The scene begins with establishing shots of a lake and stormy weather to set an ominous atmosphere. A black screen and tense music heighten unease. Credits are shown over shots of dark, swirling water. A girl's distressed eyes are shown in close-ups with a red filter, implying danger. Drops of blood turn the water red. A shadowy figure's reflection hints at a looming threat. The protagonist, Cady, is released from prison amid stormy weather, suggesting he poses a threat to society.

1. Cape Fear Analysis
By Daisy Stokes

2. The scene begins with a mid-shot showing the institutions logo,
it dissolves into a water like picture as if waves were moving
across the screen. This could also be used to foreshadow later
events which happen within a scenery with a lake. The music
played over the top of this cut sounds like the sea/a storm
which is setting further atmosphere, linking the next cut also
being in water.

3. The scene then cuts into a black screen for a few seconds to heighten the sensation of tension and
make the viewers on edge as they are unaware of what is going to happen next. Black also has
connotations of evilness, fear and the unknown, it could also could symbolise being in the darkness,
which emphasises why the director has used this to create tension and fear gripping the audience to
continue watching. A sharp music sting is then used between the two cuts above, to catch the
audience’s attention that something is about to happen. The clip then continues with non-diegetic
instrumental high pitch fast music, making the viewer continue to feel unease. Credits are played over
the top of a close up shot showing a lake/water. The water gives a sense of menace and danger as its
deep, dark and swirling. There is also pleonastic sound from the water making it sound more realistic
creating further atmosphere. White writing is used which could be used to make it stand out upon the
dark background. It may also be used as a contrast between the connotations of white being innocence,
purity, and goodness, while black is the opposite giving negative connotations said previously. This
could be used to foreshadow and symbolise the characters later shown (the young girl in white and
perhaps the man’s evil soul). The use of lighting on the river makes it more realistic as its coming from
the sun. however, the low-key lighting adds to the atmosphere being uneasy as it makes it more scary.

4. A reflection of an eagle is shown
which has connotations of
freedom, which could represent
the man later featured in the
scene who gets released from
prison. The bird hovering over the
water waiting to catch his prey
could symbolise how Cady is
portrayed as a predator and
seeking revenge, later on in the
film.
The title ‘cape fear’ is shown in
white writing which contradicts itself
as white has connotations of
innocence, purity and goodness.
However, this goes against what the
viewer is seeing. A face is shown
underwater which could perhaps
foreshadow someone drowning or
being underwater. connotations of
the word ‘cape’ would be super
heroes which is contrasted with the
word ‘fear’ to portray mystery as the
two words have opposite
connotations.

5. There is an extreme close shot of a reflection of an eye in the water, which is shown as distressed
looking in different directions which could imply that the person is scared and in danger. This could
represent the young girl later shown in the clip, as the clip continues there is another extreme close up
shot of a young girl’s eyes looking into the camera suggesting that that it was her eye. This creates a
sense of fear that the viewer watching will feel for her, as this could be foreshadowing that something
bad is going to happen to her. The fact that the extreme close up shot of her eyes has a red filter on it
emphasises that she is in danger due to the connotations of red. The colour red is also associated with
blood which is shown in the previous cut dropping into the water turning it red, this could foreshadow a
murder or injury may be inflicted upon her. The girl is represented as sweet and innocent as she is
dressed all in white which gives connotations of being innocent and goodness, which reinforces
stereotypes of how stereotypically young women are presented as victims. The girl appears to be using
direct address when she’s reminiscing about cape fear. She contradicts what we as viewers have just
seen with her use of diegetic dialogue. She says ‘for such a lovely river the name cape fear was
mystifying’ the viewer does not get this from the opening scenes where the river seems threatening and
menacing heightened by the use of sharp music stings and keeps the viewers enthralled and wondering
what’s happening. ’Those enchanted evenings’ suggests mystery, romance, and possibly good magic,
which is completely contrasted to our first impressions. She also says in diegetic dialogue that ‘the only
thing to fear is mystifying’ while using a very calm tone of voice, which goes against what you would
expect to see after seeing the previous cuts; which is ironic to what the viewers has just seen. This
makes the viewers want to keep watching to solve the mystery.

6. A drop of red liquid fills the water turning it
completely red, this could represent blood
making the audience nervous as they don’t
know where this has come from. Red gives
connotations of danger, death and power.
This emphasises again the something bad is
going to happen in the water constantly
making the viewers feel cautious yet enticed
to find out what’s happening.
There is a reflection of a shadow in the water, which
heightens the sense of fear for the viewers as they
don’t know who it is. A shadow is also associated with
mystery, power and evilness due to
connections/stereotypes that can be linked with
horror films. The identity of the figure is not yet
revealed making the audience gripped as they want to
be able to piece this all together and solve the
mystery. There is then a mouth silently screaming
shown which could suggest someone is scared and
could be linked to the girl who is shown to imply that
she's in danger.

7. The intense non-diegetic tension building music continues, over photos on being of
joseph Starlin. Stalin killed thousands of people cruelly and the fact that Cady has him
on his wall could imply that he honours him and wants to be like him as Stalin was
known as the man of steel implying that he also wants to be as powerful as him and
kill people to gain his revenge. There are also pictures of super heroes on his wall
which shows that he may believe that getting justice by killing people is fair and he’s
doing the right thing by getting his revenge foreshadowing perhaps what’s going to
happen next. A close up shot is then shown of some books in his room. One being a
bible which could imply that he is religious therefore he may believe ‘eye for an eye’
is justice/fair and isn’t wrong. Again, this emphasises the he believes he is doing the
right thing. Also, law books which shows that he has studied how to perhaps not get
caught this time and emphasizes that he is planning on doing something against the
law. The books are red, black, gold and white which gives connotations of power,
evilness, contrasted with the gold and white being magic, innocence and goodness
which could symbolise he girl and the red and black could symbolise Cady. This
reinforces stereotypes of man stereotypically being powerful and the young girl being
weak, helpless and innocent.

8. There is a mid-shot of Cady shown with closed framing to emphasise that he is in prison and locked away
from society making building tension as its implying he is dangerous but the viewers are unaware of why
he is there creating more mystery. He is doing weights which reinforces stereotypes that men are strong
and shows him to be powerful. The fact that his shirt is off emphasizes his muscles and gives the viewers
a clear picture of his tattoo. His tattoo is a picture of a cross again reinforcing that he is religious and
has those extreme views (an eye for an eye). It also has scales which say under them ‘truth and ‘justice’
which shows that he may have been wrongly accused of something or that someone is lying and he wants
to go and seek revenge to bring truth and justice. He has many other tattoos which give negative
associations of being a criminal and being unapproachable which creates a picture for the viewer of
what his character is like without any dialogue form him. He is then shown walking out of his cell past
the other prisoners. The music gets louder and more intense creating tension/fear implying that it’s a
bad thing him being released. All of the other prisons are in silence (non-diegetic tension building sound
used) this could show a sign of power he has, as if he is there leader and they are scared of him. some of
the other prisoners are sharing a cell, the fact that he was isolated could suggest that he is dangerous
and has to be kept away from others for their safety. while him and the police man are both wearing
blue shirts, which gives connotations of loyalty, truth and intelligence. This could suggest that although
the police man is shown physically bigger than Cady and has more power, Cady is just as intelligent and
loyal, looking for the trust. The other prisons re dressed in white which contradicts connotations being
innocence and purity when they are criminals (could imply they were wrongly convicted).

9. Pleonastic sound is used on the door
shutting on the other prisoners to
emphasise that he has been released
and they are still locked away as he
was. A close up shot is used of the
gate to emphasise that he was locked
in and he is now being released.
The protagonist is shown walking towards the camera, the police man says ‘many people coming for
you cady’ in diegetic dialogue with a concerning tone of voice. The fact that he addresses him by
name shows that he is well known in the prison, which could imply that he is trouble. The fact that no
one is coming for him creates tension as it makes the viewers wonder why keeping them on edge. He
also says ‘you got your books’ and he replies with ‘already read them’ emphasizing that he has studied
them and is ready to act on his revenge plan. He is wearing green and brown which gives connotations
of harmony and warmth, which contradicts with other stereotypes we have previously seen him
associated with. This keeps mystery for the viewers. As he is walking out of the prison the weather is
shown to turn stormy with lighting, and diegetic sound of the storm making it more realistic. Storms
are usually associated with negative connotations of being scary, dangerous, powerful and
troublesome. This could symbolise him emphasising that he shouldn’t be released into society.