Martin Scorsese’s remake isn’t into implying anything at all; it goes for the throat. Some of the story elements have changed—Sam Bowden is the public defender who suppressed evidence that could have gotten his client a lesser sentence or acquittal from rape charges. Max Cady was guilty as hell, but a report about his victim’s “questionable” sexual history could have set him free and Sam was not about to have that on his conscience. You might note that this is a direct violation of Cady’s constitutional right to a proper legal defense in court. Cady discovers the report while appealing his case as a jailhouse lawyer. Now he wants vengeance. Cady gets out during a time when the Bowden family is dealing with trust issues between Sam and his wife, as well as his daughter slipping between rebellious, awkward, and sexually curious. No one is perfect in Scorsese’s Cape Fear. Max’s behavior is bolder this time around too, particularly when he corners young Danny Bowden at school. Robert De Niro is very good as Max Cady, but eventually degenerates into a parody of the irrational and becomes just another horror movie killer. Strange to see Martin Scorsese resorting to stylized techniques and unnecessary slasher film ploys. Someone else could have hung their hat on Cape Fear using the same approach, but this is Martin Scorsese and it is funny how standards work. This is not one of his better movies compared to the obvious classics on his resume, but maybe that is the point: that even the great Martin Scorsese has flaws.
