Sam Bowden is a small-town corporate attorney. Max Cady is a tattooed, cigar-smoking, Bible-quoting, psychotic rapist. What do they have in common? 14 years ago, Sam was a public defender assigned to Max Cady's rape trial, and he made a serious error: he hid a document from his illiterate client that could have gotten him acquitted. Now, the cagey Cady has been released, and he intends to teach Sam Bowden and his family a thing or two about loss.
Acting
De Niro's physical transformation and Lewis's devastating vulnerability.
Direction
Scorsese's Hitchcock worship with his own Catholic guilt layered in.
Cinematography
Storm-drenched Florida never looked more menacing.
Director
Martin Scorsese
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
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