Cape Fear

The scene is opened using the non-diegetic sounds of flowing water which almost instantly converts to diegetic sounds as the water is faded from black in to shot. As the shot remains steady at a constant angle as the introduction of contrapuntal sounds become apparent. This sound is associated with the images allowing the audience to feel that the water use to be an uplifting and positive place. Yet with the sudden image of an eagle appearing underneath the water, combined with the threatening tone in the music creates a tense atmosphere which in turn permits the audience in to assuming that this imagery does not stand any longer. As the eagle flies out of shot ‘Robert De Niro’ appears on screen simultaneously which leaves the audience to question his characters association with both the water and the eagle. This in turn could connect him as the predator within the film. The soundtrack is repeated continuously as the opening sequence is shown. Even the typography that appears suggests to the audience that something about the film is not quite right as it is slanted and arguably disfigured. The movement of the typography travels across the screen resembling footsteps. Meanwhile this only adds to the build up in tension and suspense of the unknown, which is then emphasized by the fade in of the words ‘Cape Fear’. This added with the loud powerful sound sting expresses the danger and importance of the words, leading to the probable connection it has with the water. This is closely followed by the extreme close up of an unknown person’s eye, nose and mouth. As the eye is glancing side to side in almost a panicked state it is assumed by the audience that they are the victim of a crime that was undertaken in some form of water. Once the eye has been faded out of shot, the music again becomes softer and quieter, yet this only lasts for a few seconds as it picks up when the specs of red appear within the water. This supports the previous speculations of the eyes belonging to the victim of a crime; however now the colour red allows the audience to directly connect the water with danger, passion and death. As the eerie music continues the camera angle changes creating a vertical water flow. This is a significant change as the adjustment in direction suggests to the audience that there has been a disturbance in the water; the shot is instantaneously followed by the reflection of a males face. As he appears to be above the water looking in, it is suggested that he is the predator of the film and the audience have undertaken the position of the victim through a point of view shot. The flow again changes to fit a narrower screen; this in turn creates the audience to feel as if they are in a struggle with him as the water become more violent compared to its calm flow earlier. The specs of red that appear previously slowly defuse in to the water, suggesting that there was bloodshed in the water. The angle of the water yet again changes to resemble a heart beat monitor, enhancing the audience’s beliefs that a life was lost within the water.

The tone of the music then rapidly increases in to a higher pitch, as the blacked out image of a male’s body appears. This sting signifies him as the predator that the audience as the victims have feared. As the colour of the water changes to green the initial instinct is that he is the predator. This is almost illuminated as the colour green connotes as to the man being evil and envious. These could be two of many reasons as to why the suspected murder has happened. The angle then goes back to the original steady shot of the water where another sting presents itself again maintaining the original ideology of bloodshed as the colour red again defuses throughout the screen with an image of a tear shape liquid being dropped. It is assumed that the tear shape drop is either a blood drop or the tear of the victim.

The next shot is an extreme close up of eyes as a photo negative. As the camera zooms out in to a mid shot of a young girl it is assumed using both her dialogue and the negative effect that the girl is referring to something that happened in the past. This allows the audience to realise that the film is starting in dis-equilibrium. The iconography of her surroundings, the dampness in both her face and hair and the diegetic sounds of running water suggest that she has had a personal experience with the river. Wearing white with her top button done up again influences the audience in to believing that she is an innocent victim.

As the camera tilts downwards showing the images of evil dictators, comic book characters, and both historical and educational books, the dramatic change in tone suggests they are all significant features in to the personality of the inmate. The camera then zooms away from the wall to reveal the inmate who posses all these items. The increase in pitch of the music signifies who the prisoner is. As he is almost praying to the powerful dictators, it becomes apparent that he is likely to be the predator in the film. Yet the amount of books that he has suggests that he is well educated and his tattoo of ‘Truth and Justice’ allow the audience to question his guilt. Once the camera has stopped zooming out, there is a long take pan following him walking out of his cell. Since he is walking ahead of the guard this highlights that he is both respected and feared within the prison. This is supported as all the inmates seem to be sharing the cells yet he had one to himself. By not cuffing him it enhances the amount of respect and fear that everyone within the prison has for him. This is again proven by the lack of noise that the inmates are making, as they silently watch him leave as a sign of respect. The music however has quietened down allowing the diegetic sounds of footsteps and the opening and closing of cell door to be herd. As he walks down the hall there is a match on action cut of the opening and closing cell doors. This accompanied by his change of clothing and change in location allows the audience to realise that there has been a passing of time. This cut can be interpreted as his prison days being behind him, allowing him to start a new life. When asked what about your books, he replies ‘all ready read em’ it then becomes obvious that he has been in prison for a long time from the sheer number that was on his shelf. The cut to a long shot allows the audience to see the storm above the free man. As he is calm and collective with everything that he does, it suggests to the audience that he is metaphorically the calm before the storm.

By Helen Daniel