Cape Fear (1991)

Cape Fear (1991) is a psychological thriller directed by Martin Scorsese, and is a remake of the 1962 film of the same name. It stars Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange, and Juliette Lewis. The film explores themes of revenge, justice, and the limits of morality, delivering a tense and unsettling story of a family’s nightmare as they are stalked by a vengeful ex-convict.
The film follows Sam Bowden (played by Nick Nolte), a successful lawyer who, years earlier, intentionally suppressed evidence that could have acquitted his former client, Max Cady (played by Robert De Niro), a violent and dangerous man convicted of rape. After serving 14 years in prison, Cady is released and begins to torment Bowden and his family, seeking revenge for what he perceives as a betrayal.
Cady’s methods are insidious and psychological. He doesn’t immediately resort to violence but instead terrorizes the Bowden family—Sam’s wife Leigh (played by Jessica Lange) and teenage daughter Danielle (played by Juliette Lewis)—with his presence and manipulation, gradually unraveling their sense of security. As Cady’s harassment escalates, Sam is forced to confront his own moral compromises and is pushed to desperate measures to protect his family.