A little over 30 years separates the two film versions of Cape Fear, and you can feel the differences plainly when comparing them. The movies follow the same general story with changes that reflect the mood of the era. For instance, the Scorsese version darkens the tale with more lurid thrills. It’s telling that, 35 years later, the latest update isn’t a movie but a prestige miniseries. What was once a 2 hour film has become a 10 hour TV show. It’s certainly the closest the new series gets to capturing the vibe of our modern times.
For the unfamiliar, Cape Fear follows convicted felon Max Cady (Javier Bardem) recently released from prison and determined to seek revenge on his lawyer. Max does this by threatening him and his family in ways that signal that murder is on the mind. In the Apple TV+ series, there are now two lawyers for Max to target, and they happen to be married. Anna and Tom Bowden (Amy Adams and Patrick Wilson) were Max’s attorney and the prosecutor, respectively, during his trial. This element adds some new wrinkles to the story and certainly fares better than the subplots involving their children, Natalie (Lily Collias) and Zack (Joe Anders).
Part of what makes the previous versions so interesting is the powerlessness that the Bowdens experience. Cady, memorably portrayed by Robert Mitchum and Robert De Niro, is the lynchpin and the most engaging presence. Javier Bardem may not be a “Robert” but he still finds a new spin on the character. Bardem’s take is more subdued, letting the rage and resentment slowly boil as he enacts his revenge plot. It’s no surprise that the scenes involving him are the most striking. After all, he’s the only active character in the story. Everyone else is simply responding to him.
Adams and Wilson, in contrast, try to add some depth to their characters, but the writing fails them. Adams fares better mainly because she quickly picks up on the obvious threats Cady makes. Wilson and their godawful children take much longer to pick up on it. The 10 episode run also requires more story, which means Cady’s plan gets needlessly complex. It also means more time spent with the dysfunctional Bowden kids. We explore Natalie’s crush on a friend and Zack’s mysterious gamer girlfriend more to fill time than provide any useful insights. It becomes a welcome relief when harm comes their way because the plot is finally moving.
This new Cape Fear boasts Scorsese and Spielberg as executive producers. While their actual contributions were minimal at best, the mere presence of their names seems to have affected the quality of the directing. The frequent visual nods to the 90s film get grating after a while, but there’s still plenty of visual flair. At its best, the series gets great mileage out of using shadow and color, specifically teal, to create a foreboding atmosphere. Add in the references to Bernard Herrmann’s excellent score, and you have a style that captures your attention.
It’s a shame, then, that so much of the plot fails to do the same. Cape Fear’s stacked cast is let down by writing that drags out the story to the detriment of everything else. Bardem is the only one who comes away from this unscathed. In a strange way, that ends up being the one thing that best captures the spirit of the films. The portrayal of Cady remains the most intriguing part. The rest fails to realize its potential. Maybe they’ll do it better in 30 years.
Cape Fear is currently streaming on Apple TV. New episodes air on Fridays.