The 1976 horror classic is modernized to give us a glimpse inside the terrifying world of Gen Alpha virtual bullying.

When Stephen King’s first novel Carrie was published in 1974, it became an immediate best seller and thrust King into stratospheric literary fame. The story of a misfit teen who unleashes deadly kinetic powers on her high school tormentors resonated with fans of fiction and horror alike. The 1976 film adaptation starring Sissy Spacek and John Travolta still ranks among the greatest horror films of all time.

Now Carrie is back, in a serialized form (Amazon) by Mike Flanagan, with the high school bullying on smartphone/social media steroids. Poor Carrie doesn’t stand a chance in this modernized digital world.

Carrie, who’s been isolated and homeschooled by her zealot mother, enters public school for the first time as a 15 year old sophomore when social services mandates her attendance.

She gets a first glimpse of high school and all the 2026 terrors attached – metal detectors at the front doors, realistic school shooting drills and the meanest mean girls that ever lived. She’s scared and overwhelmed and starting her period in gym class doesn’t help. Soon, she’s a prime target for the nastiest girlie, a pop named Chris, who creates a social media account solely to make fun of Carrie. Forget monsters, this is the stuff of teenage nightmares.

Soon Carrie has discovered her telekinetic powers and she’s asked to the Prom by the hottest guy in school and…well, fans know what happens next.

This well-crafted series not only strays from King’s original story, it veers off course dramatically, adding characters and plotlines that aren’t in the novel or film versions. Surprisingly it works beautifully, bringing Carrie fully into the 21st century, with all its digital nightmarishness.

I wasn’t crazy about the ending, but I suppose it’s necessary, as it clearly sets the show up for another season. Overall, Mike Flannigan hit it out of the park with his vision of modernized Carrie; even Stephen King gives a thumbs up.