Tomorrow the new version of a classic sordid thriller that gave Scorsese one of his masterpieces comes to streaming

John D. MacDonald published his novel ‘The Executioners’ in 1957. Since then, the same character (Max Cady, the ex-convict who returns to civilian life determined to destroy the life of the lawyer who locked him up) has survived two films, a television series, 69 years of life and three generations of leading actors (Mitchum, De Niro, Bardem) giving him life. Now, ‘Cape Fear‘ comes to Apple TV+ with Javier Bardem in the role of Cady and a premise that, this time, puts a woman in the eye of the hurricane.

This is the most visible modification compared to the movies: a former lawyer (Amy Adams) who works in an NGO dedicated to exonerating unjustly convicted prisoners, is married to a lawyer for wealthy clients (Patrick Wilson). This time there is an intimate and forbidden relationship at Cady’s (Javier Bardem) trial, which accentuates the idea of ​​a family with a dysfunctional point that the villain wants to blow up. The series format also helps to expand the children’s characters: one goes through depression and is a victim of social isolation, another carries the label of “perfect daughter” while her parents overprotect her problematic brother.

The person responsible for the series is not a newcomer to the genre. Nick Antosca is the creator of the magnificent anthology horror series inspired by creepypasta ‘Channel Zero’, and showrunner of the award-winning ‘The Act’, which turned an apparent story of true crime in a tortuous descent into the abysses of the mind. Some perfect precedents for a story that wins the murkier it appears.

The main comments of the series, as it could not be otherwise, will be brought together by Javier Bardem in his new incarnation of Max Cady, especially because the comparison with his two predecessors is inevitable: Robert Mitchum captured a subtle evil, De Niro opted for biblical and explosive madness, and Bardem brings us sexual charisma and contained violence. Without a doubt, it will be a good way to see if this old story continues to stand the test of time.

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