Hollywood’s favourite source Stephen King has produced the raw material for all manner of hits and misses in the past, but it’s not often that remakes rear their head.
But here comes one that makes sense – the original Carrie was a real chiller, directed with panache by Brian de Palma and featuring Sissy Spacek in a standout early role.
But that was way back in 1976, and with all the modern trickery available to director Kimberly Peirce – a long-time pal of de Palma but also feted for films like Stop Loss and Boys Don’t Cry – it’s fertile ground.
Rising star Chloe Grace Moretz is centre stage as the sheltered teenager bullied by her schoolmates and taking revenge with the terrifying telekinetic powers that she can manifest at will.
Will a whole new generation find it just as creepy as cinema goers from nearly 40 years ago?
Click on the video link to see some of the stars of the new movie talking about their roles.
There’s a timely release for Free Birds, a family animation with the de rigueur 3D bells and whistles about a couple of turkeys anxious to avoid the Christmas chop.
Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson provide the voices – one just wants to get a pardon from the president, the other wants to travel back in time to change history, saving generations of poultry from a seasonal stuffing.
Does it sound very silly? Certainly, but it’s charming enough for at least one watch.
Also out this week is the much-hyped Saving Mr Banks in which Tom Hanks takes on the role of Walt Disney and Emma Thompson plays prim P. L. Travers, the woman who penned Mary Poppins and had severe misgivings bout letting anyone mess about with her creation.
John Lee Hancock, writer and director of the Oscar-winning The Blind Side, has based this one on a little-known true story and both the stars are on top form with awards confidently predicted already.