Cape Fear (1991 film)/Nightmare Fuel

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


While the original 1962 movie is a well regarded classic. Much of its work was limited by censorship relying on leaving it to the viewer's imagination as to what may have happened. This remake however? Shows its most disturbing scenes in great detail.

  • First off, the movie opens with ripples of a river which seems to go from clear and black to blood red while the titles and credits appear. It then ends on a red filtered photo of Danielle Bowden which transitions into a negative filter before it shows her real face talking about the titular river. Although her opening speech was merely for a summer school assignment, the words seem to foreshadow the movie's events.

Danielle Bowden: My reminiscence. I always thought that for such a lovely river the name is mystifying: "Cape Fear". When the only thing to fear on those enchanted summer nights was that the magic would end and real life would come crashing in.

  • The next scene happens to be Max Cady finishing his workout, covered in tattoos and surrounded by books and posters. Once he is released he strolls out of the prison into the camera. The cloudy sky and the thunder being heard symbolically convey that evil has just been unleashed.
  • The Bowdens spend time at the movie theater while Problem Child is playing. Max comes in, deliberately sits in front of them, lighting a cigar while laughing obnoxiously at the movie, blowing smoke everywhere. Sam tries to get him to stop, but he ignores them, prompting them to leave. While they banter and go for ice cream, Bowden goes to the cashier to pay for their snacks and the cashier tells them someone else paid for them. Pointing to Max sitting out in the convertible watching them at the patio tables, while smoking. Sam, feeling unnerved, ushers them back indoors and looks back to see Max and the car disappear after a passing truck blocks his view.
  • After playing a game of Squash with his Co-Worker Lori, Sam is in his car about to head home, when Max Cady shows up and steals his keys ensuring that Sam doesn't leave yet. They make small talk and it seemed like they would have left on friendly terms, but as soon as Sam leaves, Max threatens him within an earshot, prompting him to stop his car. Before he could question Max on his words, Max was already walking away.

Max Cady: You're gonna learn about loss.

  • Later that night after Sam and Leigh have sex, Sam spots Max on their wall bordering the house. Smoking a cigar while looking in their window. The fireworks exploding all over which cover his eventual disappearance when Sam goes to chase him off.
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