Cape Fear (1991)
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The story
Max Cady, a psychopathic rapist, is released from prison after serving a full sentence. He targets Sam Bowden, the former public defender who intentionally withheld evidence that could have lightened Cady's sentence. Cady moves to Bowden's town of New Essex, North Carolina, and begins a campaign of stalking and terrorizing the Bowden family. As Bowden struggles to protect his wife and daughter from Cady's escalating threats and intimidation, the situation escalates into a dangerous game of cat and mouse, forcing Bowden to take desperate measures to ensure his family's safety against the determined and dangerous man.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After being released from prison, Max Cady seeks revenge on his former public defender, Sam Bowden, for a legal oversight that kept him incarcerated for fourteen years. Cady moves to Bowden's town and begins a campaign of terror against the Bowden family. After a series of escalations, including the assault of a courthouse clerk and the stalking of Bowden's daughter, the family flees to a houseboat on the Cape Fear River. Cady manages to board the boat and captures Bowden, leading to a tense confrontation during a violent storm. Cady attempts to force a confession from Bowden while the boat is adrift. During the struggle, the boat breaks apart, and Cady is left stranded. In the final moments, as the boat sinks, Cady is left behind in the wreckage, ultimately succumbing to the elements while the Bowden family escapes to safety.
- First release year
- 1991
- Runtime (minutes)
- 128
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Martin Scorsese
- Writers
- Wesley Strick · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Robert De Niro · Max Cady; Nick Nolte · Sam Bowden; Jessica Lange · Leigh; Juliette Lewis · Danielle; Joe Don Baker · Claude Kersek
- Genres
- southern gothic; psychological thriller
- Themes
- vengeance; legal ethics
- Tone and mood
- Gothic; thriller
- Premise and plot tags
- remake; stalking; home invasion
- Source material / true-story basis
- The Executioners by John D. MacDonald
- Reception
- The film was a commercial success and received generally positive reviews from critics.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 73 · scale: 100 · review count: 9
- Awards and nominations
- Oscar · Best Actor · nomination; Golden Globe · Best Actor · nomination; Golden Globe · Best Supporting Actress · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was the first Scorsese film to gross more than $100 million.; The film was a remake of the 1962 film.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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