Cape Fear

Synopsis

Max Cady (Robert De Niro), a sociopathic rapist, is released from prison after serving fourteen years. His target is Sam Bowden (Nick Nolte), the public defender who represented him. Cady has spent his decade behind bars transforming himself into a physical powerhouse and a self-taught legal expert, fueled by the discovery that Bowden intentionally suppressed evidence that could have lightened his sentence.

Returning to Bowden's quiet North Carolina home, Cady begins a relentless campaign of psychological warfare against Sam, his wife Leigh (Jessica Lange), and their rebellious teenage daughter Danielle (Juliette Lewis). Working strictly within the loopholes of the law to avoid arrest, Cady methodically dismantles the family’s sense of security. As the "game" escalates from stalking to brutal violence, the Bowdens are forced to abandon their civilized morals and flee to their houseboat on the Cape Fear River for a final, primal confrontation.