Cape Fear (1991)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Graham J

  
  DeNiro is a monster.

• Jeff "

  
  I never thought I'd say this, but of all the Martin Scorsese films that I have seen, I have to say that Cape Fear is by far his weakest film. Based on the original 1960's classic, the Cape Fear remake is a borderline decent thriller film with a few horror elements, but… More
  I never thought I'd say this, but of all the Martin Scorsese films that I have seen, I have to say that Cape Fear is by far his weakest film. Based on the original 1960's classic, the Cape Fear remake is a borderline decent thriller film with a few horror elements, but it's nothing beyond good. De Niro was good however, but then again, I'm just a little disappointed in this film. I'd expect something from Scorsese to be yet again a masterpiece, because let's face it, everything he does is masterful. But Cape Fear is definitely the weakest film of his career. I take come comfort knowing that it's a remake, and usually with remakes, anyone can mess them up. Only a few remakes in the history of film have been great, even some outdoing the original. But withn Cape Fear there just isn't that spark or fire in the film to really make astounding. The film is a decent time waster, but it's also disappointing when you take into consideration who made this remake. Oh well, even the greatest directors are bound to make a weak film sometime, and in the case of Scorsese, it's the Cape Fear remake. A decent cast with with decent, horrifying chills, don't really go beyond anything remarkable or memorable.

• Dan S

  
  A disturbing, if flawed, story concerning a happy family of three (Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange, and Juliette Lewis) who are terrorized by an ex-convict, who is seeking vengeance on the father, who served as his lawyer fourteen years ago and lost the case. Although dark material like… More
  A disturbing, if flawed, story concerning a happy family of three (Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange, and Juliette Lewis) who are terrorized by an ex-convict, who is seeking vengeance on the father, who served as his lawyer fourteen years ago and lost the case. Although dark material like this is best handled by a master of film like Scorsese, and his casting for this film is impeccable, especially Robert De Niro who provides yet another stunning, magnificent turn as a vicious human being - this movie has it's share of problems. As the plot holes begin to pile up (especially concerning the Joe Don Baker character), the movie loses it's sense of realism and turns into something that proves somewhat ridiculous. Like the family's houseboat, the film's path shares a similar fate, and the ending monologue by Juliette Lewis is a poor attempt at wrapping things up. Definitely not a bad movie, for whenever De Niro appears he makes your skin crawl, but certainly not one of Scorsese's best.

• Leigh R

  
  Another film that just doesn't live up to the original. It just didn't spark the same creepiness factor for me.

• Chris G

  
  I've never been a fan of remakes. I've always felt that if you wanted to see a movie, the original is very easy to come by and remaking an old movie is just lazy film making or total blasphemy (I'm looking at you Psycho '98). Cape Fear is one of those rare remakes… More
  I've never been a fan of remakes. I've always felt that if you wanted to see a movie, the original is very easy to come by and remaking an old movie is just lazy film making or total blasphemy (I'm looking at you Psycho '98). Cape Fear is one of those rare remakes that is able to get beyond the stigma of being a remake, mainly because of the people that made it. Martin Scorsese directing Robert DeNiro is a good start. Throw in Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange, and the legendary Joe Don Baker and you get a film that equals its source material. Cape Fear is about a southern lawyer (Nick Nolte) who is being harassed by recently released Max Cady (Robert DeNiro) who has been using his quiet time wisely by studying the law and his own case in particular. It seems that the good southern lawyer didn't use a piece of evidence that could have allowed Cady to go free because he knew he was guilty. Shame, shame. The film is basically a cat and mouse game as Max stays within the law to a point while Nolte's character is pushed over the line to rid himself and his family of this menace. The first thing I have to mention is the irony that Nick Nolte stars as a clean cut guy in a film with a character sporting long hair and looking creepy in general (mugshot). Cape Fear is a nice thriller that complements the Scorsese/DeNiro repertoire that I miss so damn much. Sure, there are things that are plot stretching bu the overall film is a creepy flick that tips it hat to the later noir films of the late 1950's and early '60's, particularly the Saul Bass opening and updating Bernard Herrmann's original score. Cape Fear isn't the greatest film known to man, but it is a very suspenseful thriller that delivers that edge of your seat feeling that doesn't deal with running to the restroom for a tinkle. It holds your attention throughout and doesn't bore. It's Scorsese's answer to the onslaught of stalker films that came out in the wake of Fatal Attraction and succeeds in being a better picture than the norm.

• danny d

  
  incredibly entertaining, but not powerfully so as many of scorsese's films tend to be. the characters were just incredibly unlikable including the protagonists, and the dialogue was pretty far outside of what i would consider believable. the film had solid tension and a fun… More
  incredibly entertaining, but not powerfully so as many of scorsese's films tend to be. the characters were just incredibly unlikable including the protagonists, and the dialogue was pretty far outside of what i would consider believable. the film had solid tension and a fun performance from deniro making this film a step back from scorsese's usual genius but still very enjoyable.

• Conner R

  
  Martin Scorsese presents a very well done remake that improves upon characterization and plot. A great performance from Robert De Niro that made this movie the classic it is. He is by far one of the most disturbed characters brought on screen, in that he never gives up and never… More
  Martin Scorsese presents a very well done remake that improves upon characterization and plot. A great performance from Robert De Niro that made this movie the classic it is. He is by far one of the most disturbed characters brought on screen, in that he never gives up and never surrenders. The lengths he goes in order to ruin Nick Nolte's life is unmatched. It is an essential film in Scorsese's work because it is so different.

• Emile T

  
  What a tremendous performance by Robert De Niro.

• Fernando Rafael Q

  
  Wow! I never thought I would be so disappointed in Martin Scorsese. A remake is (almost) never necessary, but Scorsese just made a fool of himself trying to revive this 1962 thriller. Although he added a few interesting elements, his and Wesley Strick's reimagining of Max Cady is… More
  Wow! I never thought I would be so disappointed in Martin Scorsese. A remake is (almost) never necessary, but Scorsese just made a fool of himself trying to revive this 1962 thriller. Although he added a few interesting elements, his and Wesley Strick's reimagining of Max Cady is absolutely terrible. Different from the cool, smart killer from the original, the 1991 edition of Max Cady is downright ridiculous. There's homage, and then there's CAPE FEAR: blatant ripoff. Every angle, every light, every shot, even the use of Bernard Herrmann and Saul Bass screams Hitchcock. That's unacceptable, especially coming from an exceptionally talented director as Scorsese. Terrible tribute. Unintentionally funny, incredibly cheesy and highly unplausible events mark this low point in Marty's career. CAPE FEAR is saved solely by the good performances by Robert DeNiro, Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange and especially, Juliette Lewis.

• Martin S

  
  I liked it. There was some great cutting and there was some horrible cutting. The same goes for the acting...so it was a little confusing. But it's just a good story. And we all like Robert De Niro....but the man who made this movie is defenetly Nick Nolte.

• Lorenzo v

  
  Robert De Niro is the actor in Hollywood with the most potential to disturb. With his slick greasy hair, rapturous tattoos, and polite southern accent, he creates a Max Cady that makes Robert Mitchum seem like a boyscout. The movie was enthralling in the most disturbing way. I wanted… More
  Robert De Niro is the actor in Hollywood with the most potential to disturb. With his slick greasy hair, rapturous tattoos, and polite southern accent, he creates a Max Cady that makes Robert Mitchum seem like a boyscout. The movie was enthralling in the most disturbing way. I wanted so badly to look away from the carnage, but was completely unable. Cape Fear sent my friends running, and is definitely not for the faint of heart, but if fear is what you crave, or you enjoy De Niro's power to disturb, then hop on the boat.

• Tim S

  
  Scorcese did a masterful job at remaking a classic.

• Derek A

  
  It's hard to find words to criticize this movie because it was so superbly acted. Robert De Niro was lights out fantastic in this. If you need a reason to watch this it would be to see him outside of his bad guy "mobster" persona, and into this deranged psychopath… More
  It's hard to find words to criticize this movie because it was so superbly acted. Robert De Niro was lights out fantastic in this. If you need a reason to watch this it would be to see him outside of his bad guy "mobster" persona, and into this deranged psychopath role. Even Juliette Lewis, as annoying and unattractive as she is, was great in this film. I have never seen Nick Nolte in anything that impressed me before until now. The plot is fairly linear, so if you know the story line then, well, you know the whole story. But it was incredibly suspenseful to watch. What really sells this movie is the climax. It has a very memorable climax... but I won't give anything away. Unfortunately, it's a bit of a marathon getting to the end. This movie, being a little outdated (1991), moves at a fairly slow pace at times. And a good portion of events are a bit unfathomable. Not to mention the music that was supposed to build suspense was really loud and irritating. Regardless, this movie thrives off the stellar acting and directing by all time great Martin Scorsesse.

• Craig S

  
  <u><b>Directed by:</u></b> Martin Scorcese. <u><b>Starring:</u></b> Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange, Juliette Lewis. <i><< "Now you will learn about loss, loss of freedom, loss of humanity...now you and I will… More
  <u><b>Directed by:</u></b> Martin Scorcese. <u><b>Starring:</u></b> Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange, Juliette Lewis. <i><< "Now you will learn about loss, loss of freedom, loss of humanity...now you and I will truly be the same, Counselor." >></i> I could be a whiner and say how it is clearly not up with Scorcese's masterworks, but why would I when its clearly obvious? What is also obvious here is that this film is underrated. Cape Fear is a brilliantly taut and masterfully directed piece of work that even despite some flaws, is tense, chilling, well thought out and balanced with some extremely outstanding performances. Full review coming soon.

• Al S

  
  An explosive, creepy and mind-blowing edge of your seat thriller. Shocking, relentless and disturbing. A non-stop chiller. It's totally unforgetable. Nick Nolte gives a brilliant and powerful performance. Robert De Niro gives a memerizing and feriousesly tour de force… More
  An explosive, creepy and mind-blowing edge of your seat thriller. Shocking, relentless and disturbing. A non-stop chiller. It's totally unforgetable. Nick Nolte gives a brilliant and powerful performance. Robert De Niro gives a memerizing and feriousesly tour de force performance. An absorbing physcological rollar-coaster ride. Director, Martian Scorcesse departs nicely from his popular crime films to this drilling and brooding thriller.

• Film C

  
  reli good didnt manage to seee the end reli wanna see it now though

• Lady D

  
  This 1991 version of Cape Fear, has to be one of the best remakes ever, especially as the original was so good. Not Scorseses usual style of film, but DeNiro is outstanding as lead character Max Cady, a role in which DeNiro researched and built up the part to play including going to… More
  This 1991 version of Cape Fear, has to be one of the best remakes ever, especially as the original was so good. Not Scorseses usual style of film, but DeNiro is outstanding as lead character Max Cady, a role in which DeNiro researched and built up the part to play including going to prisons to pick out tattoos. Great performances also to Juliette Lewis and Jessica Lange. Anyone who hasn't yet seen this film is in for a real treat, as although this is a film I watch over and over, there is nothing like the instensity I felt the first time of viewing.

• Candy R

  
  Excellent thriller about a criminal after the attorney who put him away. Rob's character is pure evil as he terrorises Nick's family.

• Tim S

  
  Again, you are into cause of DeNiro and Nolte and it's fun as hell. Marty on coke.

• xGary X

  
  Brutal rapist Max Kady is released from prison after serving 14 years and sets about taking his revenge on the defense attorney who represented him. Martin Scorsese's remake of classic 1961 thriller came as a real surprise to me; I honestly did not believe he was capable of… More
  Brutal rapist Max Kady is released from prison after serving 14 years and sets about taking his revenge on the defense attorney who represented him. Martin Scorsese's remake of classic 1961 thriller came as a real surprise to me; I honestly did not believe he was capable of making something quite this BAD. If I did not know it was a Scorsese, I would have certainly pegged it as a Verhoeven or someone similar. It's schlocky, stupid and tackily directed, and full of ludicrous melodrama that borders on the absurd; in fact on more than one occasion, it looked more like a parody than a genuine thriller. If a character that is meant to be menacing is misjudged, they can often just appear laughable; Buffalo Bill was one example, and Max Kady is another. I was literally smirking half the time he was on the screen...more often than not he was like a comedy version of Michael Myers! By far the best thing about this film is a particularly funny episode of The Simpsons that takes the piss out of it.

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