Cape Fear

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Patrick C Nov 28 I sometimes think Robert Mitchum's name isn't as celebrated these days as it should be. When he was given the right part with a fine director and script, he was as good as it gets. And in this superb thriller he personifies cold menace and sweet revenge. Wonderful black and white cinematography that accentuates the coldness of his gaze, the clench of his fist, the smirk of his mouth. Always understated but all the more powerful for it. Martin Scorsese tried to remake 'Cape Fear' but resorted to a cartoonish performance from Robert De Niro that paled in comparison to Mitchum's. The latter had no need of ludicrous tattoos and a comedy southern accent to terrify. See more Mitch C Oct 2 Quite an edgy story and certainly bold for its time. Mitchum is so sinister it's damn near a trademark - Night of the Hunter probably the best example but this is close. His performance set against the pleasant Bowden family creates a chilling atmosphere as he treads territory just short of criminal. Some weaker physical altercations (something older cinema was often either a little reserved or too theatrical with) and it thrusts you into the issue immediately where I think a more gradual approach at the start would lend well but aside from this, it's a great movie See more Isaiah Y Aug 12 Great pair of performances by Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck See more Kyle C Jul 10 Masterfully disturbing and suspenseful, Cape Fear is a timeless classic with iconic direction and score. I’m not sure how much of this was intentional, but the film is surprisingly critical of law enforcement and quietly encourages community justice — especially bold for 1962. Though it doesn’t offer many solutions, it exposes the flaws of relying on the system to keep you safe, while also showing what can go wrong if you take matters into your own hands. That said, some obvious steps (like a restraining order, maybe?) are just overlooked. But I’m no expert on 1960s law. Maybe that wasn’t realistic then. Robert Mitchum is genuinely terrifying as Max Cady. The film smartly lets us imagine the horrors he’s committed, without showing much, for most of its runtime. Then, when he finally goes fully unhinged, it’s deeply disturbing because we’ve almost gotten comfortable seeing him as some kind of gentleman. His transformation into the animal we’ve been warned about is brilliant and shows off the masterful filmmaking on display. The expert direction and Bernard Herrmann’s haunting score accentuate the film’s themes perfectly. Put simply, this film rises far above the generic horror that plagues theaters today. The suspense is real and parts are genuinely hard to watch. It’s a slow burn that really blazes by the end. I loved it. See more David G. @CacheMoney Jun 20 Classic movie. Intense for its time, and we wouldn’t have De Niros great and creepy performance in the remake without the original! Robert Mitchum and Gregory peck were at the height of their careers, and it shows. See more Horror fan 4 May 2 What a classic thriller movie with great performances and direction. Tim Treakle See more Read all reviews

Cape Fear

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