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Cape Fear Details

1991 DVD Certificate 18.gif
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 14,722 members

Martin Scorsese's remake of J. Lee Thompson's 1962 film is a stylish, taut thriller. Public defender Sam Bowden (Nick Nolte) served as the attorney for brutal rapist Max Cady (Robert De Niro) at his arraignment. Shocked by the violence of Cady's crime, Sam duplicitously withheld information regarding the sexually promiscuous .. Read more

Starring Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange, Joe Don Baker
Director Martin Scorsese
Genres Drama

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Cape Fear

Martin Scorsese's remake of J. Lee Thompson's 1962 film is a stylish, taut thriller. Public defender Sam Bowden (Nick Nolte) served as the attorney for brutal rapist Max Cady (Robert De Niro) at his arraignment. Shocked by the violence of Cady's crime, Sam duplicitously withheld information regarding the sexually promiscuous activities of Cady's rape victim--information that might have won Max's acquittal. After serving a hellish 14-year sentence in a barbaric state penitentiary, the once-illiterate Cady, who has taught himself to read and studied up on the law during his incarceration, seeks vengeance against the prosperous small-town lawyer. Max makes good on his satanic threats to terrorize Sam, stalking the vulnerable family, poisoning their dog, brutally assaulting Sam's close friend, and sexually harassing Sam's daughter, Danielle (Juliette Lewis). To rid themselves of this raging force of retribution, Sam; his wife, Leigh (Jessica Lange); and Danielle join together against Max in a final struggle for their very existence. Scorsese pays debts to Thompson's earlier version by using Bernard Herrmann's original score, as well as casting Robert Mitchum, Gregory Peck, and Martin Balsam in supporting roles. Lewis delivers a stirring performance that earned her a well-deserved Oscar nomination, as did De Niro, whose tattooed vengeance seeker is one of cinema's most terrifying, notorious presences.

Starring Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange, Joe Don Baker, Robert Mitchum, Gregory Peck, Martin Balsam, Juliette Lewis, Fred Dalton Thompson, Illeana Douglas
Director Martin Scorsese
Studio SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time DVD: 2 hrs 2 mins
Certificate DVD Certificate 18.gif
Collections 100 Horror Films, 100 Top Thrillers
Genres Drama
Language English
Released DVD: 31 Mar 2003
Production year: 1991
Format DVD

Cape Fear (1991)

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  • Critics' reviews (4) of Cape Fear

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  • "...Scorsese's CAPE FEAR defies thresholds, revelling in its own transgressiveness, using punchy visuals, fast cuts and a pounding soundtrack..."

    • Sight and Sound
  • While one can't deny the technical bravura of this remake of J Lee Thompson's 1961 thriller, it's hard not to feel that... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • Most helpful member's review of Cape Fear

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  • 24 out of 27 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 1 star

    Never Got It

    Never recieved it and it said i did

      • AJay Lawrence from Glasgow, Scotland
  • Most recent members' review of Cape Fear

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  • 12 out of 14 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 1 star

    Don't bother

    Absolutely dreadful film - Not sure how we sat through it, other than to see how the baddy eventually got killed off - which took forever. As horror movies go, this one was just plain silly and we eventually decided it was meant to be a comedy. Pity - it started off looking promising.

    To add insult to injury, in the post the next time came Cape Fear 'bonus features'. We did not bother to watch it and sent it straight back. Be warned, if you don't want two doses of rubbish, don't rent this movie.

      • A customer from Midlands England
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Rating breakdown

14,722 Member ratings
  • 100
1,057
  • 90
1,386
  • 80
3,518
  • 70
3,572
  • 60
2,742
  • 50
1,257
  • 40
585
  • 30
306
  • 20
200
  • 10
99

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    • Cape Fear
      Martin Scorsese's remake of J. Lee Thompson's 1962 film is a stylish, taut thriller. Public defender Sam Bowden (Nick Nolte) served as the attorney for brutal rapist Max Cady (Robert De Niro) at his arraignment. Shocked by the violence of Cady's crime, Sam duplicitously withheld information ...