This TV retelling of Stephen King's classic novel might skew closer to the novel than any other version out there, but it comes with a steep price tag. As far as productions go, it's bizarrely cheap looking for a major network TV production and this really shoots them in the foot when it comes time for the big finale where Carrie is walking around, destroying the town.
On the plus side, Angela Bettis is excellent as the title character and manages to do the impossible by erasing Sissy Spacek's performance from your mind for 2 hours. Patricia Clarkson, a fine actress, is woefully underpowered as Carrie's religious fanatic mother, Margaret. By refusing to ape Piper Laurie's near-comic intensity, her Margaret disappears into the scenery and makes next to no impression which lowers the film's stakes tremendously.
On the plus side, Angela Bettis is excellent as the title character and manages to do the impossible by erasing Sissy Spacek's performance from your mind for 2 hours. Patricia Clarkson, a fine actress, is woefully underpowered as Carrie's religious fanatic mother, Margaret. By refusing to ape Piper Laurie's near-comic intensity, her Margaret disappears into the scenery and makes next to no impression which lowers the film's stakes tremendously.