How does Thompson create an atmosphere if threat in the schoolyard scene in Cape Fear? (1962)

How does Thompson create an atmosphere if threat in the schoolyard scene in Cape Fear? (1962)

Thompson creates a threatening atmosphere of threat in the schoolyard scene with the use of diegetic sound. This is evident when Cady is walking by the fountain in the park. The hissing of the fountain is used to create threat as it symbolises a snake’s hiss which is seen as danger. Snakes are also seen as the devil in Christianity as well as clever, such as Cady himself and his means of harassing the family. This creates threat as it tells us that Cady is a dangerous man and that he should be avoided.

Another way that Thompson creates atmosphere in the schoolyard scene is with the diegetic sound of footsteps and the differences between the two characters. This is most evident when the janitor, who looks like Cady in this part, is chasing Nancy though the school. This creates a sense of threat as Nancy’s footsteps are light and rather clumsy, which gives her a sense of vulnerability against Cady. This is because his footsteps are heavy and almost sound as if they are in a rhythm. This creates threat as Cady’s footsteps are more brutal, such as Cady himself. This is threatening as since his footsteps are so heavy, it makes Nancy’s seem rather small and that Cady is in control of the situation.

Thompson also uses mise-en-scene to create a threatening atmosphere. This is more evident when Cady grabs the bars when he is outside but also when Nancy is running in the schoolyard as she is behind the bars, creating a feeling of not escaping and being imprisoned. This relates to Cady as he has just got out of prison and when he grabs the bars, it seems as if he is in prison again. This could show that he is a criminal and that he should still be in jail. Thompson also uses the mise-en-scene again with the darkness as Nancy enters to locker room. This creates a sense of threat as there is more darkness in the room than there is light. Also darkness is seen as threatening and that light is not, creating a threatening atmosphere with a lack of light.

Thompson also uses many shot types to make Cady appear more threatening. This is particularly evident when the janitor is going through the school after Nancy as most shots appear to be mid shots but of the legs and groin of the janitor. This creates a threatening atmosphere as Cady was originally in jail for raping a girl, which was what he threatened to do to Nancy. This creates a threatening atmosphere as it creates a type of tension that seems threatening which poses us the questions “Will Nancy get out?” and “will Cady catch Nancy and what will he do?”. This makes it threatening as we do not know if that is the only thing Cady is going to do or if he is going to kill her afterwards. This makes us feel sympathy for Nancy

Thompson also uses composition to create a threatening atmosphere. This is most evident at the start of the clip as all the people in the park and outside of the school are walking away from Nancy apart from Cady. This creates a sense of threat as being all on your own is not a nice thing to be as it means that there is no-one to help you if you get into trouble but also no-one to witness a crime if it happens to you. This makes it threatening as all the other characters have abandoned Nancy and left her on her own. This also makes her seem vulnerable as there is no-one to help her against Cady.

 Thompson also uses a low angle shot to create a sense of threat. This happens when Cady grabs Nancy as she runs out of school into his arms. We then get a low angle, yet from Nancy’s point of view, of Cady’s torso. This creates a threatening atmosphere as it makes Cady seem the dominant character out of the two and makes him seem bigger than what he is and also makes Nancy seem vulnerable as she is small in comparison to Cady, making him seem threatening and intimidating. Cady also holds Nancy very tightly and close to him. This tells us that if he does not get what he wants he will do it by force.
 

Thompson also uses a prop as a threatening item within this scene. When Cady takes his cigar out of his mouth and points it at Nancy, it creates threat. This is because the cigar represents a sexual theme as he takes out then puts it in his mouth, creating threat as that was what he was going to do to Nancy if he caught her. This is threatening as it makes the whole idea of the rape worse as he uses a cigar to represent it.