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Source: Apple TV
Robert De Niro deeply moved us with his role as Max Cady in in the film "Cape Fear"« 1991's The Last Jedi—which, in our opinion at CinemaBlend, is not only one of the best films of the '90s, but also one of the best horror films of all time—and now, 25 years later, the baton has passed to Javier Bardem in the upcoming Apple TV series. Critics have screened eight of the 10 episodes of the series, and reviews are already out ahead of the June 5 premiere.
Besides Javier Bardem, the series «Cape Fear» Amy Adams and Patrick Wilson star as Tom and Anna Bowden, the married lawyer couple on whom Max seeks revenge. CinemaBlend's Riley Utley recently watched Robert De Niro's version for the first time and, nevertheless, said she never could have predicted the plot's unexpected twists. She said:
While maintaining the original atmosphere of dread and horror, Apple TV's adaptation of Cape Fear is a modern and twisted take on this classic story. Featuring incredible performances from Javier Bardem (as Max Cady), Amy Adams, and Patrick Wilson, this gripping and terrifying show presents a new take on Cape Fear that goes in completely unexpected directions. I mean that as a compliment: the show genuinely scared me, and I couldn't take my eyes off it.
For some fans – including our own Hugh Scott – this role feels like exactly the kind of insane Javier Bardem performance we've been waiting for since film "No Country for Old Men"« , and Roger Ebert's Richard Roeper confirms the Oscar winner is in the series «Cape Fear »" is a veritable explosion of conflicting emotions. Furthermore, Roper says Bardem, as Max Cady, offers "a whole gamut of sexually charged charisma." He rates the series 3 out of 4 stars, writing:
It's a dark, downright brutal, well-acted, and absurdly twisted nightmare, some of whose twists had me rolling my eyes even as I eagerly awaited the next episode. It's like the first two NOS films: everything is exaggerated, drawn out, and pushed to the limit. The result is a sometimes deafening, nauseating, but undeniably entertaining trash series.
THR's Daniel Fienberg agrees with other critics that the strong cast elevates the series.« Cape Fear» to a new level—he admits the series remains "generally entertaining, if not always gripping" throughout. However, Feinberg says he believes this adaptation of the book, which consists of the two previous films, shouldn't have been stretched to 10 episodes, and believes it's about four hours longer than viewers can handle while maintaining the necessary degree of empathy and accepting the events at face value. In his review to Cape Fear« it says:
What justifies the expanded plot? Sure, there are added character details and references to contemporary phenomena, like the obsession with true crime and Innocence Project-style criminal justice reform initiatives. But mostly, it's just "more." More people committing increasingly wrongdoings under the delusion that they're doing the right thing, more violent retribution, more hidden perversity, more implausible plot twists.
Hunter Ingram of The Wrap says adapting the series into 10 hour-long episodes gives director Nick Antosca time to delve into the horror of Max Cady's torturous methods and the disintegration of the Bowden family. However, the critic argues that this isn't necessary for the story, but the opportunity to watch Javier Bardem perform in a role where he embodies such "insane perfection" is a gift. Ingram writes:
Bardem delivers a masterclass in reimagining the classic Cady character. This man's sociopathic tendencies are a true treasure for Bardem, who exploits them with relish, relishes them, and ultimately turns them into a weapon. And if these 10 hours are worth anything, it's the opportunity to go crazy—literally.
Nick Schager of the Daily Beast takes a very different view than other reviews of «Cape Fear, I've read. He calls it "the worst movie remake ever made on television." According to Schager, the Apple TV remake "unnecessarily and annoyingly expands, reworks, and overcomplicates the source material," and writes:
This isn't to say that Cape Fear is entirely without merit. It does have moments of paranoia and terror. However, these moments are drowned out by absurd plot twists, trivial cameos, and excessive complications that were introduced not as a natural progression of the story—and its thematic concerns about fathers and daughters, honor and injustice—but as a way to stretch it out for nearly ten hours.
Critics who loved the first eight episodes of "« Cape Fear, Mostly, they acknowledged some implausible moments or other nitpicks (though I don't consider "undeniably entertaining trash television" an insult), while negative reviews also noted the show's strengths. Overall, the consensus is that «Cape Fear» It's worth watching when it airs in 2026, as it has a "Certified Fresh" rating of 74% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
The first two episodes will air on Friday, June 5, with one episode released weekly thereafter. The series is available with an Apple TV subscription.