10 Movie Remakes Better Than The Original

10. Cape Fear

Cape Fear
Universal Pictures

Perhaps more known today for being the subject of one of the greatest Simpsons episodes… well, ever, Martin Scorsese’s 1991 remake of Cape Fear, starring Robert DeNiro and Nick Nolte in the leading roles, isn’t just a great remake, but one of the best thrillers of all time.

Centred around a defence attorney and the convict he helped conspire to put away forever, Cape Fear first released in 1962 and starred Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum opposite each other as Sam Bowden - the aforementioned attorney - and Max Cady, his former client now released from prison. Both works were based on the 1957 novel, The Executioners, and though the original is certainly a great film, Scorcese’s remake is the superior of the two.

But for what reason? Both films utilise the same score composed by Bernard Herrmann, and both boast the same compelling tale all about Cady’s obsession to get revenge on the man who was supposed to help him avoid incarceration. However, the remake manages to go much darker than the original film, and Robert De Niro is utterly bone-chilling as Cady, more-so than Mitchum.

Both are absolutely still worth watching, but the remake manages to offer something more, all whilst paying respect to the original J. Lee Thompson adaptation.

[Ewan Paterson]

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