MovieChat Forums > Carrie (2013) Discussion > I don't blame Kimberly Peirce..

I don't blame Kimberly Peirce..

posted 9 years ago by rc1990
8 replies | jump to latest

I really don't. I've watched this film several times and you can tell that it has been edited beyond imagination. I could tell the very first time when I watched it in theatre with its very awkward pace and weird editing (the pool scene and prom) that was all over the place. You can tell that the film had a lot more scenes and potential and that Peirce wanted to do something different. However, the way the release was pushed, the way it's been marketed.. It was just a mess and still, the film kinda survives and stands on its own and remains decent even though, at the end of the day, it doesn't know if it's a modern retelling, a remake or just a plain adaptation of the book.

[–] filmclassics44 9 years ago

I still remember (as a HUGE Carrie fan) the disappointment I felt when I left the theater on October 18, 2013. Kimberly Peirce said numerous times that she didn't take anything from Brian De Palma's Carrie, and ONLY the novel. This was a remake though, adding some parts from the novel, or some dialogue doesn't make it an adaptation of the novel. Some say it's the studios' fault, some say it's Peirce's fault, but of course we'll most likely never know. It reminds me of what happened with Fantastic Four (2015). I would LOVE to see an extended cut, but it's been almost three years, sadly, I don't think we'll get it.

[–] rc1990 9 years ago

For a film like this one.The producers make the final cut.The book is character driven but obviously they didn't want to go indie with it and went for a semi blockbuster. I don't think Kim had much to say at the end of the day as she was under contract and has to pay her bills like everybody else.

[–] ShizaMinelli 9 years ago

I definitely lean towards Pierce being far less to blame, particularly considering Screen Gems is the studio. And it's truly a shame because they used to be a pretty good studio but went in a completely different direction right around the mid 00s horror remake craze. From Arlington Road or Exorcism of Emily Rose to things like this or Prom Night is definitely a downturn.

When you're 17 a cow can seem dangerous and forbidden...am I alone here?

[–] rc1990 9 years ago

Yes,I forgot to mention Screen Gems..

[–] Anthropos1962 9 years ago

I think we can blame her partially. Maybe blaming is too strong. I'd not seen her other works so I can't say if she is a good or bad director. Carrie might just be the wrong genre for her.

A few of the flaws I think she was responsible for in random order is:

The superhero origin angle
I never felt she got the story right by seeing King's Carrie as a superhero origin and a revenge story.
(If Carrie was a superhero she suddenly must be one of most short-lived superheroes ever)
And I never felt comfortable with the message the prom carnage seems to send.
Does Kimberly Peirce feel it's OK to hunt down your tormentors and kill them in sadistic ways. I don't hope it will inspire any lonely bullied kid.

Lackluster direction
In most of the scenes she never showed any superior directing skill. She seemed unable to build up suspension, contrasting moods, etc.
E.g. the prom. This is Carrie's big night, where we should have gone from feeling and sharing Carrie's happiness and swept awayness of her first prom, first date, first dance and maybe first kiss, to feeling her horror and devastation when the blood drenched her. But it just felt flat.

Missing character development
She was not giving the actors much to work with thereby not leaving them much room for character development and depth.

[–] rc1990 9 years ago

Not to sound mean but did you read the book ? In the book, Carrie is sadistic and takes pleasure in killing everybody. She smiles and loves every second of it. She doesn't snap. She is in control.

[–] Anthropos1962 9 years ago

No, you don't sound mean.

You're right about Carrie in the book. She is sadistic and takes pleasure in killing everybody.
But as far as I remember the book, it is after she snapped and let her dark side take over she takes pleasure in seeing them die. (I think the book's "she went over the edge" can be taken as she snaps).
First she just wanted to ruin their prom as they had ruined hers, not killing them. And when she snaps she doesn't single anybody out, torture them before killing them. She just kills all of them. A little bit different from Carrie in the film.

Carrie's revenge in the book felt more like a Greek tragedy to me - a sad and empty revenge.
The feeling it I got from watching the prom, was we should cheer for Carrie yelling “Go Carrie. Give the bast....s what they deserve”.

[–] 9 years ago

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