The five essential Brian De Palma movies
The case of Brian De Palma is just as absurd and unpredictable as any of his films. The American director helped pioneer the New Hollywood movement and cut his teeth alongside some of the biggest names in the industry. Yet, he remains largely forgotten today. You’ll have heard of his films but likely know very little about the man himself.
His career has been dogged by scandal and outrage, not just for the content of his fictional movies but for what they say about the real world. His body of work is vast and varied; he’s just as happy to crank out a blockbuster spy thriller as he is a dark thriller or psychological thriller.
Summarising this incredible life in just five films feels like a crime, but if you’re looking for a gateway to De Palma’s filmography, then these will set you up nicely. They are the ones that have the most to say about his journey to success and subsequent fall from grace and, perhaps more importantly, showcase why he should be one of your favourite directors.
Prepare yourself for blood, gore, sex, and enough plot twists to make M Night Shyamalan blush.
The five essential Brian De Palma movies:
5. Redacted (2007)
Despite being one of the most respected filmmakers of his age, De Palma’s career hasn’t enjoyed the same longevity as those of his peers like Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg. While not entirely to blame, one of the reasons for this is the 2007 film Redacted. The movie is a mixture of drama and documentary, presenting the events of the infamous 2006 Mahmudiyah killings. A group of US soldiers brutally murdered and raped a young Iraqi girl and then killed her family in a vicious act of senseless barbarism. De Palma wanted to bring this case to a wider audience, but it cost him everything.
Reviews of Redacted ranged from its labelling as a masterpiece to calls for De Palma’s head. Some described it as unpatriotic and defamatory, while others praised the veteran filmmaker for daring to speak truth to power. The controversy surrounding Redacted accelerated the decline that De Palma’s career was already suffering, sending the once-promising director spiralling into mediocrity. His films simply have not been the same since, which is such a shame for a man who helped shape the DNA of modern cinema. The only way to judge Redacted fairly is to see it for yourself; then, you can decide whether or not De Palma deserved the crucifixion he endured.
4. Blow Out (1981)
A thriller starring John Travolta as a guy who records sounds for movies doesn’t sound like a particularly enthralling concept, but in the hands of De Palma, it’s a mile-a-minute. Travolta plays Jack Terry, who, one night, accidentally captures something on tape he wasn’t supposed to. After choosing to follow up on this lead, a decision that lands him in the arms of Nancy Allen, Terry finds himself embroiled in scandal, conspiracy, and murder.
This is a fantastic take on the typical “fish out of water” crime story, as Travolta’s character is given a legitimate reason to get involved in the mayhem. And what mayhem it is; as the narrative soldiers on and more and more layers of intrigue are peeled away, it becomes clear that Terry is in way over his head and that it’s far too late to back out. The ending of Blow Out is quite possibly De Palma’s finest work, an utterly bonkers twist that few people saw coming and even fewer could actually comprehend. If you want an example of De Palma at his twisty-turny best, then the labyrinthine structure of this mad rush will satisfy and repulse you in equal measure.
3. Sisters (1972)
Carrie might be De Palma’s most famous horror film, but there’s a case to be made that Sisters is his scariest. Also known as Blood Sisters in the UK, this film follows a journalist, played by Jennifer Salt, as she attempts to solve a murder committed by a beautiful model. However, things get complicated when it is discovered that the model has an identical twin whom she used to be conjoined with, making the search for the truth even harder.
Inspired by a real-life case of conjoined twins, this script (co-written by Brian De Palma and Louisa Rose) is packed with nods to Alfred Hitchcock. The film’s score was composed by Bernard Herrmann, the genius behind the iconic violins in Psycho. Margot Kidder delivers a standout performance as both twins, and as the twisted story unravels, audiences find themselves peering through their fingers at the unfolding horrors. Sisters encapsulates much of what makes De Palma so compelling—from his fearless depiction of violence to his expertly crafted plot twists. Not for the faint-hearted, this film stands as a fantastic early showcase of the brilliance that would come to define De Palma’s career at its peak.
2. Carrie (1976)
Few authors have been adapted for the screen as frequently and successfully as Stephen King, and that legacy began with Brian De Palma. The director was the first to bring King’s work to a moviegoing audience with his adaptation of Carrie, the horror writer’s debut novel. Featuring Sissy Spacek in the titular role of an oppressed psychic teenager and Piper Laurie as her fanatically controlling mother, the film had all the ingredients for success—and the final product delivered in spades.
The one thing most people remember Carrie for is the insane prom scene, where the main character finally snaps and unleashes the full potential of her abilities on her unsuspecting classmates. This moment has been referenced, recreated, and spoofed dozens of times since it first terrified viewers, and it regularly appears in rundowns of horror’s most endearing images. The rest of the movie is equally scary, but in a more psychologically damaging way, as poor Carrie endures the hatred of her peers and family, with De Palma brilliantly building to his bloody finale. Without this movie and De Palma’s vision, the Stephen King movie empire wouldn’t be what it is today.
1. Scarface (1983)
In terms of De Palma’s most enduring and famous contributions to cinema, it’s a toss-up between the first Mission: Impossible and his ode to the Miami drug scene starring Al Pacino. Scarface, a remake of the 1932 movie of the same name, chronicles Tony Montana’s journey from broke immigrant to cocaine kingpin, with enough blood and guts to satisfy anyone with a penchant for violence. De Palma joined the project as a replacement for Sidney Lumet, so they had a lot to live up to. Thankfully, he took every expectation and smashed it into tiny, snortable pieces.
Pacino’s performance in Scarface is nothing short of legendary, capturing the wide-eyed chaos of a man on the brink and infusing every scene with Tony Montana’s volatile unpredictability. The film itself is visually stunning, soaked in a gritty 1970s aesthetic while hints of 1980s gloss begin to emerge. With Giorgio Moroder’s unforgettable score, original songs by Paul Engemann and Debbie Harry, and countless iconic quotes, Scarface has become a cinematic institution for good reason. It’s a prime example of Brian De Palma at the height of his powers, showcasing his ability as a complete filmmaker. This is not just essential viewing for fans of De Palma, but for anyone who loves cinema in any form.
