danhollow

Not a zombie show/movie guy, but came for my love of Timothy Olyphant. For a brief summarization, the first season is solid, but not extraordinary. There are some great laughs, the characters are creative as well as kooky, and the material definitely has a style all its own. If you watched Better Off Ted (by the same showrunner), you'll know what I mean. Give this show your heart, and it will reward you with laughter and warmth. There's a couple pieces that can drag a little, but still some moments absolutely worth watching for. Like Drew Barrymore singing Rafi's "Baby Beluga" outside a storage unit while plotting crime. Cutest thing you will ever see.

Season 2 is where the show hits its stride. The jokes, the writing, the characters, the performances, the suburban non-sequitars; it is one strange show but damn is it funny. The scenes jump between the most mundane of middle class life and the most extreme reactions, often blending the two with impossible ease in a nonstop onslaught of comedy. Every character is so lovingly written and played, you'll fall in love with almost everyone. YOU'LL FALL IN LOVE WITH THE NAZIS; that's how well these characters are done. Every member of the main cast has a chance to shine in every episode, with the biggest kudos going out to Tim Olyphant as Suburban Husband/Realator Joel and Liv Hewson as the once-reserved, now increasingly badass teenage daughter.

There are so many scenes that are just impossible to describe because they make no sense out of context. This series creates one of the most bizarre yet entertaining worlds of any series, streaming or otherwise. Just make it through Season 1, please. Also, bring a strong stomach, because Sheila is a messy eater.

I went into this film with low expectations. Low, low, low expectations. I never saw the original Carrie, and I saw little reason to; the story seemed pretty basic and predictable, not to mention unscary. Furthermore, this remake seemed like just another in the never-ending line of crappy horror remakes. I'd seen a couple just that day, the first Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake and the Prom Night remake. Both were awful, Prom Night in particular failed on every level to be believable, likable, or scary. I'd groaned seeing the ads for Carrie. Still, I was in a bit of a blues mood, and gave the movie a shot (with the intention of seeing others later when it disappointed).

I was wrong. I was completely wrong. Carrie blew me away. This is the best horror remake by a long shot. The writing has flourishes and insights far beyond the usual drivel of horror films. There is thought and effort put into every word.

Furthermore, the actors attach genuine emotional attachment to their lines and performances. These felt like real people with reactions, outbursts, and pride; but also flaws, insecurities, guilt, shame, and even regret. Line by line, scene by scene, they build this movie. A movie populated by real people who illustrate what people like Carrie need to know; the world has bad people, but far more good ones. People who do nice things for strangers, whether it's as small as a tidbit of advice over someone's shoulder or a big sacrifice to give someone one night of acceptance and happiness.

The story only seems to improve with an updated setting. Carrie's old-fashioned home life makes her stand out more than ever, and the addition of certain modern-day elements fit perfectly into the character stories. You'll wonder how the original got by without them. It's so exhilarating and realistic that you start to see the cracks in the source material as you're watching it. You see the beautiful place the characters are going, but then it has to follow the story set in stone for Carrie.

Among a pretty remarkable cast, Chloe Grace-Moretz and Julianne Moore stand out. Chloe was born to play Carrie. She doesn't fit into the usual Hollywood standard of dolled-up beauty, which becomes all the more evident when you see her classmates. Still, there is a pretty young girl in there, she just needs someone to see it. She plays shy and vulnerable better than any other actress I've ever seen. Furthermore, for all the bragging I hear about Sissy Spacek, most people don't mention she was 27 when she played Carrie. Chloe is 16, the isolation and judgement of high school is still fresh in her mind. As for Julianne Moore, she plays Margaret White with a quiet instability that makes it very clear why Carrie is terrified of her getting involved in anything. This is a woman lost in a world no child should have to endure. Still, she and her daughter have some rather touching moments, and it's clear that for better or worse, Carrie loves her mother.

I've been reading a lot of bad reviews for this film, and I just wanted to put my opinion out there, because I went in with serious doubts and instead got a new favorite horror movie. And if I enjoyed it this much without ever seeing the original or reading the book, then I'd say this movie deserves another look.