The Kidd here...
In previous years, New York Comic Con has been all about comics with some emphasis on the TV portion of the industry. However, when it comes to the major studios rolling out any major information or presentations on what they've got in the pipeline, NYCC is miles behind what is brought to San Diego every summer.
The tides may be turning a bit on that though, as, not to suggest NYCC is anywhere close to SDCC at this point, but, with Marvel Studios coming to New York last year with an AVENGERS presentation in tow, Hollywood may be announcing its new presence with authority in the Big Apple. This year, quite a few studios decided to take in the NYCC festivities by bringing along some properties with them, and none would be bigger than Sony Pictures, who came wielding footage premieres of both CARRIE and EVIL DEAD over the weekend.
We managed to get someone on the inside to report from inside the IGN Theater over the weekend, so we could get first-hand knowledge of what was shown, so, Mascott, take it away...
Hi! I’m Mascott! I’m new!
I’ll save the introduction for later, because I’ve got a whole lot to write that you’ll actually want to read. I just spent three glorious days at New York Comic Con, where I got to scope out trailers and footage for some of next year’s biggest movies. On Saturday, I went to Sony Pictures’ presentation on their new version of CARRIE.
In attendance was Chloë Grace Moretz, our new Carrie White, Julianne Moore, playing Margaret White, director Kimberly Peirce, best known for 1999’s BOYS DON’T CRY, and CARRIE producer Kevin Misher. Before answering any questions, we were shown our first look at a trailer for the new film.
The trailer opens with a helicopter type shot looking down on what seems to be a small American town. The camera moves forward, and reveals that a large building is on fire, spewing flames from inside. Moving along what looks to be the town’s Main Street, we see that it’s more than just this one building on fire. It’s a whole lot of buildings. Voices play over the destruction. An authoritative sounding fellow and a young girl each talk for a few seconds about whether or not this should have been seen coming from Carrie, with all that had been done to her, and wonder whether or not there was something supernatural going on. The camera goes down lower, and you can see specific wreckage. Cars flipped over, shops on fire. At the end of the street, you can see someone standing there. The camera swoops in close, and we can see that it’s Carrie, covered in blood, in her trademark dress. She looks up at the camera, half-terrified, half-infuriated, and it cuts to the title.
It’s notable that there is an “after-the-fact” style to the small amount of dialogue taking place in the trailer. They’re talking about what happened with Carrie after it happened. Could this mean that the movie is taking more after the book? Well that is the intent that CARRIE director Kimberly Peirce and Producer Kevin Misher want to get across. The two of them spent a lot of the panel saying that this new version of CARRIE was not a remake of the 1976 movie, but a new film based on Stephen King’s original book. A new movie, a new interpretation of the book. In King’s original book, Carrie burns down a whole lot more than just her high-school gymnasium, instead burning down most of the town, which is what the teaser showed.
During the Q&A portion of the panel, Julianne Moore discussed the conception of the original Carrie story and how it affected their newest version, bringing up Stephen King’s (wonderful) book, On Writing. Chloë Grace Moretz seems to be Comic Con’s newest darling with many of the audience comments for her were based around KICK-ASS 2. She also seemed to have a wonderful rapport with Julianne Moore, with the two silently giggling together through much of the panel.
Kimberly Peirce brought up the exact logistical challenges of the “bucket of blood drop”, (“...Most of the times you’re gonna miss.”) and made a rough, on the spot estimate of exactly how much blood was used during development of the movie. (1000 gallons, according to her.)
Most notably, it was also revealed that, in updating the film for a more modern audience, more modern methods of bullying are employed, including social media. The film will also apparently do a bit more to explore Sue Snell’s transformation as she goes from casually bullying a girl to killing a pig for its blood.
At the end of the panel, the phone number to “Carrie’s House” was shown, where, depending on what time of day you call, you can get a voice message from different characters in the film. If you’d like to give it a shot, that number is 207-404-2604.
I like that the film is based more on the book, because King's novel is absolutely fantastic, and the fact that the cast and crew seems so informed and educated on everything all the way back to the conception of the original story is a good sign.
That, and the teaser wasn’t half bad, either, which should be along fairly soon for you to see for yourself.
And, if you want to see the panel in its entirety... well, here you go...
I've heard reports that the teaser may make its way online early this week, which, if is the case, you can expect to check it out here on Ain't It Cool News as quickly as we can bring it you.
I wouldn't expect anything otherwise though, as everyone is looking to get looks at their horror-related trailers attached to PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 this coming weekend.
Plus, Dark Horizons managed to premiere the first teaser trailer for CARRIE over the weekend...
I may have been a bit down on the modern CARRIE idea at first, mostly due to my hunger for more original films being made, but I will have to admit that I am further intrigued by where this thing is heading. Moretz, Moore and Peirce... sounds like a formidable trio on a film like this to me.
More NYCC coverage still to come on EVIL DEAD, THE CONJURING and more...
-Billy Donnelly
"The Infamous Billy The Kidd"
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