Review of Cape Fear (1991) by Conner R — 14 Mar 2010

Before "Shutter Island", Scorsese did this little thriller as a favor to Steven Spielberg (true story!); a remake of a similar film about a family stalked by a psychotic convict on parole who seeks revenge on the patriarch - the public defender who lost his case.

Scorsese certainly succeeds at making the audience feel uncomfortable straight from the get-go. Sometimes the editing is a little too rushed for a story of this nature, but this is balanced out by some exceptional acting - especially DeNiro.

When the man gets an Academy Award nomination, it's not just for kicks; he is truly terrifying and almost unrecognizable as the film's antagonist. Definitely not Scorsese's best as far as overall scope, but a competent thriller all things considered.