Cape fear analysis

By Charlie Haddon

The opening to this scene starts with a musical sting This an atmosphere and slight tension, showing the plot will be a typical thriller that will scare and be low lighted through. A close up of rippling water is shown, representing a connotations of death by drowning or the fear of the unknown, setting up a tense atmosphere and foreshadowing the potential dangers to come.

The shot then dissolves into an image of an eagle flying over water. Eagles are birds that are known for their deathly ways which connotates the atmosphere , As the raven dissolves we see the next set of water.

The title is brought into the water just as the Non-Diagetic music reaches the climax. The water then starts to turn red and this connotates with blood, danger and ultimately death.

The title fades away and we get to see different images in the water. We see an eye in a

close up and then we see a set of teeth.

There is then a scream with helps the fact that

the film is a horror.

We see a close up of a mans face. This could be the main character and the reason the film is a horror. The non-diegetic soundtrack has a musical sting causing a climax and makes us realise the mans importance.

The water ripples become faster flowing causing tension. Then a low angled shot of a man looking down on us puts the viewers in a vulnerable position as it is a horror movie.

As the montage ends, the water then turns to red and we see a droplet. This could connotate the man being danger and killing.

A black silhouette of a mans body and hand reiterates the threat, the shadow creating tension as he could be the one who is going to cause the trouble in the film.

The scene then fades and we see a young girl and the camera zooms out from a close up to a mid shot. She wears a white shirt and has a childish look. She wears very little make up, this gives the idea she is an innocent school girl and could possibly play the victim. She says “says “I always thought that for such a lovely river, the name was mystifying ‘Cape Fear’, and that the only thing to fear on those enchanted summer nights was that the magic would end and real-life would come crashing in.” She says this in one tone throughout. This means she is a calm and collected character, but she has obviously experienced the dangers of the river as she is talking about what they are and she is aware. This supports the idea that she is the victim.

In the next scene a non-diegetic soundtrack that is intriguing and in the back ground we see close ups of photos stuck onto a cell wall, these photos consisting of Stalin. Cady idolises this man obviously so he could be a dark character as he is in prison with a cruel man as an idol.

The next shot is a mid-shot of Cady’s back as he lifts weights and cuts to him doing press ups. A narrative voice reveals he is leaving the prison today. The closed-framing shows us Cady from the other side of the bars. This shows how he is confined in this space and isn’t allowed to leave. The fact that he is a physically strong man could be important in the latter.

The mid-shot shows his Scales of Justice tattoo, along with the books of Law, he may have had a decision against him, so he is out to get revenge or justice.

As the police officer lets Cady out of his cell, he uses his name, showing he is well known within the prison and he has been there for a long time. Also that he had a cell just for him whilst the other prisoners shared their cells shows the respect other prisoners or even police officers had for Cady, in addition as he walked down the steps out of the prison in front of the guard showing his power. There is NVC used to show respect.

At the end of the clip there is a dramatic non-diegetic soundtrack. An establishing shot portrays Cady walking out of prison, with a smirk on his face. Stormy weather is shown in the sky with thunder being heard over the soundtrack, which could show that something bad is going to happen. He walks up to the camera creating a close up of his face. He has the look that he is going to cause trouble.