Introduction

Abstract

The introduction provides an overview of the 1991 Cape Fear, and aspects of it the book will analyse. How the remake began as a Steven Spielberg film, and how Spielberg and Robert De Niro drew Martin Scorsese into a project for which he originally had little interest. An overview of the original John D. MacDonald novel, The Executioners, plus the original film adaptation from 1962. How Scorsese’s recruitment of cinematographer Freddie Francis and title designers Saul and Elaine Bass are evidence of him approaching Cape Fear as a horror film. An introduction to the controversy in 1991, including misogyny accusations levelled at the film, plus the cultural and political milieu into which the film was released. General introduction to why Cape Fear makes most sense as horror cinema, and how commentary at the time used language better suited to describing horror films when discussing what was ostensibly a thriller.