focusing at all on the DePalma movie.  In afct, she isn't even watching it.

Moretz says:

"I'm actually not looking at the original, even though De Palma's movie was one of the best movies ever made. It's completely iconic and I'm proud to be able to be doing a retooling of it. We're kind of going off the book. It's darker and much more psychological. More 'Black Swan.' You're really looking into her mind and it really looks into the relationship of Margaret and Carrie. It's set in modern time, so it's a lot different."

I like the word "retooling" and the comment that they are "kind of going off the book."

Carrie fan poster

image credit: HERE

movies.com has posted the first fan poster for the new Carrie remake that stars Chloe Moretz.  The site notes that this is just a fan poster, and that the creator is unknown.

Selena Gomez was considered for CARRIE

image credit: HollywoodLife.com

Hollywood Life reported earlier today that not only was Chloe Moretz chosen to play Carrie in the upcoming remake, but that Moretz beat out 19-year old super-star Selena Gomez for the title role.


HollywoodLife.com quotes a industry insider as saying,

“Selena Gomez was also considered for the role, but ultimately we went after Chloe.  We think she would be perfect for the role that made Sissy Spacek an international star!”

Action News Jax cites Gomez’s representative, who “dismissed” the report and said that “she never auditioned for the role” and that she was “never even up for the role.” (HERE)


On the one hand, I think the choice of Moretz was great.  But. . . as a dad who has girls who think Gomez is “it” (not a Stephen King kinda “IT” either), I have to say I’m a little disappointed.  But, I’ll get over it. . . because Moretz is going to be a great Carrie!

Honestly, Gomez is so nice. . . it's hard to imagine her dripping with blood and reigning down terror on all who cross her path.  I mean, come on, she was Ramona!

The full article is HollywoodLife.com

Chloe Moretz to play CARRIE

Chloe Moretz most recently starred in Martin Scorcese's film "Hugo."

image credit: CNN.COM

Dread Central's Uncle Creepy has posted news that Chloe Moretz has signed on for the next screen redux of Stephen King's Carrie.

Moretz just took to her Twitter account with the following ...

"Never been so happy in my life! Thank you Kim Pierce and thank u MGM for the chance of a lifetime i will never forget!" 

That sounds like a resounding YES to MGM's offer, does it not? 

Full story: Dread Central HERE

A CNN article is HERE.