Cape fear analysis

By Faith Lovell

The opening to this scene begins with a music sting leading to a non-diegetic soundtrack suggesting a sinister atmosphere. This swiftly creates a sense of creepiness and tension within the film, highlighting that the plot will surround the typical conventions of a frightening, scary thriller, which is also reinforced by the low-key lighting used throughout the clip. A close up of rippling water is portrayed, representing a flowing river with hints of yellow against the water suggesting the end of a day during sunset, this could imply the end of a life or the beginning of a death, this image also carries connotations of death by drowning or the fear of the unknown, setting up an ominous atmosphere and foreshadowing the potential dangers to come.

The shot then dissolves into an image of an eagle flying over the water, these birds are predators that feed on prey connoting an eerie atmosphere adhering with destruction and death, As the raven dissolves away the water slightly changes from yellow to blue suggesting the day is closer to ending.

As the title of the film is inserted into the clip, the non-diegetic soundtrack then reaches a climax in a musical crescendo, the tone of the water turns more red demonstrating the large significance of the river with the film, connoting blood and danger whilst also foreshadowing death.

The title then fades away and followed by a series of

images fade into the water an extreme close up of a darting, dark brown eye

suggesting paranoia, frustration and fear within a

character, followed by another extreme close up of

teeth suggesting silent screams, adding to the

themes of fear. Thereafter a close up of a mans face

slightly smirking is shown making the audience wonder

he is the cause of the danger, and foreshadowing

whether he could be the antagonist or protagonist of

the film. During this sequence non-diegetic

soundtrack has a music sting as of this point, forcing us to remember this character and

know his importance.

The water ripples become faster flowing and rapid to build tension within the clip, following that, a low angled shot of a man looking down on us putting the audience in a vulnerable position with the man being portrayed as a character of danger and threat.

A black silhouette of a mans body and hand emphasises the threat, the shadowy figure creating ambiguous meanings, confirming to the stereotypes of a horror thriller by creating mystery and terror.

A the montage ends, the water gradually turning from black to red with a close up of a droplet of water faded into the frame foreshadowing death within the river.

The red transitions with using a dissolve into an extreme close up of a young girls eyes then slowly zooming out into a mid-shot of her, whilst speaking using diegetic dialogue. She wears a white shirt with all buttons done up and make up is kept to a minimal, this suggests a young and innocent child, with purity, subverting the ideas within a horror thriller which instantly makes the audience question why is she the first to be introduced, creating ideas that she is a victim or the film. 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.” With this diegetic dialogue she says it in a calm yet soft tone, suggesting her vulnerability or even as if she was never affected by what the mysterious happenings creating a sinister vibe. Using rain being the window portrays the pathetic fallacy and the emotions behind what she is vaguely explaining had lead to misery, although she is not in the rain could add to the idea that she is not affected by what ever happned.

In the next scene a non-diegetic soundtrack that is sinister and powerful is in the back ground of close ups from a downwards tilt of photos stuck onto a cell wall, these photos consisting of Stalin, also known as ‘the man of steel’ and suggests that the character of the prisoner Cady, controversially idolises such a brutal, fierce, cruel figure in history, inferring that he too is a similar personality who should be feared.

The next shot portrays a mid-shot of Cady’s back as he lifts weights and cuts to him doing press ups showing the audience he has been working up to this day, as later on the narrative reveals he is leaving the prison today. The closed-framing from behind the bars creates a sense of entrapment and shows that he is confined and wants t be released. Meanwhile his muscles show of his physical strength and the books that surround him illustrate intelligence.

The mid-shot shows off his tattoo on his back, it is a cross with the scales of justice, the balance between the two highlighting of his belief in justice, foreshadowing he is going to seek revenge after his release.

As the police officer comes to let Cady out of prison, he addresses him by his name, portraying he s well known within the prison and also suggesting he has been there for a long time. Also that he had a cell just for him whilst the other prisoners shared their cells represents the respect other prisoners or even police officers had for Cady, in addition as he walked down the steps out of the prison all of the other prisoners used non-verbal communication to represent the respect, or maybe even fear him. As he is escorted out, there is a tracking shot to follow him as we also see the other prisoners all crammed against he bars to watch his departure.

As the clip comes to an end, a sound bridge is used as the unlocking of the cell gates match the sound the unlocking of the prison gates, alongside a dramatic non-diegetic soundtrack. An establishing shot portrays Cady striding out of prison, with a half proud half smirk on his face. Stormy weather is portrayed in the sky with thunder being heard over the soundtrack, this adds mystery to his character, makes the audience think he is out to cause more danger. He approaches the camera creating a close up of his face portraying his cunning facial expressions whilst intimidating the audience using such close proximity with the camera.