Analysis of an opening sequence: Cape Fear (Scorsese:1991)

Cape Fear is a psychological thriller film directed by Martin Scorsese. The film follows a freed con, Cady, as he gets his revenge on his former lawyer for not presenting some important evidence, that could've changed his 14 year sentence. 

The title sequence was exclusively produced by Saul Bass, an American graphic designer, well known for his work on previous Hitchcock films such as: Vertigo and Psycho. 

 

The opening title sequence begins by presenting the studio name and logo: Universal. However with an added twist, before the scene cuts into the opening sequence, the image of the Universal Company logo begins to move in a 'wave-like' form whilst a non-diegetic water sound effect plays in the background making the audience think of water/waves. In addition, to emphasize the 'water-effect' the tint of the image changes to blue.

 

A fade to black signals the end of the studio introduction. Following on, a sudden cut to the actual title sequence is in synch with the non-diegetic score as it appears as soon as a sharp, loud note is played. This surprises the audience as it begins to create some tension. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first shot in the sequence is an eyelevel close up of (what I think is) a river. For this scene and throughout most of the title sequence, the diegetic sound of the water can be heard. In the background an eerie non-diegetic score, which was specially adapted for the film, plays building up suspense and mystery. But also revealing some of the target audience for the film, which will be those most interested in mystery thillers.The tint of the shots also help to connote this as it is kept in low key lighting and with good use of contrast of light and dark. 

 

One of the first title credits shown is the name of the director - stating it is his film - as well as mentioning the rest ofthe studios/ companies. The titles are in a bold, white colour font; the names are kept in upper case letter whilst additional information is in low-case lettering which is split in the middle giving it an italic, distorted look.

Next, comes a reflection of an eagle flying down in a predatory manner, this action could be interpreted or seen as the antagonist in the film, which behaves like a hunter in a "predatory manner" when seeking his revenge. As the eagle flies out of the shot, the audience are left with the water again, which by now becomes suspicious and builds up a fear of the unknown. 

 

Names of the main actors in the film, fade in and out, one after the other. Whilst the score in the background escalates to a peak of high brass notes and as the water changes tint and even seems to change its liquid form; from water to a thicker type of liquid; the name of the film appears. 'Cape Fear'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the now, black and grey liquid, an extreme close up of the reflected eye on the water feels clautrophobic; as the audience are not able to see the whole face. Once again the reference to body parts in an opening sequence create a horror -like feeling which portrays who the audience for this film are - over 18's. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the opening sequence progresses, other parts of the face are reflected using fade-in unto the water. In a similar way, these extreme-close-ups maintain the audience alert. The images seem as if though they shouldn't be shown because of the way they are being depicted thereby making the audience feel guilty for looking. 

The pattern on the water changes, suggesting it is moving like a river would, since the reflection changes to different houses and buildings until reaching a point where it becomes unrecognisable, leaving the audience startled. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In this specific shot the use of silohuettes, feel like Scorsese has been influenced by German Expressionism, which link with an obscure atmosphere. Generally, the director has managed to establish a dark ambient with an unusual opening sequence that uses - as do most conventional psychological thriller op. sequences - close-ups to introduce some characters or themes that will happen later in the film. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The shot shown in the picture (above) is of a red wipe-down liquid which covers the blue 'water' and finalises the end of the opening credits title sequence. 

In this shot, the non-diegetic score's dynamics are kept loud, creating tension until the introduction of the dialogue where they are kept quieter as a background music. Moreover, the red tint, is used to represent blood therefore death or violence which is a foreshadow of what will happen later on in the film. This type of foreshadow also helps to suggest the target audience this film is for. Violence and deaths are normally not shown in films for young people and specially not children. So with this specific shot, the director is saying 'ADULTS ONLY'.  

 

Finally, a negative close-up shot of a person's eyes introduce us to the first and probably one of the most important characters in the film. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personally, I don't totally understand the use of the negative effect in this scene or in others that happen in the film. Although my interprentation of it, is that a negative effect is similar to an x-ray which might suggest that the director wants the audience to remember this character and to look beyond her eyes and what she begins to say. 

The camera changes from a close-up into a mid-shot whilst the effect also changes from negative, to black and white and normal colour. 

It doesn't seem like a coincidence that both the camera and tint change, seem to be in synch, I think it is because in a way they link with each other. Scorsese wants the viewer to focus on the eyes as the truth can be seen there, but then he changes to a normal colour in the mid-shot, that portrays a normal- looking girl, to suggest this is just an exterior 'façade' rather than the whole story. So in a way he is telling us to read between the lines and be prepared for what is coming.