Cape Fear

Martin Scorseses 1991 film Cape Fear is now ripe for a full appraisal as it reaches its 30th anniversary. Author Rob Daniel investigates how Scorseses style and preoccupations transform the film into a horror epic, exploring his love of fear cinema, Catholicism, and filmmaking techniques. The analysis also examines the influence of Gothic literature and fairy tales and how academic approaches to genre aid in understanding the film.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 120 pages
Publication date: 01 December 2021
Publisher: Liverpool University Press

Martin Scorsese's 1991 film "Cape Fear" begins with a shot of water and concludes with a raging river. Despite, or perhaps because of, the film's enormous commercial success, critical analysis of the film typically does not delve beneath the surface of Scorsese's first major box office hit. As it reaches its 30th anniversary, "Cape Fear" is now ripe for a full appraisal.

The remake of J. Lee Thompson's 1962 "Cape Fear" was originally conceived as a straightforward thriller intended for Steven Spielberg. Author Rob Daniel investigates the fascinating ways Scorsese's style and preoccupations transform his version into a horror epic. The director's love of fear cinema, his Catholicism, and filmmaking techniques shift "Cape Fear" into terrifying psychological and psychosexual waters. The analysis also examines the influence of Gothic literature and fairy tales, plus how academic approaches to genre aid an understanding of the film.

Weight: 146g
Dimension: 135 x 191 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800857025