Cape Fear

Year: 1991. Director: Martin Scorsese.

The universal sign uses binary opposites to show a contrast between light and dark. Juxtaposition successfully exaggerates things by directly placing it next to a completely different concept in this case the light and dark presents good and evil, and the differences between them. Firstly the sign is in colour it soon turns black and white (monochrome) From the change in colour we are led to believe something bad is going to happen, the colour therefore happiness has been taken away.

Furthermore as the sign is fading under the water we know it may be something to fear and an issue in this film, the water is taking away the happiness.

The water is also symbolic to the opening scene, everything bad is seen through the water therefore the viewer is made to be fearful of the water, water also can connect to the idea of drowning, because the music is so dramatic we connect the water with this tension and are afraid of it.

The music plays a massive part in building tension in this opening. Typically ‘Scorsese’ is known for making jumpy films and using surprise throughout to create fear and tension. The music is very disjointed and makes the audience furthermore feel on edge- the music successfully discomforts the viewer, it doesn’t flow and give any sense of equilibrium.

The use of trombones and trumpets create a very loud dramatic feel to the opening. This draws the viewer to the screen, loud noises are great at distracting you from your surroundings, the writing also connects with the idea of disjointedness and unease as all the letters are slanted. The viewer just looking at the credits will believe something bad or abnormal is going to happen.

Later on in the clip the audience is greeted by an eagle that appears as a reflected image in the water. This is important as it is an enigma effectively leaving the audience wanting to watch more. The eagle is a predator and known to kill its pray, creating fear as it comes. This could also represent the villain they may later come in the film. This is ironic as the title of the story has the word ‘fear’. The eagle is also flying as if it is about to land and catch it’s pray. Its claws are locked and the bird flies off towards the left hand side of the screen then the actor’s name ‘Robert De Niro’ appears. This maybe could mean that he is in fact the villain; the font is ragged which relates the topic of water as it looks as if the writing is reflecting off the water.

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