“Cape Fear”: The 1991 Film Is A Prescient Warning Against The Current Rise of Christian Nationalism

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Martin Scorsese’s 1991 remake of “Cape Fear” is a haunting and prescient allegory, cautioning against the dangers of Christian fundamentalism and the threat it poses to the ever-fragile fabric of the United States. Robert De Niro’s chilling portrayal of Max Cady, a psychopathic ex-convict released from prison hell-bent on revenge, serves as a chilling embodiment of this threat.

Max Cady’s twisted Christian beliefs drive his relentless pursuit of Sam Bowden, played by Nick Nolte, his former lawyer who Max believes ultimately sent him to prison by squashing exonerating evidence because Sam had judged Cady as too dangerous for society. Because of the unfair judgment made upon him, Max views himself as a righteous executioner, justified in his heinous actions by a distorted interpretation of scripture.

This warped sense of morality mirrors the rise of Christian nationalist movements in the United States, which seek to impose their religious dogma upon the entire populace. They believe that their beliefs should govern every aspect of society, from education to healthcare. And perhaps even scarier, they believe that our judges should share their beliefs and so such movements exert their influence on the selection…