Revenge fantasy realized

A solid remake of the iconic horror-fantasy film, “Carrie” stars Chloe Grace Moretz as the titular teen telekinetic, tormented by her school’s most vicious students.

Directed by Kimberly Peirce and also based on the original Stephen King novel, this updated version is no less haunting, intense and watchable because of the tight script and praiseworthy performances. Carrie’s still the girl you’d regret messing with, delicate but still deadly.

Moretz, just months after “Kick-Ass 2,” gets to portray another misfit, Carrie White, a belittled girl who also gets creative with her revenge on some mean girls. Julianne Moore plays Carrie’s mom, an abusive and self-damaging zealot; the actress offers an appropriately dark and disturbing contrast to Carrie in most of her scenes.

The effects-heavy and graphic sequences cement this version’s contemporary edginess and attention to spectacle. The inescapable prom night incident, where Carrie reveals her unfettered telekinetic fury, is frighteningly absorbing. Moretz shows splendid growth; she makes the role her own, vulnerable and naïve initially, but rage personified eventually.