Netflix’s adaptation of Emily Henry’s 2021 bestseller People We Meet on Vacation has fans talking, especially about how one key intimate moment between leads Poppy Wright and Alex Nilsen got reworked.
In the original novel, the pair’s first physical connection, after years of simmering tension, unfolds with raw detail, capturing the messy, passionate release of long-buried feelings during their trip to Croatia.
That explicitness fits Henry’s style, blending heartfelt friendship-to-lovers arcs with unapologetic sensuality that has made her a romance powerhouse.
The film, directed by Brett Haley and starring Emily Bader as the free-spirited travel writer Poppy and Tom Blyth as the steady bookworm Alex, sticks close to the book’s spirit across ten years of summer vacations.
They first cross paths on a college road trip home, bond over quirky mishaps like burrito spills and bad karaoke, and build a ritual of annual getaways that masks a deeper attraction. By the time they reunite in Croatia after a two-year fallout, the stakes feel sky-high, and the book dives straight into their charged encounter.
Haley committed to fidelity at first, filming the scene page-for-page with all its intensity. Henry herself raved about the on-set result, calling it one of the most sensual sequences she had ever seen, raw and tender in a way that rivaled iconic moments from films like Titanic.
The crew and cast poured everything into making it feel genuine, emphasizing the emotional vulnerability beneath the physical heat. Yet once footage hit the editing bay, the raw version started raising flags.
Test audiences, including those unfamiliar with the book, reacted strongly. The sudden leap into explicit territory came across as a sharp detour, pulling viewers out of the film’s established warmth and whimsy.
Haley noted how the movie traces Poppy and Alex from awkward college kids to grounded adults, so maintaining that earnest wholesomeness became crucial.
The toned-down cut keeps the chemistry sizzling but opts for suggestion over detail, landing in classic rom-com territory with fades and glances that hint at passion without overwhelming the narrative.
Henry’s Take: Tonal Fit Trumps Book Loyalty Every Time
Emily Henry stepped in during post-production when Haley sought her input on the scene’s fate. She recognized its value in normalizing open sensuality between close friends, crossing that line, but ultimately greenlit the change because every element must advance the whole project.
Viewers should stay immersed, not jarred into feeling like the story derailed, she reasoned. That pragmatic stance reflects her hands-on role in the adaptation, where she consulted on script tweaks like merging Poppy and Alex’s first meetings for tighter pacing.
Haley echoed the sentiment, explaining that while the original shoot delivered extreme sexiness, it clashed with the film’s balance of steam and sweetness. He drew inspiration from beloved rom-coms like Jerry Maguire, where intimacy builds tension through restraint rather than excess.
The final version preserves the emotional core of Poppy chasing Alex to Croatia after ditching a Barcelona assignment, confessing her feelings that spark their union. It just dials back the visuals to keep the tone consistent from childhood sing-alongs to adult reckonings.
People We Meet On Vacation (Credit: Netflix)
Fan reactions split along book-versus-film lines. Readers who cherished the novel’s spicier edge expressed mild disappointment online, with some Reddit users calling the movie adaptation a bit too Hallmark-safe compared to Henry’s bolder prose.
Others praised the leads’ palpable friendship chemistry, arguing the subtler approach heightens the yearning that defines friends-to-lovers stories. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a solid 75 percent from critics and a 78 percent audience score, suggesting most viewers bought into the adjustments.
Henry remains unfazed, even floating the idea of a director’s cut someday to showcase the full scene for curious fans.
She views this as one data point in her growing slate of screen projects, where tonal variations will allow for both fade-to-black classics and hotter interpretations down the line. Her priority stays true to each story’s heart, whether that means amplifying heat or pulling it back.
Bigger Shifts Signal Rom-Com Reinvention Ahead
The sex scene tweak is just one piece of how People We Meet on Vacation updates Henry’s book for Netflix’s audience. Poppy’s Croatia obsession gets reframed; she reroutes from Greece to crash Alex’s brother’s wedding, accelerating their reconciliation.
Alex’s confession happens mid-run outside his house instead of at his teaching job, cutting some of the novel’s hesitant back-and-forth for quicker emotional payoff. These compressions make the 110-minute runtime punchier, focusing on visual gags like Poppy’s baggage claim serenades that amp up her quirky charm.
Critics note how the film softens Poppy’s more abrasive book traits, making her less polarizing and more broadly appealing in a genre that thrives on relatable messiness.
That choice aligns with Netflix’s rom-com strategy, favoring accessible crowd-pleasers over niche edge. Henry’s other works, like Beach Read and Funny Story, are also headed to screens, promising a range of spiciness levels to match each tale’s vibe.
For the franchise Henry is building, this debut sets a flexible template. Strong streaming numbers and buzz around Bader and Blyth’s pairing could pave the way for sequels or spin-offs, with future directors free to lean spicier if the story calls for it.
The toned-down moment proves adaptations can honor source material while carving their own path, keeping book fans engaged without alienating moviegoers. As Netflix ramps up romance output, Henry’s voice ensures those pivots feel intentional, not watered down.
Netflix pulled the plug on Mike Flanagan’s yearly horror drops after 2023, leaving a gaping hole in fall viewing schedules.
Series like Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass, and Fall of the House of Usher delivered clockwork terror each October, blending ghost stories with gut-punch emotions. Fans flooded social media with pleas for more, but corporate shifts killed the streak cold.
Carrie Telekinesis Set to Explode Limits
Flanagan tackles Stephen King’s debut novel Carrie for a supernatural horror miniseries, his fifth crack at the author’s work. The story centers on bullied teen Carrie White, whose telekinetic powers ignite after a prom night humiliation by peers and zealot mom.
Expect faithful grit with Flanagan’s signature psychological layers, turning small-town shame into bloody apocalypse.
This marks his post-Netflix debut, announced in October 2024. Gerald’s Game trapped Carla Gugino in handcuffs for a claustrophobic mind-bender; Doctor Sleep chased Ewan McGregor through Shining ghosts.
Carrie amps the body horror, blood buckets, and crushing bones, nodding to Brian De Palma’s 1976 film but stretching the miniseries runtime for deeper torment.
King himself blessed past efforts, praising Flanagan’s knack for emotional cores amid scares. Production wraps soon, eyeing 2026 release to reclaim Halloween thunder. Casting rumors buzz with fresh faces alongside Flanagan regulars, promising raw teen rage.
Prime Video courts Flanagan after his Netflix split, handing Carrie a greenlight amid Dark Tower pilot progress. The streamer craves horror cred post-Reacher action dominance, seeing his track record as Emmy bait. Two King projects signal long-term ties, filling voids left by rival cuts.
Fan theories explode online. Some predict Carrie links to his Dark Tower gunslinger saga, weaving King’s multiverse threads. Others await signature twists, like humanizing Margaret White’s fanaticism. Flanagan stays mum, but past chats hint at pilot scripts ready to roll.
Production hurdles cleared post-strikes. Flanagan juggles Exorcist reboot for March 2026, but Carrie slots neatly after. Norway shoots mock Derry streets; practical effects teams gear for levitating chaos. Showrunner teases eulogy scenes as gut-wrenching as Midnight Mass sermons.
The Haunting of Hill House (Credit: Netflix)
Carrie’s legacy looms large. King’s 1974 breakout launched his empire; De Palma’s film starred Sissy Spacek as the ultimate victim-avenger. Piper Laurie earned an Oscar nod for mom-from-hell. Flanagan’s take eyes modern bullying angles, social media amplifying Carrie’s isolation.
Controversy brews around violence. Past versions drew flak for gore, but the miniseries format allows context buildup. Flanagan defends King’s raw nerve, arguing that scares demand discomfort. Netflix fans cross over, Tudum lists are still pushing his back catalog.
Carrie cast shapes buzz. Whispers name unknowns for Carrie to capture raw vulnerability, veterans for adult anchors. Rahul Kohli eyes villain turns; Victoria Pedretti suits tormented leads. Ensemble mirrors Hill House family dynamics.
Streaming wars intensify stakes. HBO’s Welcome to Derry IT prequel grabs 2025 Halloween, but Flanagan’s pedigree sets Carrie apart. King’s universe expands, Derry Pennywise tying to a bigger mythos. Fans pit series against each other in hype wars.
Horror community rallies. Podcasts dissect his style: long takes building dread, faith-versus-fear clashes. Life of Chuck proved film chops; Carrie reclaims TV throne. Pre-Halloween 2026 drop aligns perfectly , reclaiming the fall slot.
Fan art floods X. Carrie crushes arenas; Margaret prays amid flames. Theories link to Shining Overlook, multiverse nods. Flanagan fuels fire sparingly, letting anticipation build.
Economic upside is clear. King adaptations mint cash; Flanagan’s Netflix slate topped 100 million hours viewed. Carrie’s eyes are similar, boosting Prime subs amid password crackdowns. Horror resurgence post-pandemic favors his brand.
Crew reunites, too. Editors who cut Hill House ghosts return; composers craft ominous swells. Practical blood rigs promise the saturation De Palma dreamed of. Miniseries breathe, letting powers simmer for seasons if renewed.
Stephen King weighs in rarely, but thumbs-up to Flanagan persists. Constant Reader approves of evolution, Carrie freshening tired tropes. Dark Tower waits wings, but Carrie charges first.
