1. Cape Fear
1991 Martin Scorsese
Starring: Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte
& Jessica Lange

2. The sound of
Frame 1
falling rain in The movie opens
the with a Universal
background ident.
adds to the However, the
gloomy image is
atmosphere of subverted and
the initial shot presented in a
gloomy blue
colour.
The image also
appears as if
underwater.
This links to a
prominent
location in the
movie

3. 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.

4. Frame 3
The camera
slowly zooms The girl is
out, stopping dressed in
at a mid-shot white carrying
of a girl in her connotations of
late innocence and
teens/early purity.
twenties.
She is the
archetypal
victim of the The dialogue
genre. speaks of the
This scene creates enjoyment the
uncertainty in the viewer young girl has
as its overwhelmingly experienced in a
positive tone is a marked “magical”
contrast to what is to place, the inaptly
come. named “Cape
Fear”

5. Frame 4 The movie
opens with an
establishing
Cady’s wall shot showing
is covered in Cady’s prison
pictures of cell.
historical
figures, mar
tyrs and
super
heroes. The
choice of
images
suggests he
respects
absolute The camera
The clip features
power & gradually zooms
bombastic, gloomy
aggression out to reveal
orchestral Music
and feels the scope of his
creating a sense of
that he has obsession.
foreboding/
been
anticipation of bad
mistreated.
things to come

6. The bars show that he is a
dangerous person but we
are protected from him.
The bars also show that this
Frame 5 Tattoo of scales
man is almost like an on his back
animal as he has to be suggest that he
caged up. thinks he should
be in charge of
balancing things
out like a
superhero
which relates to
his wall.
The fact that Cady’s back is facing Cady is working out and is
the camera creates a feeling of strong. This shows that he is a
mystery around him and the powerful character who
viewer is immediately wondering should be feared and is quite
who this character is. dangerous.

7. Frame 6 This frame is a contrast to
the last frame because
There is not much sound when the bars were shut
when Cady leaves which the viewer felt safe but
shows that he is a feared now they are open.
and respected man in
prison.
The many books on the shelf
suggest that the character is
Cady’s has lots of tattoos on his body which quite intelligent which suits
suggests that he is sort of a rebel to society, as the psychological thriller
this is what tattoos are usually associated with. theme.

8. The sky is dark and cloudy
which is a use of pathetic
fallacy to portray the
Frame 7 There is a long-shot of the
prison which shows what a
feeling that the character
daunting and intimidating
is a bad man and bad
place it is.
things are going to
happen.
The fact that Cady and the Cady is walking boldly without any
viewer are both outside the emotion which suggests that he is on
gate show that there is nothing a mission and has a single goal that
to protect them from him. he has to do.

9. He is very Frame 8 Cady takes up most of the shot
intimidating as he which suggests that he is the main
walks directly towards focus and there is nowhere to
the viewer. escape from him.
The emotionless expression on his
Cady walks right up to the camera which is face further reinforces the idea that
quite sudden and shows that he is a very he has a job to do and nothing will
bold and important character. stop him. It also shows him as a
serious and dangerous character.

10. Frame 9 In the corners of the
frame there are still
This shot helps establish the background on the dark areas which still
characters because as there is a large house we suggests that there is
immediately think that the person who lives there must danger, even here.
be quite well paid e.g. a lawyer.
Pathetic fallacy is used in this
frame also because the sky is This frame is a contrast to the other frames
bright and the sun is shining on because everything looks quite peaceful
the white house, this suggests and happy.
that this is a safe place which
contrasts to the prison