Movies

Will Mike Flanagan’s Carrie Break His No-Bleak-Endings Rule?

BBG News

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Carrie & Cujo!

Mike Flanagan, renowned for his dark endings in horror movies, has declared he won’t be making such conclusions anymore, which might prove tricky for his Carrie series. Flanagan is well-known for his work on Stephen King adaptations, having directed films like Gerald’s Game, Doctor Sleep, and The Life of Chuck. He is also working on a fresh take on one of King’s most significant works, The Dark Tower.

The upcoming “Carrie” series, airing on Amazon Prime Video, consists of eight episodes. Stephen King’s initial published novel from 1974 was swiftly transformed into a film by Brian De Palma in 1976 under the same title. Over the years, various adaptations have been produced for theater, television, and musical stages. In this new adaptation, changes will be made to modernize the story. Interestingly, director Mike Flanagan has mentioned that he intends to avoid ending his projects on a depressing note, which could potentially alter the finale of “Carrie.

Carrie’s Famous Conclusion Does Not End On A Hopeful Note

The Ending Is Part Of The Pop Culture Lexicon

In a 2024 interview, Flanagan expressed his intention to avoid grim conclusions in his future projects. Contrary to past works like “Oculus,” which carries a very somber finale, he now wishes to steer clear of dark endings, especially since his children will eventually assess his work. The topic may be frightening, but he prefers a brighter outlook.

I didn’t want them to revisit the past and feel despair. Therefore, it’s crucial for me that every story, no matter how grim, ends with a glimmer of hope, forgiveness, and understanding.

For Carrie, this scenario might pose a difficulty because her story concludes in a notoriously grim manner. Even those unfamiliar with the book or its adaptations are aware of Carrie’s infamous violent and dark ending. In addition to slaughtering several classmates at the prom, she also ignites a town explosion, murders her mother, and ultimately succumbs to her injuries in the street, bleeding profusely.

Flanagan’s Comments Suggest That He Will Change How Carrie Ends

The Story Will Get A Modern Update

Flanagan has confirmed that his adaptation of “Carrie” will deviate from the original and bring it up-to-date for today’s audience. This adaptation may include the integration of technology, but there could be additional changes as well. In the book, the story is not presented in a traditional narrative format. Instead, some passages are derived from the fictitious book written by one of the survivors, Sue Snell, and courtroom testimonies from other townsfolk are also included.

It’s crucial to preserve most of Carrie’s conclusion because that section of the story is widely recognized and altering it significantly could shift too much attention onto just one aspect. However, it’s acknowledged that Carrie White isn’t the sole telekinetic character in this universe. A potential twist could be to maintain the chaos and devastation that Carrie causes, but introduce a new focus on helping other gifted individuals like her after the events of the prom. This change could offer a more optimistic conclusion for the series.

Stephen King Adaptations Have A History Of Changed Endings

Flanagan Has Made Changes To A King Novel Already

As a cinephile, I’ve noticed that tweaking the endings of Stephen King adaptations isn’t an entirely new concept. Sometimes these alterations can leave us scratching our heads, like in the case of his only directorial effort, Maximum Overdrive. However, on other occasions, such changes have transformed the film’s conclusion into a more satisfying cinematic experience, as seen in Cujo. In the book, young Tad Trenton tragically succumbs to heatstroke. But in the movie version, Tad miraculously survives his harrowing ordeal alongside his mother. King himself has expressed contentment with this change, and it undeniably makes the story easier for audiences to digest.

In a slightly different phrasing, let me say: Flanagan, in his work on Doctor Sleep, altered one of King’s original endings. Not only does the film effectively translate the novel, but it also functions as a sequel to Kubrick’s The Shining, which made several alterations to its source material. The movie’s ending for Doctor Sleep reintroduces The Overlook Hotel, a location not found in the book, and offers a more dramatic climax. Although Carrie may not undergo changes as drastic as those in Doctor Sleep, it will likely need to be revised to conclude with forgiveness and understanding.

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2025-06-07 17:57

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