Cape Fear

1991 Martin ScorseseStarring: Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte

& Jessica Lange

First 4 scenes=teacher leadScene 5= collaboratively

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 5

Shows him working out and the back to the camera, shows himself being a very menacing and strong character, something to be afraid off.

the tattoo on his back symbolizes his past experiences perhaps, the bars make us feel protected from him

Frame 6The door opens on the cell making the audience feel nervous and unsafe ultimately and shows cady being released from prison.

law books are seen in the background to represent his past, showing he's been learning about his unfair trial which made himself be behind bars and in prison.

As the door opens, the prison guard knows his name showing that he is well known in the prison as being bad, and as he walks out to freedom, all the in-mates are silent, suggesting that he is a sinister and has quite a reputation for being bad.

His long hair represents he’s been in jail for quite a long time. Watching cady do his hair shows that that is his routine for how ever many years he's been in prison.

In the background you see photos of famous martyrs and dictators, and certain law books, which shows his strange nature; which you wouldn’t see in a typical cell.

Frame 7

It shows a long shot showing the prisons security in the background, ultimately showing how cady must have been bad and notorious to be sent to a prison like this.

As cady walks towards the camera, it creates suspense to the audience because it is like he is coming at you in a very menacing approach.

The weather appears to be dark and stormy, representing something is going to happen.

Frame 8

He's intimidating the audience being up front with the camera in particular.

Frame 9

Brightly lit, happiness represented