Cape Fear (1991)

This week, the dads dive into Martin Scorsese's 1991 thriller Cape Fear, where Robert De Niro trades his usual New York growl for a chilling Southern drawl as Max Cady, an ex-con hellbent on destroying the lawyer who buried evidence during his trial. Steve experiences this psychological nightmare for the first time while Nic revisits a personal favorite that inspired one of the greatest Simpsons episodes ever made, complete with Sideshow Bob hiding under the family car.

The guys break down what makes this remake so effective: De Niro's unhinged yet articulate performance that subverts every expectation of what a violent criminal should look like, the suffocating Hitchcockian atmosphere Scorsese creates from the opening credits, and powerhouse supporting work from Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange, and especially Juliette Lewis in her Oscar-nominated turn. Nic marvels at the film's ability to balance genuine terror with moments of dark comedy (that Mrs. Doubtfire disguise), while Steve geeks out over the legal cat-and-mouse game and Joe Don Baker's scene-stealing private investigator who just wants someone to feel "squirrely."

Both dads recognize Cape Fear as a masterclass in sustained tension that works both as edge-of-your-seat thriller and disturbing meditation on justice, revenge, and family trauma. From leopard-print Speedos to speaking in tongues during a biblical storm finale, Scorsese delivers something that's simultaneously exploitation and art house. It's terrifying, it's brilliantly crafted, and it'll make you think twice about every bump in the night.