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Cape Fear
Cape Fear
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Cape Fear

Cape Fear

1991
Suspense/Thriller, Crime
2h 8m
A convicted rapist, released from prison after serving a 14 year sentence, stalks the family of the lawyer who originally defended him.

Cape Fear

1991
Suspense/Thriller, Crime
2h 8m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 54.65% from 5079 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(5113)
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Rated 27 Feb 2007
4
70th
It's fun to see De Niro chew up as much scenery as he does here; he goes entirely over the top, and, like Al Pacino in Scarface, it works amazingly well. However, the movie, while decent, is otherwise unremarkable. Scorsese makes it a good watch, and recycles his own recurring theme of guilt effectively enough, but it's nothing that rises above the pack.
Rated 26 Mar 2020
85
82nd
After this masterclass in terrifying presence it's no small miracle that Robert De Niro would go on to become the romantic lead in...nevermind.
Rated 02 Sep 2019
100
94th
Honestly you can't go wrong with either film they are equally good I just think the newer version has a slight advantage with filming techniques and a slightly better dialogue
Rated 25 Sep 2010
67
57th
DeNiro is absolutely creepy, and one of the few roles Lewis is effective in. I am not a big fan of Nick Nolte but he is tolerable and sometimes even good in his "pushed over the edge" role. All in all an effective thriller.
Rated 05 Apr 2009
6
35th
Sideshow Bob
Rated 23 Jun 2016
4
74th
It's tongue-in-cheek trashy, in the same vein that Shutter Island later would be, deferential to old genre pulp and told in almost ridiculous gestures, with Nolte and De Niro oddly mismatched. The material is elevated with several meaningful wrinkles stitched into the original script's vanilla schemes, most notably the Bowden family's discord and Max Cady's self-identification as a biblical avenger, bringing this version closer in line to, say, The Night of the Hunter.
Rated 04 Dec 2013
75
65th
DeNiro looking at Juliette Lewis and then the son and then back at Juliette Lewis and he starts to burn himself with his cigar.
Rated 21 Sep 2008
49
24th
Feels like an unnecessary remake. Scorsese and De Niro excel but Nolte, Lange and the script are quite bad.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
76
87th
Made for commercial reasons but very enjoyable. Nick Nolte is at his finest when playing weak characters, as is the case here and in LIFE LESSONS, Scorsese's excellent contribution to NEW YORK STORIES. Although it is a conventional genre film, the themes are explored very well, and the Scorsesean shooting and editing style works very nicely. Structurally this film bears some notable similarities with PSYCHO. The whole cast is very good.
Rated 08 Jun 2007
70
41st
De Niro is really good in this movie, but it's just less impressive than the original outside of his performance in every way. Mostly just a decent thriller.
Rated 07 Oct 2023
82
58th
Besides Scorsese's pure mastery of camera usage and so on, the most outstanding virtue of the film might be how it's so richly charged with sexual tension with the wonderful performance by the whole cast, and especially how, as always, Scorsese shows no withdrawal from depicting female sexuality as tensed between perpetual attraction for criminal, sluttishness-awakening violence and a longing for safety and masculine and paternal protection, and the ubiquitous repression and denial of this fact.
Rated 31 May 2017
70
38th
Another movie ruined (and improved) by The Simpsons. It's quite the stylish affair, I think Scorsese got back into coke during the early '90s, and as impressive as the technical aspects may be, they do also negate a deeper sense going on here. This is a very well made afternoon flick that could've had more resonating power than it aspires at, but it's quite the effective, rather dePalma-esque thriller. Wish it did more than just end, though.
Rated 26 Mar 2017
73
83rd
good movie
Rated 21 Mar 2017
69
55th
An effectively creepy and tense film, with De Niro's performance as the two steps ahead antagonist being the primary reason. I have to admit that a lot of the power of the film has been lost due to the genius of the 'Cape Feare' Simpsons parody episode. In simple terms this film is far less scary when you are smirking through memorable scenes and wishing with all your heart that this time De Niro would step on a rake.
Rated 08 Jun 2016
80
68th
What a fun little film, check it out!
Rated 22 Feb 2015
79
64th
Overlong, but not overstuffed. De Nrio is fantastic with that greasy southern accent, and Juliette Lewis walks a tightrope between innocence and temptation very well. I found it hard to believe Nick Nolte though - I just can't see him as squeaky clean but it sorta adds a level of moral ambiguity to the whole thing. Aside from the cast, the film has a great look and sound design - the whole thing feels sticky with humidity and tension. The score is as bombastic as the camerawork.
Rated 19 May 2013
54
21st
A rare miss in the Scorsese catalog. The direction seems amateur, which is weird coming from the genius that made Goodfellas just one year earlier. Overall, the movie just feels too cheesy. De Niro's performance is fun more than scary or creepy which was just too incongruous with the completely serious tone of everything else. (That could very well entirely because I watched this through the eyes of one way too familiar with the Simpsons Cape Fear parody episode.)
Rated 11 Jan 2012
55
25th
This was a stylish, well acted, well cast film with good performances, especially from Lewis and Nolte, but the film fails miserably by serving up a plot that was frankly ludicrous, with DeNiro able to walk through walls (apparently) and follow people anywhere, and the cast killed by cliche ... pretty teenager untouched, downtrodded wife fights back, unfaithful husband beaten up, slutty girl raped, nasty PI killed, pointless nanny, killed etc etc ... this was the kings new clothes of celluloid.
Rated 03 Apr 2011
7
68th
Both versions have something to love and I can't decide which one I like more. De Niro carries the movie, his performance is so over the top and enjoyable. The soundtrack is pretty sweet too. Some odd directorial choices but it works most of the time. Never boring and another solid movie into Scorsese's catalog.
Rated 29 Nov 2010
88
91st
i saw this again just recently, and despite the 20 years gone by, i cant believe how de niro is still unbelievably disturbing in this picture, amazing.
Rated 28 Jul 2009
70
51st
Robert De Niro's stellar performance and Scorsese's ode to Hitchcockian style save this from being a below-average thriller.
Rated 22 Dec 2008
3
61st
A rather toothless entry in Scorsese's oeuvre. De Niro is its saving grace, and his performance carries the film to its bitter, waterlogged end.
Rated 18 Nov 2008
65
79th
I always look under my car.
Rated 28 Aug 2008
90
88th
For my money, one of Scorcese's best--it winds up tighter than a spring and lets loose in a sweaty, thrilling, over-the-top storm of an ending.
Rated 17 Aug 2008
70
61st
Robert de Niro shines in this (and reportedly deliberately chipped a tooth for the role, only to spend $25,000 having it replaced)
Rated 14 Aug 2007
84
84th
It's not Scorcese's best work. It's fairly mediocre. It's a remake and it feels very familiar. There are a few neat twists and turns, but the real exceptional thing about the movie is Robert DeNiro. Almost all of his scenes leave a lasting impression. Supposedly, DeNiro's scene in the empty theater with Juliette Lewis was improvised and done in one take. If that is true... WOW.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
77
84th
What a great thriller. Period.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
82nd
Thrilling remake stamped with Scorcese's unmistakable style.
Rated 01 Jan 2007
70
67th
Good, but oddly weak effort from Scorsese.
Rated 22 Sep 2024
81
79th
Deniro and Nolte playing off each other is as good as it gets. A thriller that stands the test of time in my opinion!
Rated 19 Mar 2024
20
12th
The eye-popping, jaw-dropping, unbearable tension of the 1962 original, is replaced here by a lot of long, boring scenes. De Niro's accent is so ridiculous, he never feels like a real person. Also, an 18 year-old actress being chased by a rapist, is not as monstrous as a 15 year-old actress. The original is just so, so much better. Honestly, I barely even cared to bother watching the climax here.
Rated 19 Feb 2024
45
23rd
Quite a deeply flawed film that has moments which shine.
Rated 11 Feb 2024
80
80th
I hate scary movies, but I liked this one.
Rated 19 Aug 2023
90
97th
2012-07-06: 90
Rated 31 Dec 2022
70
24th
I can't believe scorsese made such a stupid movie!
Rated 02 Dec 2022
64
39th
I was shocked I'd never seen this in my youth, and came across it today and decided to give it a watch. Now 30+ years after its release if you told me this was directed by Scorsese without me knowing that to be true I'd have called you a liar. Some laughably awful scenes and overacting that just doesn't hold up in 2022. It feels like a spoof at times. Deniro's performance is great albeit ridiculous by the climax. I wanted to like it a lot more than I did, but still worth seeing. 6.4
Rated 05 Jul 2022
45
13th
Some good deviations were made to the original, but then it just goes off the rails. Neither film has a very strong last act but this was just generic horror villain, didn't even feel like a human character anymore.
Rated 08 Jun 2022
70
54th
A good remake is hard to find; this was mostly very good. I was pleasantly surprised to see Scorsese embrace this as his own while homaging the original. The camera is wild; everything has a retro feel, even as a modern retelling; a lot is a direct nod to Hitch (even the music, while mostly lifted from Hermann's score for the original, draws from unused work for Torn Curtain). Sadly, the climax is farcically overblown with not a third of the original's tension.
Rated 30 May 2022
80
68th
Terrific acting by De Niro. He's so fucking good at what he does I couldn't help but feel sympathy for Cady. It was a good movie overall and I wouldn't expect less than that from a Scorsese movie.
Rated 20 Apr 2022
48
20th
Böyle kötü bir filmi her filmini sevdiğim scorsese'den hiç beklemezdim.Her şey çok abartılı; avukat ve ailesinin beceriksizlikleri abartılı,de niro'nun bir türlü ölmemesi, her şeyin onun şansına ilerlemesi abartılı, aksiyon sahneleri bir 1991 filmi için vasatın da altında, 50'lerin 60'ların amerikan filmleri ya da yeşilçam filmleri gibi,teknenin kayalara vurunca prefabrik ev gibi dağılması, yüzü yanmış de niro'nun psikopatlığa devam etmesi...Scorsese ve de niro'ya böyle bir filmi yakıştıramadım.
Rated 18 Nov 2021
70
50th
Scorsese's tribute to classic Hollywood thrillers. Not much different from many other similiar thrillers but Scorsese's hand and De Niro's unbelievable performance distincts this one from the others.
Rated 12 Sep 2021
67
43rd
Нарратив - 2 Сценарий - 3 Сюжет - 4 Постановка - 3 Целостность - 1 Выполнение своей цели - 2 Атмосфера - 2 Эмоции - 3 Актерская игра - 5 Саундтрек - 5 Синематографи - 5 Визуал - 3 Флоу - 3 Монтаж - 4 Звук - 3 Продакшн дизайн - 3 Костюмы - 4 Грим - 4 Экста - 1 Оценка - 71 Общая - 63
Rated 21 Jun 2021
30
3rd
Trashy and unnecessary remake that must mark a low point in Scorsese's career and rarely rises above pastiche (and a pastiche of Brian De Palma!).
Rated 30 Aug 2020
45
36th
this is a dumb movie. De Niro plays Cady like a man who knows Oscars can't be taken away after the fact, and he's terrific. but Nolte in the lead is awful; he's too contemptible, too smug, too hateful to feel any semblance of pity for his plight. his reaction to his dog being poisoned is blaming his wife. Juliette Lewis is terrible. there's a good amount of stylistic merit here, but the foundation isn't strong enough. might have to check out the original.
Rated 15 Jun 2020
8
65th
Scorsese brings elegance to the slasher genre that was popularized in the 80s and 90s. There's a very strong B-Movie, Twilight Zone combined type of feel throughout the film. Very cheesy and over the top at points but it doesn't necessarily ruin the movie. A killer soundtrack and cinematography also aid the movie in creating its very gothic, horror atmosphere. Finally, the movie is anchored by Robert Deniro's tremendous perfect performance as Max Cady, a seriously pissed ex-con.
Rated 11 Mar 2020
81
92nd
Seen: 2.
Rated 04 Feb 2020
76
56th
Arguably one of Scorsese's low points, it's still a good and worthwhile film. The 1991 remake of Cape Fear is an overall well-acted and intense thriller.
Rated 07 Aug 2019
55
31st
cut, zoom and history of literature as transgression
Rated 30 Jul 2019
70
56th
Watch the fish, Marge
Rated 07 Mar 2019
74
67th
one of my least favorite Scorsese's
Rated 22 May 2018
78
93rd
More reviews here : http://movie-freak.be
Rated 06 May 2018
95
93rd
I have not seen the original so I don't know how this compares, but Scorsese knocks this one out of the park. Robert De Niro gives an incredible and chilling performance as Max Cady. The film builds expertly to the houseboat sequence as it reveals Cady's motives and his utter creepiness.
Rated 22 Apr 2018
75
69th
ikinci yarısında, ya da daha net olarak, film kontrolden çıktıkça harika bir işe dönüşüyor. ilk bölümde b-filmi senaryosuna sanki ciddi bir dramaymış gibi yaklaşılmış hissi, belli kurgu mantığına rağmen hayli düşük temposu sonuna kadar sabretmeyi engelleyecek kadar kötü olabiliyor, ama dörtlünün muhteşem performasına bakılarak katlanınca harika bir işe dönüşüyor. scorsese'nin en zayıf filmi belki ama yine de o final bölümüyle her şeye değiyor.
Rated 06 Nov 2017
70
72nd
This was a great adaptation; I really like the casting of Robert De Niro. The base story is great and the conflict is well put, it is a very thrilling movie where you are really questioning yourself by how to handle the conflict. The only thing as with the original is that I've would like the story to make it more ambiguous about who were really the bad and the good guy.
Rated 30 Oct 2017
82
82nd
Konunun derinligi ve surekli moral gri alanlarda gezinmesi insana', film daha az stilize ve ciddi bir anlatim tarziyla daha iyi calisabilir miydi diye dusunduruyor. Ozellikle 3. Act'ta asiri stilize sahneler yer yer insani filmin dramasindan cikariyor. De Niro'nun karakterinin omnipotentligi senaryonun en zayif tarafi. Scorsese'nin yaptigi en iyi sey filmin korku ogesini degisik tarziyla iyi vermis olmasi.
Rated 26 Mar 2017
65
42nd
A fun bit of camp.Truthfully, I forgot to write my review of this film when I saw it a few weeks ago, and now I am struggling to remember it. The only lasting memory I have is the campy De Niro filling the screen.
Rated 30 Jan 2017
58
56th
Wronged citizen seeks restitution from his unprofessional & dishonest lawyer
Rated 08 Jan 2017
70
41st
This is certainly a scary and suspenseful film (I felt ill after one particular scene) but some of the stylistic choices like the obvious close-ups, film negative, and slow-mo were distracting.
Rated 02 Dec 2016
55
17th
DeNiro carries this film on his ripped shoulders, but the movie just exposes Scorsese's shortcomings as a director. Fuck DeNiro's accent, honestly, could've done without it. Back in the day the notion of promiscuity could've made the movie more of a head-turner but now it's just unnecessary information that doesn't add to the movie except make DeNiro's character more petty.
Rated 24 Nov 2016
82
85th
This is a well made thriller. Robert De Niro is great in this villain role. The rest of the cast are also very good in this film. The script has several good moments and there are many tense scenes. I would definitely recommend this film.
Rated 04 Nov 2016
75
63rd
It's honestly a little awkward watching Martin Scorsese trying to be Alfred Hitchcock, and a lot of the stylistic choices came across as a bit goofy to me, undercutting some absolutely fabulous performances from De Niro and Juliette Lewis. It's definitely a very good movie (indeed, it gets downright terrifying at times), but I wouldn't call it essential Scorsese per se.
Rated 28 Aug 2016
73
35th
Occasionally Scorsese loves to show off his chops for Hitchcock-ian suspense, and Cape Fear shows he's as adept at it as anybody. Even though it's intentionally derivative (Saul Bass credits, Herrmann score, Mitchum and Peck cameos), the movie really only falls flat at its prolonged set-ups; the climax and intermittent scenes of tension are nearly pitch perfect. It's as close as one can get to a modern version of a classic Hollywood thriller: fun and frivolous with a supremely dark undercurrent.
Rated 01 Jun 2016
77
58th
Didn't like the style of it
Rated 12 Sep 2015
90
75th
One of the very rare occasions where the remake is (almost) as good as the original
Rated 29 Mar 2015
65
58th
3.24/5
Rated 23 Aug 2014
78
57th
I couldn't help but think of The Simpsons at every moment.
Rated 19 Jan 2014
84
47th
very nice remake
Rated 29 Nov 2013
75
42nd
Oh Bobby, you've done it again
Rated 11 Nov 2013
3
24th
Strong craftmanship can't save this silly, half-assed thriller. It almost seems like parody, but I haven't seen the original so I can't be sure. De Niro is sometimes entertaining, yet there's a point where his insanity becomes nothing but babbling nonsense, which, coupled with an absurd plot, makes this film very hard to take seriously. Watch The Simpsons episode instead.
Rated 18 Oct 2013
85
96th
I think some people don't give Scorsese the credit he deserves because of the unavoidable, but unnecessary comparisons to his more serious gangster dramas. Actually this is a very effective, well crafted thriller with a lot of memorable scenes and performances often balancing on the edge of genius/pure camp.
Rated 22 Sep 2013
82
64th
So much creepier than I expected, this was genuinely horrifying.
Rated 18 Sep 2013
74
48th
73.67.
Rated 31 Aug 2013
70
28th
One of Scorsese's more forgettable efforts, despite a rather unforgettable, insane performance by De Niro. The beginning was rather uninteresting, the ending was a bit stretched out, but man were there some awesome bits in the middle, with De Niro stealing every scene he appeared in. A fun, albeit uneven watch, with some considerable depth to it.
Rated 12 Jun 2013
58
27th
Ironically this remake makes every character except the villain a lot less likeable. Like, Nick Nolte's character gets a phone call, and FOR NO REASON his wife turns this into an interrogation about him cheating on her. Then there's some dialogue suggesting that she was deeply depressed in the past, and he basically calls her a lazy bitch for it. Maybe the idea was to heighten the drama, but all our protagonists end up looking like petty assholes and/or giant idiots as a result.
Rated 05 Jun 2013
83
72nd
The three big accomplishments that I perceived were 1: De Niro delivering a spine-tingling performance as Max Cady, 2: Lewis pulling off the perfect depiction of a confused but sweet teenager, and 3: the way Nolte and Lange flushed out all the tension and anger of their characters' marriage. They all worked to establish this dark, fearful world Scorsese was trying to create. Still, some tonal mixtures that didn't work and minor character flaws kept this good movie from being great.
Rated 04 Dec 2012
85
85th
Scariest movie I know of. Deniro is perfect
Rated 06 Nov 2012
81
35th
81.000
Rated 28 Oct 2012
83
26th
82.500
Rated 26 Oct 2012
80
84th
* Casting, Acting : 10 * Script : 8 * Directing, Aura : 8 * Ease of Viewing : 7 * Naked Eye : 7
Rated 28 Sep 2012
70
54th
An instant classic, although this is really not one of my favorite Scorsese movies..! Loved all the actors, but somehow De Niro reaaalllyyyy got on my nerves towards the end of the movie. By the way, am I the only one who thinks Juliette Lewis was hot? :D
Rated 24 Apr 2012
76
62nd
Obviously, this is all about De Niro. While Scorsese does the classic thriller pretty well, it hardly lives up to other work. His lead, however, rips the screen up. Over the top? Yeah. Entertaining? Absolutely.
Rated 18 Apr 2012
82
36th
it had a huge fear atmosphere! but in other aspects that was not that hot!
Rated 10 Mar 2012
75
62nd
A decent film, but I would put in the lower tier of Scorsese films I've seen. De Niro is good here, and the rest of the cast was good (although Nolte has had better performances). Scorsese does a good job at setting up tension (Hermann's score helps). I felt the daughter character was extremely cliched. Haven't seen the original, so I can't really compare the two.
Rated 19 Dec 2011
60
42nd
- worth experiencing
Rated 16 Dec 2011
92
92nd
Some parts were a little boring.. but the ending is great
Rated 08 Dec 2011
90
95th
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 no
Rated 08 Dec 2011
98
58th
Max Cady was imprisoned for fourteen years for the rape of sixteen year old girl. He could have walked free if his lawyer Sam Bowden had not buried some evidence that could have possibly made it impossible to convict him. So, now that Cady has been released on parole he is out to get his revenge on Bowden and his family for the fourteen years that he has lost in prison and begins terrorising them. Scorsese's remake of the 1962 film is definitely another accompished film from his partnership w
Rated 16 Nov 2011
78
87th
a bit rushed at times. epic ending.
Rated 17 Apr 2011
70
53rd
So a jumbled movie about a torn family, stalked by an ex-convict out for revenge; a movie that plots right or wrong and law and order up against each other, which is carried in full by Robert De Niro. Scorsese really underachieved with his directing though, which in turn made the first twenty minutes or so, and the ending, a complete mess of rushed story and awkwardly angled boat scenes. Hats of to De Niro, the most scary Brian Johnson tribute I've ever seen, and Lewis for enticing performances.
Rated 03 Apr 2011
88
85th
The movie seemed very rushed at first, but luckily it slowed down and started developing more depth about 20 minutes into it. Robert De Niro is extremely spooky in his fantastic performance as Max Cady and the movie was great at building suspense between Cady and the Bowdens. The only performance I felt was under par was from Juliette Lewis, whose character seemed out of place at certain times. This deviates from Scorseses usual style, but nevertheless a fantastic movie.
Rated 16 Mar 2011
65
54th
de niro is decently menacing, but just too overdone for my tastes. everyone else seems to be just there somehow. scorsese offers close to none of his typical energetical gimmickry...yup, this just might be his worst. and it still is a decent movie, just not great.
Rated 26 Dec 2010
86
85th
it was awesome to see De Niro in this role.
Rated 23 Dec 2010
87
75th
Wonderful remake from Scorsese. De Niro plays one of the creeipiest performances I've ever seen. One of my favorite thrillers.
Rated 13 Sep 2010
80
33rd
pretty cool. great soundtrack
Rated 13 Aug 2010
73
31st
Choppy.
Rated 11 Aug 2010
84
81st
Although I've not seen the original, this is certainly an excellent thriller/horror film. Scorcese certainly doing a good job of slowly raising the tension as well as the escalation of violence.
Rated 06 Aug 2010
60
54th
watched: 2010, 2021
Rated 27 Jul 2010
50
23rd
The plot is very interesting, De Niro is excellent as usual and I was taken aback by the intensity of some scenes. However, I was also taken aback by the stupidity of some others, e.g. the final fight, the most ridiculous end sequence in film history, during which the family chooses sailing as a means to getting away during an extreme storm, then De Niro emerges from water after being burnt and finally, Nick and Bob fling stones to each other in close proximity (one metre). And they miss. Crap.
Rated 26 Jul 2010
80
85th
Certainly less subtle and more far-fetched than other Scorsese films, but amazing nevertheless. This chilling, bone-crushing suspense thriller is one of the director's most immediate and accessible efforts, boosting a fantastic performance by De Niro.
Rated 03 Jun 2010
80
73rd
Scorcese's shot to be Hitchcock (opening credits by Saul Bass, orchestral score by Herrmann), with inversed black and whites, red filters etc. All these influences make the film a bit corny, camp and throws you off, unforgivable for the genre. Still absolutely mesmerizing performances from the main cast. The inclusion of Mitchum and Peck from the original Cape Fear was a nice touch.

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