The opening credits and scenes of Cape Fear establish tension and mystery. Images in the credits foreshadow important symbols and events later in the film. A young girl's school uniform suggests innocence, while a man is introduced in prison with tattoos and respect from others, hinting at a sinister past. Dramatic music and lighting create an ominous atmosphere throughout the opening.

1. Cape Fear Opening Analysis

2. Questions that are relevant to a thriller
film: Cape Fear
Why is there Why is there
water? an eagle?
Why are the officers or
Who face is it? other prisoners scared
of him?
Questions
Why has the water
turned red? Why is he in
jail?
Who is the girl?
Who is in the
Why does she say the photos?
words “crashing in?”

3. Water – Suggests drowning, setting, cannot see
what is in the water (fear of the unknown)
Bird – Eagle, a predator – This may suggest that
Cody is a hunter like the eagle
Sound – Thunder, sinister music, also menacing
Images – Eye, teeth face, body, Black & white
cannot see completely
Colour – Water turns red – red can mean evil,
dangerous
Girl – Wearing school uniform – Looks smart, top
button is done up (could suggest she is innocent
and pure)
Images – Famous historical figures – All killers and
rulers (could suggest his inspirations)
Music- Sinister music (builds tension)
Images – Tattoo – The scales of justice hanging from
a cross (could suggest that he feels justice has been
taken from him)
Setting – Thunder as Cady leaves jail
Cady – He is doing ‘dips’ in the first scene when we
see him; he has a lot of books which shows he is
educated and a lot of tattoos on his arms suggesting
he hard.
Cady also looks like he has more power than the
police officer when he is walking out also all the
other prisoners do not shout a word at him which
could show that he is either respected or feared.

4. Opening Credits
Opening Scene and Credits;
Credits -
Setting – In water, suggesting a river/lake
- This could suggest that the film takes place near a
river/lake and that the water is a main scene/setting
throughout the film.
Costume – The young girls outfit shows that she is
still in school; her top button is done up and she
doesn’t have obvious make up on which could
suggest she is innocent and pure.
Lighting – Low key, suggests that there could be
something in the darkness, and could also portray
tension and danger to the audience, making us
unaware of what's to come and we are eager to keep
watching.

5. Cinematography
Editing – Images in the background have been shown in the water.
These images could foreshadow the events to come. These may also
be symbolic prop and/or places which may be relevant later on in the
film.
Sound – There is a sinister, almost menacing sound track, there is also
a small amount of dialogue. This creates tension and builds suspense
in the minds of the audience. This also makes the audience want to
carry on watching the film and see what happens.
Narrative
• Why is there water?
• Why is there an eagle?
• Whose face is it?
• Why has the water turned red?
• Who was the girl? “crashing in”
• Why is this soundtrack being used?

6. Representation
The young girl’s costume is a school uniform, with little
makeup and with a smart hair cut; this is to show the
audience that this character is an intelligent, innocent young
girl who takes pride in her appearance.
Her top button on her shirt is also done up, this makes her
look smart and could suggest that she goes to a good school.
The colour of her shirt is white. The connotations associated
with this colour is purity, innocence and vulnerability.
Therefore, we think that she is the protagonist and
immediately care for her and think that she will become the
victim to events to come.

7. Editing
Montage - The opening credits are a
series of images which foreshadow
the events and props throughout with
a sinister theme tune playing in a the
back ground.
This makes the audience question
why the images in the montage are
being used and also the music creates
tension and creates a dramatic
atmosphere.

8. Mise en Scene
Setting: - The setting for the credits is on a
lake/river which suggests that the film is based
around/to do with the water. The water is also
not clear which suggests that you cannot see
what is in it, creating an fear of the unknowing.
Lighting - The lighting for the credits is low
lighting and pure.
Costume - The young girl is wearing a school
uniform which has the top button done up
suggesting that she is pure and innocent.
Make up - The young girl has natural make up
on suggesting that she is innocent and obeys
by the rules.

9. Opening scene
Mise en scene -
Setting: In jail, which makes the audience question why is
this man in jail.
Props: In the jail cell, there are books which suggests that
the prisoner (Cady) is well educated. There also pictures of
historical figures on the wall; these historical figures are all
people who have earned power through violence which
suggests something about Cady.
Lighting -
Non-verbal communication: We are introduced to Cady as
he is doing exercise in his cell which shows off his tattoos
and lets the audience view that he is not a small or weak
man; there is no communication by any of the police men
or other prisoners to Cady has he is being taken out of his
cell which suggests that he has a lot of respect from them
or that they fear him.
Costume/make up- Cady starts of by wearing a prisoners
outfit however when he leaves jail he is just wearing
normal clothes; however he has a lot of tattoos covering
his body.

10. Representation
Cady is introduced to the audience in a jail cell doing
exercise and allowing the audience to see that he is
not a weak man as he has a lot of muscles and a lot
of tattoos which gives a of ‘bad boy’ image. The first
tattoo you see is the tattoo of the scales of justice,
the scales are balanced; this shows that he is doing to
get revenge and make the scales even.
The props that are in Cady cells are books and photos
of historical figures who have all gained power
through violence, this shows that audience that Cady
is an educated man.
None of the other prisoners or guards say anything to
Cady has he leaves the prison, this shows fear and
respect which also says more about the character.

11. Music
There is dramatic and sinister soundtrack
throughout the opening scene, it creates
tension and a dramatic atmosphere and
it also shows that Cady has a lot of
power.
As Cady leaves the prison there is a non-
diegetic sound for the thunder to create
a more dangerous atmosphere.
There is also a cutaway as Cady walks
straight to the camera which shows he
isn't afraid to be out of prison.

12. I think Cape Fear has a really good opening
scene and credits for the thriller as it makes the
audience ask questions about the film the whole
way through; it is a really dramatic opening and
it makes the audience wonder a lot about the
two characters that you see who are very
different from each other and it also creates
tension which will make the audience more
interested and will make them want to continue
to watch the rest of the film.

13. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoO0ZsQ7
tBg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQqo-
w1qvws