Cape Fear (1991) is a thriller with the recurring theme of revenge and danger. Max Cady (Robert De Niro) wants to exact revenge on his lawyer, who held back information during Cady's trial, resulting in a longer sentence in prison for his crime. The opening sequence sets the scene for the whole film, and creates an atmosphere which is regularly repeated.The opening sequence includes credits and the beginning scene of the film. By analysing this opening we have an idea of what we need to put into our thriller and what will be successful.
The titles show several shots of water, which we presume is Cape Fear. The sound starts with a storm, and from this we can connotate that the storm represents trouble and danger, and that something is brewing. We learn at the end of the sequence that Cady is the storm, and he is going to become a dangerous character. 
The water starts off calm and then erupts into more rapid ripples, showing how how violent the scene and film can become. We see the reflection of an eagle during the sequence, as it falls to the water, then flies off, afterwards 'Robert De Niro' appears where the eagle just was. The font is disjointed and gives a creepy, eerie feel to the characters. The eagle represents Cady, and how he is now a hunter, a bird of pray, seeking revenge. This was used deliberately to show how he is now become a hunter. By using this we get an insight of the character, without having to have seen him. Therefore a tense atmosphere and fear of Cady is already established, before we even see the character. Before the eagle appears, the music is fairly calm, and the strings are quiet. However, when it does, the strings become faster and louder and create a more intimidating atmosphere for the viewer, and they too begin to fear the eagle and the character it represents.
The film's name is now shown in the same font as the actors' names are. The soundtrack becomes violent, louder and intimidating, this makes you fear 'Cape Fear' as the noise playing at the same time induces fear within the viewer. By doing this you give the viewer and expectation of how scary the place is. 
Through the water we see distorted images, first an eye, then a pair of eyes and then Cadys face. The first eye we see is wide open, giving a sense of being hunted, scared or looking for something. The eye is quite unsettling and we could connotate how it may be viewed as innocent and vulnerable.
We then see a set of teeth, which we assume is someone dangerous. If you continue to watch the film you see how the character uses his teeth to become a savage and menacing monster. The music at this point is quite inquisitive and slow, it makes you wonder what the significance of the teeth and mouth are to the rest of the film.
This is where we see the face of an unknown character, he laughs while looking at the audience. This evokes fear into the audience and creates an enigma of, who is this man and what does he want? why is he laughing? This is stereotypical of an opening sequence to a thriller.We see the shadow of a man and this creates fear within the audience. There is then a drip of water down the screen as the water turns red, so we can relate it to blood, danger and death. The music becomes loud and intimidating as blood fills the screen.
The music begins to fade as a pair of eyes, in negative, turn out to be a young girls. She is dressed in white and this colour has certain connotations, such as purity and honesty. She has her top buttons done up showing no flesh and as you link the colours and her attire, we begin to assume that perhaps she is a virgin.
After the girl finishes talking we see Cady's cell. The walls are covered with images of famous dictators like Stalin and revolutionists which he admires. This proves how he may have a different view of the world to us and shows his distortion of the world, just like the distortion of the images in the water. We then see him doing gym work in the cell, keeping himself in shape for when he gets out of the prison, and begins his one man mission in murdering his old lawyer and family.
The tattoo on his back tells us a little bit about the character as he has a crucifix on his back and scales which is associated with justice. The film is based on gaining justice and includes the audience in a 'mock trial' in the film's climax.
As Cady leaves prison instead of the other prisons jeering and cheering him as he leaves, they all stare and watch in silence. The guards let him lead the way out, showing how he holds the power within the scene. As he leaves there is a match action cut 
between a door and then the gates leaving the prison. In the background the storm erupts and thunder rolls as lightning cracks. This shows how the storm (Cady) has started and how it has become a dangerous situation now he is out. He walks straight to the camera and looks at the camera, this intimidates the viewer as it gives them a sense of watching him being released. The strings reach a climax as he walks into the camera. This part of the film marks the beginning of the storm and the pain that is about to ensue.Tom Smith
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