Wow, I'd forgotten just how good Stephen King is when he's good. This is miles away better than either film adaptation. Carrie seems so real, and your skin crawls at the humiliation she is forced to endure both at home and at school. Stephen King has a very specific command of language, and you can tell that each word of the text is picked with clean precision. At times, I thought the characterization bordered on becoming cartooning, but this criticism was often countered by surprising moments of depth from various characters that both provided welcome insight into the complex nature of bullying as well as some interesting departure from stereotype. Carrie is King's first published novel, and there is certainly nothing to indicate that here. A worthy showing from the master or horror in his prime.