User reviews

Sent to jail for a crime he did commit, a newly released felon has some pain he's to inflict, on the lawyer that defended him, who gave him many years, for the scars of his internment that he carries and he wears, stalking his prey without cover or disguise, the family of Sam Bowden see their world start to capsize, a vengeance full of hate, a psychopath intent, many years of brewing, chewing, digest and ferment.

Robert De Nero delivers a tremendous performance as Max Cady who leaves you under no illusion of the torture he intends to inflict, psychological and physical, on the family of the man responsible for his incarceration. Nick Nolte plays Nick Nolte, not quite as elegantly as Gregory Peck.

Last night on TV there was "Casino" and today "Cape Fear" so I decided to take a look again at those two Scorsese movies. What I remembered from first viewing of "Cape Fear", about 8 years ago, is that that was one scary movie. I was only a kid back then, but even after all these years I felt again that this movie gives great doze of fear. Mostly it is because of brilliant portrayal coming from Robert De Niro (Max Cady is definitely not kind of guy who you wanna meet) and great Martin Scorsese ability to 'manufacture' terrifying scenes (for example when Nolte is hiding behind trash cans and when De Niro says: 'Counselor, could you be there?' - that one reminded me of Walter Hill's "The Warriors" and Luther in the same movie). Scorsese + De Niro (his all time favorite) never fails to deliver when they have as good script as this. Here, there is relationship between lawyers and clients, parents and children; also law in America is comprehended, where are holes in system, what can or cannot man do to protect his family and so on. I also read some of the comments that compare this one with the original and spits on this movie. To those people I say that this is an Oscar winning picture for some remakes I have seen in my life. If Mitchum and Peck (stars from the original) gave their blessing why can't you? So, I advise you to take a look at this Scorsese picture because it's scary, with Hitchcock elements and great acting coming from all actors involved. This is a great horror/thriller!!!

Not one of Martin Scorsese's best films by a long shot (though he has also done worse). This said, as said in my review for 'Hugo', even when Scorsese was not at his best the films in question were still better than the worst films of most. This is also coming from a director who when at his best, like with 'Goodfellas', 'Raging Bull' and 'Taxi Driver' for examples, gave some of the best films out there.

'Cape Fear' is a remake of the 1962 film with Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum. While the remake may be slicker visually (the earlier film is still very well made instead, but Scorsese's film is gorgeously audacious) and be bigger and more expansive in its themes and character complexities, there is a vast personal preference for the more atmospheric, creepier and more eerie earlier film, one that didn't need excessive violence, gore or profanity to deliver the shocks, with an ending that was a masterclass in sexual tension and quivering fear and Mitchum unforgettably burning into the memory as how to haunt one's nightmares wile doing it in a much more subtle way.

This is in no way denouncing Scorsese's film though. It is not as good (often very good though with major problems, while the 1962 film to me is a near-masterpiece let down only by the female characters not being as interesting) and perhaps not necessary. However, compared to how a lot of remakes have fared, which has seen abominations like the remakes for 'Psycho' and 'The Wicker Man' that should never have been made in the first place, it isn't halfway bad and hardly an amateur project.

Where Scorsese does score over the 1962 film is in two things. One is the more expanded upon relationship between Cady and Danielle, which is genuinely disturbing and effectively makes the skin crawl as ought, it also further added to what was an already sadistic human monster (or shall we say psychopath?) like Cady. Even more so of an improvement is the portrayal of the Bowden family, instead of being humble and neatly black and white like it could have been (not knocking the 1962 film here) each member were portrayed as flawed characters with strengths and vulnerabilities, and much more of a family falling apart at the seams.

Visually, 'Cape Fear' looks fantastic, the use of cinematic techniques not only dazzling in technical beauty but also adding a lot to the horror-like atmosphere rather than distracting. That is not surprising considering that it is the work of the great Freddie Francis, achieving great success with the likes of Amicus and Hammer. The film cleverly utilises Bernard Hermann's wonderful score from the 1962 film, arranged and conducted by Elmer Bernstein, there was the worry as to whether it would sound melodramatic, exaggerated and anachronistic in this particular film when it worked so brilliantly in the 1962 film, but it actually succeeded in giving the film a real eeriness and dramatic thrust and tension.

A good deal of 'Cape Fear' is hugely entertaining. The first half in particular is rich in dreaded suspense and genuine entertainment. There are too scenes that chill the blood, like the scene between Cady and Lori and that between him and Kersek. Scorsese directs adeptly, often with a visual mastery, a knack of suspense and compelling character interaction.

Robert De Niro's performance has been praised for being terrifying but also criticised for being over the top to the point of being a cartoon, both valid opinions. To me, while there is a much bigger preference for the creepier but more understated Mitchum and there are times where De Niro does fall into overdone parody, it is a very powerful and often scary performance in a fascinating, chilling and larger than life role, apart from the unstoppable Terminator-like traits in place bordering on the cartoonish. Nick Nolte does a very good job, bringing intensity and empathy to a morally ambiguous character that is written as much more than a heroic sort of role.

Juliette Lewis' performance has also polarised viewers, again to me she was compelling in her rebellious attitude and sexual curiosity but also in the ability to think straight. Joe Don Baker is the standout in support and a casting highlight, a very strong performance. Having Peck and Mitchum (and Martin Balsam) in cameo roles the anti-thesis of their 1962 'Cape Fear' characters was a masterstroke.

However, was not crazy about Jessica Lange, a very good actress. She didn't have an easy character to play, one with not a lot to do and one who seems to be in permanent shock and terror, but Lange both overdoes it and phones it in to the point that the character is annoying. While absorbing most of the time, especially in the first and second acts, a few of the Cady character building scenes did drag and go on for too long, 20-25 minutes trimming may have made things better.

More problematic was that the thicker the story got the more excessive it got too. Especially suffering is the ridiculously unintentionally funny and illogical scene where Kersek's body is found and an ending that is ludicrously overblown and missing the suspense, sexual tension and quivering fear (plus that masterly improvisation touch with the egg) conveyed so unforgettably in the 1962 film. The violence did disturb a good deal, but at numerous times it didn't feel necessary, sometimes less-is-more and more atmosphere is better, and felt over-the-top, cartoony and more at place in a graphic cartoon or something.

All in all, inferior but still surprisingly well done despite being a long way from perfect. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Even though Robert DeNiro was nominated for Best Actor for this Martin Scorsese directed remake of Cape Fear, my heart is still with the original. The multi-tattooed voluminous DeNiro is far less menacing than Robert Mitchum was in the original.

One thing Scorsese did was change the billing to reflect the importance of the characters. Mitchum was billed second to Gregory Peck, the upright attorney who Mitchum threatened and stalked along with Peck's family. Then again Peck was producing the original Cape Fear so of course he was first billed.

Part of the problem was that with some 20 to 30 minutes additional running time Scorsese used it to make his characters a bit more complex. DeNiro was a real basket case as Max Cady in this one whereas Robert Mitchum was just plain no good.

Nick Nolte plays attorney Sam Bowden and he's also far more complex and not such a good guy. In the original film Peck was an attorney, but he was a witness in the trial that convicted Cady of rape. Here he was Cady's attorney and he tanked the case because Cady was such a psycho he deserved to be behind bars. Cady in fact does have a grudge of sorts against him. And it's not good to get a psycho mad at you.

Also Peck and his whole family which consisted of Polly Bergen and Lori Martin back in the original was your basic all American white bread family. Their very wholesomeness made the scope of Mitchum stalking them all the more frightening.

Nolte and Jessica Lange have marital problems and their daughter Juliette Lewis is not Mary Poppins. Not that they deserved what DeNiro was going to do to them, but it does blunt the impact of the scope of his evil.

Gregory Peck, Robert Mitchum, and Martin Balsam from the original cast all played supporting parts here. But while the film that Scorsese did is a good one, their presence made me all the more hunger for the original.

When it was released in 1991 GMTV film reviewer Paul Gambacini described Scorsese's CAPE FEAR as " being ham directed " . This is yet more evidence that if you want to be a film reviewer it's not what you know , it's who you know . CAPE FEAR isn't a film that suffers from " ham directing " , it's a film that is rather formalist and suffers from what David Bordwell describes as " intensified continuity " . If you're unfamiliar with the term then please look it up and Scorsese wasn't the only American director using the technique because many other directors especially Oliver Stone were doing exactly the same thing in the early 1990s . If Scorsese is to be criticised for doing this then the entire American film industry is equally guilty

If there is a problem with intensified continuity it's that most directors quickly abandoned it with the exception of Oliver Stone which meant he was destined to cinematic obscurity . Watching these type of films in 2007 means they appear rather dated , similar in some ways to watching films from the mid 1980s where you realise the most important aspect is the soundtrack

CAPE FEAR is a fairly entertaining movie but can't be described as a Scorsese masterpiece . DeNiro gives a rather OTT performance as Max Cady , so much so that you find yourself thinking of him as a comic book monster rather than as a real life character . Interestingly enough Scorsese is a director who can be described as misogynistic but by far the two best performances are by Lang and Lewis

The one problem I have with the movie is that it mainly ignores the inadequacy of the law when it comes to stalking . Check the scene where Bowden explains to Lt Elgart that Cady hasn't " been trespassing exactly - Well what exactly ? " . The film would have worked much better and would undoubtedly have been much more credible if this angle had been developed more , but credibility has been sacrificed for entertainment and whilst not a heavy criticism it does make for a flawed movie

A slightly more than decent film. Not a bad plot alongside great acting and actors. This film is interesting because it truly shows how someone can get into another's head, to an extent of constant thought about that person and constant fear of that being. In the end the movie does get a bit repetitive with Robert De Niro sometimes reminding me of the Terminator with his skilful tactics and plans. It's also interesting to see how environments shape people, in this case the jail made Max logical, intelligent, strong and stealthy. Max's character shows how intimidation can effect the human brain, trigger panic and stupidity.

Overall a solid film.

Martin Scorsese's "Cape Fear" is the 1991 remake of the 1962 classic film. Max Cady (Robert De Niro) gets out of prison after 14 years and proceeds to harass Sam Bowden (Nick Nolte) and his family (Jessica Lange and Juliette Lewis). It turns out that Bowden is the defense lawyer that Cady feels did him wrong. Joe Don Baker, Illeana Douglas, Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck appear in peripheral roles.

I like this one better than the original because it's more modern and compelling, not to mention in color. The best character, by far, is Max Cady. One of the best scenes is the long quasi-seduction sequence between Cady and Bowden's daughter. Both De Niro and Lewis pull it off superbly. Cady's almost fascinating -- and even respectable & likable – before taking a decidedly diabolic turn. Once this happens, though, it's impossible to root for him.

Some Christians have criticized the film on the grounds that Cady's a Pentecostal and the story portrays him as a malevolent nut-job. Actually, Cady's not genuinely Pentecostal or Christian. If he were, he would've sincerely repented of the heinous offense that landed him in prison rather than seek revenge on the lawyer who defended him. He would've praised God for a second chance at life and the finances that were available for him to start over. Instead, like a fool, he blames his misfortune on someone else and everything he does proves beyond any shadow of doubt that he's not Pentecostal or Christian whatsoever; he merely wears the garnishment of Christianity. Jesus had something to say about such people in Matthew 7:15-23.

Since Cady is easily the most interesting character in the film they could've taken the story in a completely different direction and made him the protagonist and Bowden the villain, but of course this would've totally deviated from the plot of the original story. Still, this would've made for a better film IMHO; as it is, "Cape Fear" plays like "Fatal Attraction" without the attraction element. But it's very well made, which is to be expected with Scorsese at the helm. Unfortunately it's overlong and could've easily been trimmed by 15-20 minutes.

The film runs 128 minutes and was shot in Fort Lauderdale & Hollywood, Florida, and Savannah, Georgia (the ending boat sequence).

GRADE: B+

No medium horror was not terrifying, but it was interesting, most of the characters in the movie prepared by Robert De Niro's character were medium or bad, the story of the film was intense at first, but after a period of watching I lost my interest in his story, I became waiting for the end of the film, the acting was not excellent prepared by Robert D. Nero, who is according to me, is the best actor in the cinema, my rating is 6.9

After waiting for a such a LONG TIME... I was able to see Martin Scorsese's 'Cape Fear' (1991) thanks to one of my relatives. The result was quite impressive. I've seen the old version on TV, and I must say the old one is better than the new version. In this film, Scorsese's creative camera works really impressed me, and his way of capturing all the tension and horror in the film. Also, Robert De Niro... what can you say about him? He is just SPECTACULAR in this movie - he performs Max Cady in a different way from Robert Mitchum's way and I must say De Niro truly scared me so much in this movie. His character came alive on screen and made it much more disturbing than the original. I also liked Nick Nolte's acting, and especially Juliette Lewis, playing a troubled teenager in the family. I really didn't like Jessica Lange's acting in this movie - really didn't find it realistic enough rather FUNNY. Anyway, this movie was better than I expected and if you haven't seen it, go see it NOW!

Gripping and extraordinary psycho-thriller with an unforgettable Robert De Niro who suffers incarceration and seeks revenge as a nasty criminal and believably creepy . This thriller has a clear reminiscent to previous remake based on John MacDonald's novel titled ¨The executioners¨ and adding riveting psychological layers . It concerns on Max Cady (Robert De Niro, also producer , role formerly performed by Robert Mitchum) a psycho ex-convict excellently played by De Niro , who released from jail after fourteen years accuses a Southern lawyer , a magnificent Nick Nolte, for his several years imprisoned and plans a malevolent vengeance ,vowing make a living hell for his wife (Jessica Lange , anterior role by Polly Bergen) and daughter (Juliette Lewis , previously performed by Lori Martin). Nolte is helped by the chief Inspector (the politician Fred Dalton Thompson , formerly interpreted by Martin Balsam) and he hires an astute detective (Joe Don Baker , role of Telly Savalas) to watch him . Meanwhile, Max Cady/De Niro plays to cat and mouse with his family which is increasingly menaced .

This exciting film with interesting screenplay by Wesley Strick contains psychological characterization , grisly triller , tense situations and is pretty entertaining , though overlong . It's brilliant , atmospheric and slickly developed , almost a masterpiece . Phenomenal and artistic main titles by Saul Bass , Hitchcock's usual . Lavishly produced by the great Steven Spielberg and Barbara De Fina , Scorsese's ordinary producer . Awesome performance from De Niro as a self-educated wacko with ominous purports , though sometimes hands the role overblown and overacting way . Major asset are the continuous suspense and marvelous acting though at the ending becomes into an unbelievable terror film . Casting is frankly awesome with exceptional performances, especially by Nolte as a wily advocate at law , Jessica Lange as suffering wife and Joe Don Baker as a tough eye-private . Brief star cameos by Gregory Peck , Robert Mitchum and Martin Balsam who starred the classical version (1962) by J. Lee Thompson and screenplay by James R. Webb , still daring for his time . Musical score by Elmer Berstein based on the soundtrack composed by the master Bernard Herrmann with a similar style from Hitchcock music films . Sensational and colorful cinematography in Panavision by the excellent and veteran British cameraman Freddie Francis . The motion picture is splendidly directed by Martin Scorsese , one of the best contemporary filmmakers . It's a must see for Robert De Niro and Nick Nolte fans. The film is one of the best thrillers from the 90s in spite of being a remake . Rating : Better than average, well worth watching .

Well I'll admit I have not seen the original, but thought it was a good gesture to have Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum in the remake.

This is a role I don't think I've seen Robert De Niro in and it surprised me. He was absolutely creepy and diabolical. You could say his character in 'Taxi Driver' is most similar, but really they're quite different.

Scorsese is a master filmmaker, and he is able to double down on the intensity of the film, that truly gives it that edge of your seat feeling. I'm not sure if it's because I'm watching this for the first time in 2024, or if it was meant to be filmed a certain way in homage to the original, but to me it seemed dated and just an overall old timey film feel. Not really a criticism, just an observation.

I'll agree with De Niro getting a Oscar nominee for his character, but not for Juliette Lewis. There was nothing impressive about her performance to me.

I have never read the original book of this movie, nor have I seen the '62 version. I found myself watching this movie for a second time, and not quite sure why I did see it again. It might have been for the actors in it, or the Hitchcock-like style of it, but most likely, it was just because I remembered that Juliette Lewis is in it... and she's every bit as talented as she was in later films. Truth be told, the movie just isn't really that impressive. The direction is sub-par for Scorsese, the acting is below common expectations for Nolte and De Niro and the pacing is dire. The directorial style shows inspiration from the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. Normally I would immediately say that this is a good thing, but Scorsese misuses the suspense-building elements that Hitchcock used to great effect in his films... and thereby ruins a lot of needed intensity. A good bit of the music(if not all of it) is also inspired of Hitchcock... this isn't all bad, but there are scenes where it seems completely out of place. The movie has some good scenes, but they are few and far between. I barely paid attention to the film on my second viewing... that says something about how meandering, overlong and slow it is. Just when you think it's about to end, it goes on. And on. And on. The narration is somewhat flat, despite Lewis' talent. The acting isn't particularly impressive, compared to what De Niro(who should be restrained, physically, if necessary, from ever attempting a Southern accent again) and Nolte has done in the past. The direction isn't anything special for Scorsese. All in all, this is OK for a thriller, but not something you'll want to watch more than once. I recommend this to fans of Scorsese, De Niro, Nolte and, to a lesser extent, Lewis. Big fans of Hitchcock should probably avoid this, though. I won't say that Scorsese taints his overall body of work... but it's close. 7/10

Movies about the police and lawyers generally are a blind spot for me, as I can't stand police procedurals and courtroom dramas. I got into this movie because of the author of the book it's based on, John D. MacDonald. I found out about him when I read a collection of short stories called "Pulp Masters," after reading a collection of Oxford mysteries, and was so enamored with his storytelling that I sought out several of his books which were amazing. He truly was a master story-smith with an astounding amount of knowledge about a bewildering array of topics. He also was from Utica, where my father grew up, and attended Syracuse University where my mother is alumni. He died in 1986, five years before the filming of Cape Fear. I also had written a novella (unpublished) which centered around the area surrounding Cape Fear in North Carolina, and even involves a hike along the boardwalk of its titular waterway. The acting in this is impeccable from Nick Nolte, Juliet Lewis, and Robert De Niro. De Niro's performance is truly cringe-worthy and was difficult for me to watch and enjoy. The writing was top-notch, and although I haven't read the book it was based on, 'The Executioners,' I'm sure it was riveting. For the reasons that I don't enjoy this kind of story on screen, I don't give the movie super-high praise, even though it was by the affluential Martin Scorsese's direction. It was rattling and unsettling to see the characters' actions and motives play out, and I would have preferred to try to read the book. Good movie, overall, but not my cup of tea. I think it would be great to see more screen translations of MacDonald's books.

One of Martin Scorsese's lesser known films, "Cape Fear" revolves around a family being stalked by a psychopathic rapist who left prison after 14 years. Chaos ensues.

I looked this film up seeing it as a suggestion on a horror movies Reddit thread and did not know what to expect going into it. After having watched it, I was both impressed but also very unsettled by certain scenes. Who knew Robert De Niro could play a bad guy so well?? Yes, I know there's Goodfellas but here he was a proper psychopath bad guy full on. There was this specific scene between Max Cady (De Niro's character) and Danielle Bowden (Juliette Lewis' character). I won't go into details because I don't want to spoil anything but man, that scene was so unsettling. Nick Nolte did great as the stalked lawyer and Jessica Lange as his wife. Honestly, if you like De Niro and unsettling movies, give this one a watch.

"Cape Fear" has quite a few scenes that kept me on edge. The story is intense and well balanced: the screenwriters focused on the conflict between Cady and Sam, but they also developed the characters by showing for example the several issues of the Bowdens. The story is told more from the perspective of the family that needs to endure the constant harassments and violences by Cady. Martin Scorsese portrayed really well the fear and the constant anxiety that they need to endure. The cast conveyed the different emotions effectively and the acting was up to the standard. I particularly enjoyed the performance by Jessica Lange, especially towards the end. The movie has a good pace, as we see the ex-con escalating quickly his vengeance towards his defense lawyer, damaging people close to him, with the sole objective of destroying his life. The more we go on with the movie, the more suffocating the presence of Cady becomes. Robert De Niro absolutely nailed his part, he perfectly embodied this crazy and unscrupulous criminal.

With that being said, I have to say that some scenes did not age well. The final fight between the lawyer and Max has some interesting moments but overall it looks dull and clunky. I think that there were a few issues with the editing. The action and more dynamic sequences were cut weirdly and they did not flow well in my perspective. I was a bit surprised to be honest, because Scorsese always delivered good action scenes like in 'Goodfellas', just to quote a film that was made in the same period. There are a few moments where I was taken away from the intensity of the story because of these technical issues. Overall it is a good movie that I suggest if you want to spend a couple of entertaining hours. My final mark is 7.2.

An entertaining movie.

And an interesting watch for a Scorsece fan.

People complain "I can't believe he made this right after Goodfellas!" - but that just proves different genres take different skills, and you have to crawl before you walk.

You never get Shutter Island without his first attempts at such films.

Yes, you will hate DeNiro in this. You're supposed to, duh.

I don't know if you've ever met someone who was a criminal in youth - who then spent years institutionalized, but they have no 'social etiquette'.

They're not 'the suave bad guy'. Lol.

Even if his accent was off, he actually played the character perfectly.

They're 'ruthlessly untamed humans'.

I grew up with a few.

You know what's far worse than this movie?

The people who give everything a '1' if they don't like it, and a '10' if they do.

"Cady" (Robert De Niro) is released from jail after serving eighteen years for rape. He alights on the doorstep of his erstwhile defending counsel "Bowden" (Nick Nolte) with his cigar and his red sports car and generally starts intimidating the man and his family. Why? Well it turns out that the lawyer had buried some evidence during the trial that may have cast doubt on the voracity of the evidence given by the victim - and so now, "Cady" has revenge in mind. Now I loved the 1962 version of this film - Robert Mitchum is superb - and so I was always a bit sceptical about this remake. No, this honestly isn't a patch on that version, but that's as much to do with it being in colour and with it featuring the really poorly cast Nick Nolte and Jessica Lange. De Niro thrives in his element as the manipulative and genuinely odious character whilst Martin Scorsese allows the tension to increase, the sense of desperation and control to blossom and for a genuine sense of peril to develop. Hats can also go off for a strong effort from Juliette Lewis as the daughter "Danni" - a naive young girl whom "Cady" soon has in his sights. The setting for the denouement is as good as cinema can offer - an houseboat and a rainstorm - and as remakes go, this is not bad at all.

Martin Scorsese made what is arguably the best remake of all time with "The Departed," which took a good story and made it even better. The same can't be said for "Cape Fear." Scorsese's remake of the 1962 is very entertaining and features dynamic imagery, thought-provoking themes, and haunting performances from Robert De Niro and Juliette Lewis. But to the film's detriment Scorsese turns the Hitchcockian nightmare of the original into an often silly, over the top potboiler.

The original "Cape Fear" is an excellent example of less is more, relying on its noir atmosphere and strong performances to tell a compelling story. Scorsese's remake adds new layers of depth that make the story more engaging, but this is undermined by an uneven tone that veers from serious at one moment to comedic at the next. Some of the choices here are embarrassing: cartoon sound effects are used in scenes of intense drama and De Niro literally mugs at the camera (such as when his chin nearly hits the lens during his introduction, or when he smiles and winks like Bugs Bunny while hanging under the Bowdens' car). The characters aren't well developed, Leonard Bernstein's bombastic score is used ad nauseam, and the third act goes on for far too long.

Would I recommend "Cape Fear"? Yes, but only just. The entertaining story, memorable visuals, and riveting performances are enough to overcome bizarre artistic choices and an overdone third act. 7/10.

After watching this movie for the second time, the first time must have been about 5 or 6 years ago, I think it is still a good movie and holds up well.

The story is excellent and believable. It's about a convicted rapist fresh out of prison who is taunting/stalking and messing around with a lawyer. His own defence lawyer none the less, who he believes has done him wrong. The directing in the film is great and it was nice to see Martin Scorsese doing a different type of thriller, some camera angles and the way things are shot really remind me of movies like Psycho and help build suspense in the film along with the violent scenes seeming a lot more realistic. What made this film even better is Robert De Niro. I'm used to seeing him play the part of a gangster in movies, which don't get me wrong I love, but in this film he is brilliant and most of all you actually feel the suspense and threat that his character is imposing on the lawyers family. The only thing that lets this movie down for me is the last fifteen minutes which to me feel rushed along with some of the acting been a little too over the top; the film could have been wrapped up a lot better. The suspense should have carried on!

This movie is still an awesome film showing the brilliant talent De Niro has as a actor and Scorsese as a director. I would advise everyone who's a fan of film to watch this, especially people who love thrillers.

I seen it when it first came out and thought it was only mediocre.

It was on tv here last night and all the papers were giving it rave reviews, so I thought I'd give it another chance, to see if my first impression could be changed.

It can't.

the acting is not very good, and I didn't think it was very scary. I've seen more frightening things on MTV.

DeNiro is his usual self (well, maybe a different accent, but not very different) and Nick Nolte was depressingly unconvincing as a lawyer.

Even Juliette Lewis wasn't up to her usual good standards (her performance in say; From dusk to dawn, was...well...basically it was just better.

It wasn't bad, but it certainly wasn't worth the write up it got.

Cape Fear certainly has its strengths, particularly in its ability to create a palpable sense of tension and dread. Robert De Niro's portrayal of the menacing Max Cady is a standout, delivering a chilling performance that carries the film's intensity. The atmospheric direction and moody cinematography effectively build suspense, drawing you into the dark world of the story.

However, despite these positives, the film struggles with its pacing and length. The suspenseful build-up often feels stretched too thin, leading to moments where the tension dissipates rather than heightens. Additionally, some of the plot devices come off as overly contrived or melodramatic, detracting from the film's overall impact. While Cape Fear has its moments, its overstretched narrative and occasional lapses into exaggeration might leave viewers feeling less engaged as it drags toward its conclusion.