Cape Fear

1991 Martin Scorsese

Starring: Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte & Jessica Lange

Fist 4 scenes = teacher leadScene 5 = collaborativeScenes 6-10 = own work

Frame 1The movie opens with a Universal ident. However, the image is subverted and presented in a gloomy blue colour.

The image also appears as if underwater. This links to a prominent location in the movie

The sound of falling rain in the background adds to the gloomy atmosphere of the initial shot

Frame 2

Although this shot is taken from the title sequence it still helps to develop the atmosphere of dread in the opening sequence. The reflection of a shadowy and menacing figure is presented atop a backdrop of calm, lightly rippling water. This juxtaposition of the calm with the violent lies at the core of the movie.

Frame 3The camera slowly zooms out, stopping at a mid-shot of a girl in her late teens/early twenties.

She is the archetypal victim of the genre.

The girl is dressed in white carrying connotations of innocence and purity.

The dialogue speaks of the enjoyment the young girl has experienced in a “magical” place, the inaptly named “Cape Fear”

This scene creates uncertainty in the viewer as its overwhelmingly positive tone is a marked contrast to what is to come.

Frame 4 The movie opens with an establishing shot showing Cady’s prison cell.

Cady’s wall is covered in pictures of historical figures, martyrs and super heroes. The choice of images suggests he respects absolute power & aggression and feels that he has been mistreated.

The camera gradually zooms out to reveal the scope of his obsession.

The clip features bombastic, gloomy orchestral Music creating a sense of foreboding/ anticipation of bad things to come

Frame 5Focused on Cady working out showing that he is someone to be afraid of.

Cady feels as if he has to balance the scales of justice and truth.

Bars on wall makes us feel safe. Tattoo on Cady's back makes him seem tough.

Frame 6Doors open, this makes us feel unprotected and that he is being released from jail.

Tattoos all around his body shows us he maybe thinks of himself as a tough guy.

Law books in the background on his shelf show that he may have been reading about the unfair trial he had to under go.

Long hair shows that he has been in there for a long time.

Cady seems a bit of a notorious man and also has a reputation in the prison because the police warden knew him on a name to name basis and all of the other prisoners starred silently at him as he left the building

The bars slide open and Cady turns and faces the audience, this creates tension and fear amongst the viewers

Watching Cady workout, do his hair and put his shirt on could shows a routine that he has been undergoing for a long time

Frame 7 The clouds are lighter on the left side of the picture and dark on the right side, this could show that now Cady has left prison he is out for revenge and he is bringing his anger with him.

Looking at the prison and realizing that it looks heavily armed and protected shows that Cady must have done very bad….. Or not

As Cady walks slowly towards us, this creates tension because it is made to look like he is coming for you.

Nobody to pick him up from the prison either shows that nobody likes him after they heard about what he supposedly did or that he has no family.

Frame 8Cady getting closer to the screen shows that he is after somebody No good byes to

any of the prison guard showing that he has some un finished business

Dark and light half of his face showing he may be turning into a bit evil

Frame 9Shows a nice well kept house, this shows whoever owns it is wealthy e.g. a lawyer

Show from a point of view that could be cady’s