Carrie

click to enlarge

Although the idea of another version of Stephen King’s debut novel doesn’t inspire much hope for a dramatic re-imagining or a startlingly compelling departure, the pairing of Chloë Grace Moretz and Julianne Moore as Carrie and Margaret White, the mother-daughter combo at the heart of the story, gives me pause, enough to warrant a serious second look. I should also point to the presence of Kimberly Peirce (Boys Don’t Cry and Stop-Loss) at the helm as another factor making this retread — about an awkward young girl (Moretz) from a strict religious background who discovers a fantastic power burgeoning within her, much to the dismay of her mother (Moore) and her small-minded classmates — worth the price of admission. Opens wide Oct. 18. (R) Not screened in time for review