The Halloween season is a very special time for the horror film genre. It is also a special time for horror author Stephen King, who’s work is very popular amongst many. Carrie was King’s first novel, and it still remains as one of his more notable books to date. Carrie was first turned into a film by Brian De Palma in 1976, and now it has gotten the film adaptation treatment again, with a 2013 remake.

With De Palma’s version being very dark, creepy, and original for it’s time. This new remake has a lot to compete with. But which version is truly the better version of this Stephen King classic for Halloween viewing?

Both adaptations center on an outcast high school girl named Carrie White, who possesses a unique telekinetic ability, but is slightly misinformed on some major life aspects. Carrie’s overly-religious mother only wants Carrie to go to school, and to immediately come back home to study and pray to God.

When several girls get caught making fun of Carrie in the girl’s locker room, the school’s gym teacher suspends them, and they lose their privileges to go to the school prom. For revenge, the high school kids who hate Carrie hatch a scheme against her that will make her think that she is prom queen, but things will inevitably end in a bloody mess.

The original 1976 film possessed a very creepy and disturbing feeling throughout it’s runtime, especially once things took a much darker direction. Sissy Spacek’s performance as Carrie White is still very memorable to this day, as she was both effectively shy and creepy in the role. The original film also had an interesting approach on telekinesis, as it managed to feel very new and original for it’s time.

Some minor criticisms that some may have with the original “Carrie” is the over-the-top performance by Piper Laurie as Carrie’s mother; as well as some dated special effects that some modern-day movie goers might dislike. Some of the film’s sound effects feel ripped from Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” at times.

In the new remake from director Kimberly Peirce, many viewers will love the fact that Stephen King’s work remains contemporary to this day.

Certain story elements even feel accurately modernized, with the use of iPhones, and current rule establishments in high schools.

Julianne Moore’s performance as Carrie’s mother will feel like an improvement over Piper Laurie’s performance for some viewers, as Moore gives the character more realism, and though she does get extreme with her actions, like her character did in the book, it doesn’t feel as over-the-top. Judy Greer’s performance as the Gym Teacher, feels like an improvement over the original also.

Like most remakes, certain viewers are going to hate certain aspects of the re-imagining.

When it comes to the remake, it’s immediate problem is not being as scary as the 1976 original. Certain scenes feel like they belong in a “dark action” film like “Underworld,” but they should feel horrific.

The film sometimes breaks some of the book’s telekinesis rules, just to make some of the new content work. Though Chloe Moretz is very good at portraying Carrie, some might find her to be too cute for the role.

Carrie is the first novel from Stephen King, and it’s very close to heart for several King fans. For those who are looking for the best “Carrie” experience on film for this halloween season, make sure to watch the 1976 classic over the remake.