Analysis of the opening to the 1991 film Cape Fear

1. CAPE FEAR
OPENING ANALYSIS
Kirsty Reeve

2. ■ The extract starts off with a master shot of water in dark colours,
the water could represent that things aren’t what they seem. The
soundtrack of strings start of calm and tranquil. The use of strings
and pitch build up tension for the introduction of the image of a bird
of prey, an eagle, this could show that the main character within
the clip has power and is feared by the other people that are in the
scene with them. The colours of the water fades to a dark
mysterious colour whilst the music changes to a high pitch track
with brass instruments that heighten the sensation of fear for the
audience.

3. ■ An image of a darting eye is used that could illustrate that there is
a victim that is involved in some sort of crime. The fact that the eye
is shown underwater could represent the crime that has happened,
the victim could have been drowned. As the eye fades the music,
as well as the colours, fade to become calmer and less intense. A
faded image of lips is used to show the struggle that the possible
victim showed.

4. ■ In the middle of the screen a light streak is
used with low angle distorted shot with a
shadow of a man. This shot could be
represented as the victim looking up at the
character that has committed the crime.
The non-diegetic soundtrack of strings
intensifies and raises in pitch to increase
the tension and mystery of the character
that is shown. A close up is used to show
the shadow’s waist, the placement of the
character, in the middle, shows that he
holds importance within the clip. In this shot
the male characters hand is made to stand
out, this could be because that was his
weapon for the crime that was committed.

5. ■ As the clip progresses there is an
introduction to more brass instruments
when there a red colour is brought
downwards onto the screen with a drip
coming down at the same time. This
could denote blood that was involved in
the possible crime that took place. When
the drip has disappeared it then cuts to
an extreme close up of a females eyes
where the screen is still red. This could
be a way of the director showing the
audience that she was the victim in the
film. The image of the girl then cuts to
the same image but in inverted colours.
The first line of diegetic dialogue “my
reminisce” suggests that she is retelling
the story of her death. The camera
zooms out, whilst going back into full
colour, as the female carries on
speaking. As the camera is zooming out
it is shown that the girl is dressed in
white. The white could represent the
innocence of the character as well as the
fact that she could have still been in
school education. This would invoke the
stereotype that young girls are innocent.

6. ■ This then cuts to photos of dictators and famous war leaders on a wall for
example Stalin, the camera slowly pans down whilst moving back to
establish the location of a jail cell. The names of the books that are
shown to be on the shelf very influential books, examples of this are the
bible and books related to war. The next thing that is shown in the
prisoner himself. This could suggest to the viewer that he is a sustained
mental frame of mind and can keep to a routine even when he may not
physically have the resources to do so. At this point we will be able to
see the characters tattoo that covers his back. The tattoo is of scales of
justice, this implies to the audience that he might be wrongly accused or
the opposite through the irony that he is in prison. Throughout there is a
non-diegetic soundtrack that is used to build up tension and to infer that
he is a dangerous man, a predator (the eagle at the start of the clip).

7. ■ The camera has now stopped zooming out to
reveal the out of focus iron bars incarcerating him
in the cell. This is used to tell the audience that he
has prevalence in the film. As the male character
is released from his cell and walking to the gate
he is always in the middle of the frame. Whilst the
camera is following him the audience can see that
all of the other cell mates are up against the bars,
this could show that the male character is feared
or respected by the other cell mates.

8. ■ At the end of the clip whilst the male character
is walking out of the prison gates he is asked
if he wants the books that are in his cell, this
is then followed by him saying that he has
read them all. This tells the viewer that he has
been there for a long time. This can also show
us that he is determined and independent
through the keep fit books and the very first
shot that we see of him doing exercise in his
cell. This is also shown through no one
collecting him when he leaves the prison. This
is emphasised through the use of pathetic
fallacy, the storm in the sky, NVC and the fact
that he motivates the cuts.