CAPE FEAR

REVIEWED BY MISS C.

Our rating: 2 out of 5

Because of: sexual implications, domestic violence

Rated:

What would you do if your family was being stalked? How would you protect them from harm, especially when the stalker is an ex-convict out to revenge your role in his conviction?

Life was simple and perfectly middle class for Sam Bowden (Gregory Peck) and his family. He lived in a small town with a nice house, wife and daughter and a successful career as a lawyer. But one afternoon an ex-con, Max Cady (Robert Mitchum) shows up in town and makes it very apparent he’s out to get Sam and his family. After Cady follows the Bowdens on a bowling outing, Sam decides to get some help from the police. Police Chief Mark Dutton (Martin Balsam) tries to get Cady out of town on several small offenses, but each attempt is unsuccessful.

The tension builds as the family dog is mysteriously poisoned and Cady is seen on several occasions in close proximity to the Bowden family. Cady is masterful at harassing the family but not attempting anything to would warrant arrest. He targets the whole family, but Sam’s daughter Nancy in particular. Sam decides he’s had enough and is going to try to get Cady to slip up. He sends his family to stay in a boathouse in a secluded area with the protection of a police officer. Sam takes a plane to Atlanta, deliberately so he can be seen by Cady leaving his family unprotected. He returns later and the family watches and waits for Cady to make his move, which doesn’t take long. Soon it is up to Sam to save his wife and daughter.

This film does bring up the topic of dubious ethics. Sam obviously goes outside the bounds of the law to get Cady locked up and away from his family. He hires thugs to beat Cady up in an effort to persuade him to leave town. The plan Sam makes to finally nab him is a questionable one. Should citizens plan and commit such acts in order to justify sending a criminal to prison? Or should they rely solely on the help of the police?

The objectionable content in this movie is high in a sexual context due to the nature of Cady’s crimes. A waitress at a bowling alley is asked if her ring means anything and offered money by Cady, but she refuses. A dog is poisoned. He picks up one woman and we see them in a room, her in lingerie and him without a shirt on. Nothing between them is shown and he ends up beating her (also off screen). The woman’s face is bloodied and bruised and she is seen dressing as a detective tries to convince her to help them convict her attacker. Cady describes how he abducted his ex-wife and what he did to her (which involves sexual assault). He attacks a woman and her daughter. A deputy helping guard the family is murdered. A man is hit over the head with a rock. There is one use of the word d*mn. There is suspenseful tension running throughout the film, and the overall tone is very sinister.

It’s a movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering how and even if they’ll get Cady in the end. It’s not a movie I would recommend for children to watch; it’s definitely for those in their mid teens or older due to thematic elements. For a me as a Christian, the themes are just a little too raw to warrant frequent watching, though the acting is excellent. If you’re up for a similar movie and another great acting performance by Robert Mitchum, try Night of the Hunter, which doesn’t contain as many objectionable scenes.

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