Analysis of Cape Fear

Cape Fear Analysis

Cape Fear is a film which was released in 1991, it tells the story of a convicted rapist who seeks vengeance against a former public defender whom he blames for his 14-year imprisonment due to purposefully faulty defense tactics used during his trial.

Sound

Diegetic sound – The only use of diegetic sound in this clip is when the women starts speaking towards the end of the credits. The diegetic sound being used is on screen. (Diegetic sound can either be on screen or off screen, the defence is that we see the person or object making the sound on screen for on screen diegetic sound and off screen we do not see where the sound is coming from)

Non-diegetic sound – Most of the sound in these opening credits are non-diegetic. (Sound, which we do not recognise as the film world) The sound being used is a soundtrack with creepy/spooky music being played. The music sounds like it could be being played by an orchestra, as you can hear the different instruments, as more and more instruments join in the sound becomes stronger and creates more tension and suspense for the audience.

Camera shots

The camera shots in this clip are close up on the water which is what the main section of the opening credits are based on. The camera shows the water rippling and the light reflecting of it. Toward the end when the women starts to speak the camera slowly starts zooming out to reveal more of her face until you can see the top half of the body.

Lighting

The lighting is mainly used on the water rippling throughout most of the opening credits. The light is shone down on the water to enhance the ripples and to make them look smoother in the water.

Editing

Editing has been done so it looks like images/videos are reflecting in the water. This creates a scene of mystery for the audience and also makes them wonder why these images/videos are being reflected and what meaning they have in the film. Also editing has been made to the colour when the women’s face first comes on the screen the colours slowly change from red to blue until it is back to a normal face colour.

Props

There are a few props used in this film’s opening credits. The main prop being an eagle, which swoops low against the water at the beginning of the credits. The eagle is one of the images that are reflected in the water.

Credits

The credits are displayed against the water, the font imitates the water because it is split in the middle so one half of the text is slightly out of line compared to the other half imitating the ripples in the water.