Scarface and Carrie have long been considered cult classics. These masterpieces were both directed by none other than Brian De Palma and were influential in the world of cinema. Scarface is one of the few successful remakes while Carrie was the first of hundreds of adaptations of Stephen King's work.
Their status, however, has led to many fans comparing the two movies and trying to decide which one is better and, perhaps, is De Palma's best work. There are some things that stand out in one, but there are also some elements that stand out in another.
Scarface: The Crime Elements Feel Real
One of the reasons why Scarface became so successful was that it was a crime movie unafraid to show just how horrible the criminal world was and how ruthless criminals were.
The crime elements in the movie feel real. Of course, they were definitely a bit more artistically enhanced to make them have a certain effect on audiences, but they were still quite realistic nonetheless.
Carrie: The Horror Elements Are Terrifying
On the other hand, Carrie excels in its own way just like Scarface does. Being a horror movie, Carrie did an outstanding job in horrifying viewers the way it should have.
The horror elements in the movie are truly terrifying. The relationship between mother and daughter, the bullying at school, and finally, the blood Carrie is covered in all serve one purpose - and that is to terrify audiences.
Scarface: The Lead Actor Does An Outstanding Job
Even to this day, Scarface is regarded as having one of the best roles in Al Pacino's career. Indeed, the lead actor does an outstanding job in this movie.
Pacino is believable as a penniless Cuban refugee just as much as he then becomes a drug lord. It's not just the way he looks, but also the way he acts that makes it so great.
Carrie: The Lead Actress Is Just As Good
But even though it was worth noting Pacino's work on Scarface, it would be a sin to forget about Sissy Spacek's performance in Carrie, which even earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
Spacek is charming and naive as her character should be - a helpless child at the mercy of those around her. But once she grows as a character, she gets her own power and Spacek shows this perfectly.
Scarface: The Cinematography Is Beautiful
Scarface has multiple iconic scenes, and one of the reasons why there are so many is the movie's beautiful cinematography that captures the story on the screen so well.
There are different colors present in every scene that help the narrative be less flat and more layered. There are also certain camera movements that elevate the visual narrative.
Carrie: The Plot Is More Gripping
Though it's obvious that both stories are very engaging and thrilling, it could be argued that Carrie has a slightly more gripping plot (even though this will probably come down to personal taste).
Criminals have been portrayed in movies so often that it's no longer as surprising to see them get violent. But the kind of things Carrie has to go through are still strange to modern audiences, which makes the story so much more interesting.
Scarface: Costume And Set Design Is Excellently Done
It goes without saying that cinematography is the essence of the movie, but the costume and set design can add a lot to the overall look and feel of a certain movie.
In Scarface, the costume and set design all work together to make cinematography better. Almost every costume Pacino's character wears is iconic, while certain scenes have sets that have become just as famous as the main character's clothes.
Carrie: The Movie Was More Successful Overall
When it comes to overall success, Carrie is the winner here. Even at the time of its release, it was praised by critics and received two Academy Award nominations for its lead and supporting actors. It also grossed thirty times its budget.
Because of its violence, Scarface was met with criticism at the time of its release and grossed twice the size of its budget. Still, both movies eventually because cult classics.
Scarface: It's Just So Much Fun
Speaking of violence in Scarface, though it is still being criticized for it sometimes, this is also exactly why the movie became so popular in the first place. The final showdown is particularly famous for the way it features a lot of violence but makes it look like so much fun to the audience.
Carrie: The Atmosphere Is More Immersive
Well-done horror movies are notorious for having very immersive atmospheres and Carrie is no exception to this rule.
Scarface has an atmosphere of its own, but when watching Carrie, it's much easier for viewers to imagine themselves in her place, being bullied or told of their limits by their parents.