The Apple TV series Cape Fear features Javier Bardem playing the villain Max Cady. This miniseries, premiering on June 5, is inspired by a 1957 novel by John D. MacDonald and a couple of intense film adaptations. The storyline features a man released from prison who terrorizes his former attorney.

The original Cape Fear movie came out in 1962. It starred Robert Mitchum as ex-convict Max Cady and Gregory Peck as attorney Sam Bowden. Peck portrayed a heroic and strong Bowden, whereas Mitchum played Cady as a vengeful and unpredictable force. A powerful scene from the film showed Cady intimidating Bowden’s wife, played by Polly Bergen. Mitchum’s portrayal influenced countless TV and movie predators thereafter.

Actors like Javier Bardem and Billy Bob Thornton have since played eccentric killers, following Mitchum’s template. Robert De Niro portrayed Cady in the 1991 remake, directed by Martin Scorsese, with Nick Nolte as Bowden. A gripping scene in this version involved DeNiro’s Cady with Bowden’s teenage daughter, creating tension with a mix of charisma and menace. Scorsese’s Cady was as evil as before, but Bowden was depicted with greater moral complexity.

For the new Apple TV series, Scorsese returns as executive producer, alongside Steven Spielberg. Creator Nick Antosca introduces bold choices in characters and casting. Unlike the previous films, Bowden’s wife, Anna, is Cady’s defense attorney, while Bowden is the prosecutor. This narrative shift enhances Anna’s role.

Amy Adams and Patrick Wilson shine as the Bowdens, portraying complexity with innocence and guilt. Bardem embodies Cady, showcasing his skill as a villain. While the series retains familiar elements, it renews the story for today’s world, incorporating technology, public shaming, and modern societal influences.

Flashbacks enrich the narrative, exploring Cady’s prison years and Bowden’s childhood. New supporting characters add depth, inheriting the stalking behaviors seen in prior film versions. Echoing Scorsese’s 1991 move of casting characters from earlier films, this series follows suit.

Bardem delivers a captivating performance, but the series stands out for more than its cast. Known plotlines are invigorated with surprises, creating scenes that range from scary to violent and creepy. Over the course of the series, viewers question the true nature of evil, and who the real villains are.