cape dear analysis

1. Cape fear analysis
By Faith Lovell

2. The opening to this scene begins with a music sting leading to a non-diegetic
soundtrack suggesting a sinister atmosphere. This swiftly creates a sense
of creepiness and tension within the film, highlighting that the plot will
surround the typical conventions of a frightening, scary thriller, which is also
reinforced by the low-key lighting used throughout the clip. A close up of
rippling water is portrayed, representing a flowing river with hints of yellow
against the water suggesting the end of a day during sunset, this could
imply the end of a life or the beginning of a death, this image also carries
connotations of death by drowning or the fear of the unknown, setting up an
ominous atmosphere and foreshadowing the potential dangers to come.

3. The shot then dissolves into an image of an eagle
flying over the water, these birds are predators
that feed on prey connoting an eerie
atmosphere adhering with destruction and
death, As the raven dissolves away the water
slightly changes from yellow to blue suggesting
the day is closer to ending.
As the title of the film is inserted into the clip,
the non-diegetic soundtrack then reaches a
climax in a musical crescendo, the tone of the
water turns more red demonstrating the large
significance of the river with the film, connoting
blood and danger whilst also foreshadowing
death.

4. The title then fades away and
followed by a series of images
fade into the water an extreme
close up of a darting, dark
brown eye suggesting paranoia,
frustration and fear within a
character, followed by another
extreme close up of teeth
suggesting silent screams,
adding to the themes of fear.
Thereafter a close up of a mans
face slightly smirking is shown
making the audience wonder he
is the cause of the danger, and
foreshadowing whether he
could be the antagonist or
protagonist of the film. During
this sequence non-diegetic
soundtrack has a music sting as
of this point, forcing us to
remember this character and
know his importance.

5. The water ripples become faster flowing and rapid to build
tension within the clip, following that, a low angled shot
of a man looking down on us putting the audience in a
vulnerable position with the man being portrayed as a
character of danger and threat.
A black silhouette of a mans body and hand emphasises
the threat, the shadowy figure creating ambiguous
meanings, confirming to the stereotypes of a horror
thriller by creating mystery and terror.
A the montage ends, the water gradually turning from black
to red with a close up of a droplet of water faded into
the frame foreshadowing death within the river.

6. The red transitions with using a dissolve into an extreme
close up of a young girls eyes then slowly zooming out
into a mid-shot of her, whilst speaking using diegetic
dialogue. She wears a white shirt with all buttons done up
and make up is kept to a minimal, this suggests a young
and innocent child, with purity, subverting the ideas within
a horror thriller which instantly makes the audience
question why is she the first to be introduced, creating
ideas that she is a victim or the film. She says “says “I
always thought that for such a lovely river, the name was
mystifying ‘Cape Fear’, and that the only thing to fear on
those enchanted summer nights was that the magic
would end and real-life would come crashing in.” With this
diegetic dialogue she says it in a calm yet soft tone,
suggesting her vulnerability or even as if she was never
affected by what the mysterious happenings creating a
sinister vibe. Using rain being the window portrays the
pathetic fallacy and the emotions behind what she is
vaguely explaining had lead to misery, although she is
not in the rain could add to the idea that she is not
affected by what ever happned.

7. In the next scene a non-diegetic soundtrack that is
sinister and powerful is in the back ground of close ups
from a downwards tilt of photos stuck onto a cell wall,
these photos consisting of Stalin, also known as ‘the
man of steel’ and suggests that the character of the
prisoner Cady, controversially idolises such a brutal,
fierce, cruel figure in history, inferring that he too is a
similar personality who should be feared.
The next shot portrays a mid-shot of Cady’s back as he lifts
weights and cuts to him doing press ups showing the
audience he has been working up to this day, as later on the
narrative reveals he is leaving the prison today. The closed-
framing from behind the bars creates a sense of entrapment
and shows that he is confined and wants t be released.
Meanwhile his muscles show of his physical strength and the
books that surround him illustrate intelligence.
The mid-shot shows off his tattoo on his back, it is a cross
with the scales of justice, the balance between the two
highlighting of his belief in justice, foreshadowing he is going
to seek revenge after his release.

8. As the police officer comes to let Cady out
of prison, he addresses him by his name,
portraying he s well known within the prison
and also suggesting he has been there for a
long time. Also that he had a cell just for
him whilst the other prisoners shared their
cells represents the respect other prisoners
or even police officers had for Cady, in
addition as he walked down the steps out
of the prison all of the other prisoners used
non-verbal communication to represent the
respect, or maybe even fear him. As he is
escorted out, there is a tracking shot to
follow him as we also see the other
prisoners all crammed against he bars to
watch his departure.
As the clip comes to an end, a sound
bridge is used as the unlocking of the
cell gates match the sound the
unlocking of the prison gates,
alongside a dramatic non-diegetic
soundtrack. An establishing shot
portrays Cady striding out of prison,
with a half proud half smirk on his
face. Stormy weather is portrayed in
the sky with thunder being heard over
the soundtrack, this adds mystery to
his character, makes the audience
think he is out to cause more danger.
He approaches the camera creating a
close up of his face portraying his
cunning facial expressions whilst
intimidating the audience using such
close proximity with the camera.