Product Details

• Actors: Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange, Juliette Lewis, Joe Don Baker
• Directors: Martin Scorsese
• Writers: James R. Webb, John D. MacDonald, Wesley Strick
• Producers: Robert De Niro, Barbara De Fina, Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Universal Studios
• VHS Release Date: February 3, 1993
• Run Time: 128 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (124 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302378648
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #170,114 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Martin Scorsese's 1991 remake of J. Lee Thompson's 1962 thriller dabbles a bit in some fascinating psychological crosscurrents between its characters, but it finally trades in all that rich material for extensive and gratuitous violence. Robert De Niro plays a serial rapist released from prison after 14 years. Angry because his appalled attorney (Nick Nolte) made it easy for him to be convicted, this monster is out to hurt Nolte's character through his wife (Jessica Lange) and daughter (Juliette Lewis). The themes of interlocking guilt and anger between these people suggests a smart film in the making. But the final act, set on a boat with De Niro's vengeful pervert attacking Nolte and the two women, takes a more unfortunate direction. Stick with the original (which starred Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck, each of whom make a cameo appearance in this film). --Tom Keogh

Product Description

Item Name: Cape Fear (10th Anniversary Edition); Studio: Universal Studios

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Every man has to go through hell to reach paradise...", March 3, 2004

By 

Michael Crane (Orland Park, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cape Fear (10th Anniversary Edition) (DVD)

Very few thrillers stand out like Martin Scorsese's "Cape Fear." It's a terrifying ride that frightens us to the very core. It shakes you violently and paints an intense picture of revenge that is taken to a whole different level. This is a dark and brutal film that doesn't let you off easy for a single second.

Attorney Sam Bowden appears to have the perfect life upon simple examination. He has a loving wife and daughter, a very nice home, and a pretty successful and providing career. Things take a drastic turn when Max Cady is released from prison after serving a term of fourteen years. Cady was once represented by Bowden and is now looking for a little payback, as he feels that his former attorney didn't do everything he possibly could to keep him out of prison. Now, Sam must realize the present danger that is before him, as not only is his life in absolute danger--but also his family and everybody else he loves and cares for. The stakes have never been higher.

This is an absolutely disturbing film that pulls no punches. It's a very uneasy movie to watch, and yet it is so well done that it is hard NOT to watch. Robert De Niro is extremely terrifying as the vengeful "Max Cady" who is out and about, looking to settle the score. This is definitely a signature role for De Niro, as this would be one of his many roles that he will be remembered for most. Nick Nolte also gives a remarkable performance that adds a human quality to his character. The movie is well written and is perfectly executed frame by frame. It plays like a Hitchcock film on ecstasy. Martin Scorsese flawlessly directs this horrifying picture and knows what strings to pull to get a reaction from us. Be warned, this is not a movie for those who have weak stomachs or faint hearts.

The DVD does a splendid job when it comes to doing the movie the justice that it deserves. The picture quality is great--it is such a relief that I don't have to deal with the terrible laserdisc version that had the most horrendous picture quality. The sound quality is also great, and you even get the chance to watch it in DTS, if your system carries it. There are some cool extras for DVD fanatics, with extras like featurettes, deleted scenes, production notes, a theatrical trailer and more. Surely, there will be some who will want more for a film of this caliber, but the overall presentation is more than satisfactory.

"Cape Fear" is a relentless thriller that is terrifying and suspenseful. The movie has an excellent cast, a great script, and an extremely talented director behind it all. Again, the movie is very intense and isn't recommended for those who have weak hearts and don't like scenes with graphic and disturbing violence. This is definitely a classic that will always be around in the fine world of cinema. -Michael Crane

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where's Sideshow Bob?, March 18, 2002

By 

JR Pinto (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cape Fear (10th Anniversary Edition) (DVD)

I just watched this movie for the first time in a number of years and I'd forgotten how truly great it is. I'd been waiting for the DVD to come out. Cape Fear is a movie that needs to be seen in letterbox. In the documentary, Scorsese says it was the first time he filmed anamorphic because he'd hoped that widescreen televisions would soon be coming out.

What makes the DVD great is the long "making-of" documentary on disc 2. In it, Scorsese, all the actors, and the great screenwriter Wesley Strick go into great detail of every facet of the film and how the project evolved over the years (including the notorious "thumb-sucking" scene). I've read the book "The Executioners" upon which the movie is based, and I'm familiar with the original Peck/Mitchum version and I have to say that this film is the best of the three. Don't get me wrong - the original Cape Fear is a great movie and this version couldn't exist without it. However, this film is exponentially more complex and disturbing. The original story was a straightforward Good Guy/Bad Guy conflict. Nowhere was there a villain like the tattooed, Bible-quoting, Henry Miller-reading Max Cady as portrayed by DeNiro. Another especially inspired touch was to retain Bernard Herman's original score.

Whereas a zillion "psychological thrillers" have come and gone since Cape Fear came out, they have been forgotten and this remains a classic.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DeNiro and Scorcesee Cape Fear, September 5, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Cape Fear (10th Anniversary Edition) (DVD)

Some people prefer the earlier version of Cape Fear starring Robert Mitchum as the serial stalker. I myself prefer the updated version. Not to take away from the original version which is far superior when comparing the critics reviews and the general public reaction to the movie at that time. No one in public had seen a movie (dating back to the mid-forties) reflecting the intensity of erotisism and passion Cape Fear did,unusual for that time period. I admire Martin Scorcesee and DeNiros longstanding tie which was a definite PLUS when re-creating the updated version of the 40's classic. I loved the casting. Superb casting. Nolte was great as usual, what a presense he is. Jessica Lang was wonderful, providing the natural warmth and realism the character needed to withstand the complex plot. I loved Julliette Lewis as the prepubescent and very charming only child Dahni, who challenged her loving but somewhat disfynctional mother and father to accept her. And finally Mr. DeNiro himslef. What can you say about DeNireo that has not been said already? Genious, YES. Person? YES. Actor? YES.....Bob rises to every occasion to put his heart and soul into every character he plays which is apparent in his every performance. He did not contradict in Cape Fear. True to his usual perfectionisim DeNiro studied the character type, became that character and made movie History once again.

I truly loved this movie. Hope you agree!