“In its new form, Cape Fear feels its most intriguing and most clever yet,” writes streaming columnist NICK OVERALL of the twist in the latest remake of an old story.  

It’s been a famous film in 1962 and 1991, a novel in 1957, and in 1993 it even got a parody on The Simpsons. Fair to say that Cape Fear has had quite the pop cultural shelf life over the years.

Now in the streaming era, the story gets a new coat of paint as a slick television series on Apple TV Plus.

For those who haven’t seen the other versions, Cape Fear tells the story of married lawyers Tom and Anna Bowden whose lives are turned upside down when a brutal ex-convict, Max Cady, is released from prison and tries to hunt them down, seeking revenge for his imprisonment.

In previous versions, Cady is an out-and-out violent psychopath determined to take out his targets by any means necessary.

However, this new series keeps the cards a little closer to its chest.

Cady’s past is shrouded in secrecy, leaving it to audiences to try and work out who’s really telling the truth.

The tension comes from this ambiguity. Cady is a master manipulator and the thrills here are more psychological than outright violent, like its predecessors.

This twist was desperately needed to keep the story fresh.

Javier Bardem plays the villain and it’s a top-tier choice. 

He’s carved out quite the career playing the bad guy, from No Country For Old Men to Skyfall to Pirates of The Caribbean.

He brings the charm, but also the creeps to Cady in this new series, keeping it very watchable.

Apple also secured the star power of Amy Adams and Patrick Wilson to play the Bowden couple.

Ten episodes does feel slightly too long for this story, especially since it’s been proven it can be covered in two hours, but in its new form Cape Fear feels its most intriguing and most clever yet. 

Those more interested in a blast from the past can actually find the 1991 version on Paramount Plus and the 1962 version can be rented on Amazon Prime Video.

THE modern sports documentary has become a staple of streaming catalogues that any major platform must have to compete in the market.

Netflix has become a master of them.

From the high octane racing in Formula 1: Drive To Survive to the high stakes drama of cheerleading in America’s Sweethearts, to the behind-the-scenes antics of Beckham, these shows have proved huge winners in viewership numbers and their ability to pull in subscribers.

Their newest subject is Rafael Nadal in the simply but aptly titled Rafa, a four-part doco charting the rise of one of the modern greats of tennis.

There’s a thorough look into the life of a man who’s never naturally taken to the fame, a shy and more introverted star of the sport who in this series shares the story of his success in the deepest and most personal detail yet.

Among those also interviewed are his wife and coaches, as well as other tennis champions such as Federer and Djokovic, who weigh in what it’s like facing off against one of their most fierce opponents.

What makes these docos such winners is the ability to draw in audiences who otherwise wouldn’t be interested in the sport itself.

After Drive To Survive hit Netflix the motorsport’s global revenue roughly doubled in size, going from $1.83 billion to $3.65 billion. It fundamentally transformed Formula 1.

Rafa is not going to hit those heights for tennis. but since its release the show has held firm in Netflix’s top 10 most watched this month and once again generated a huge amount of buzz for the sport.

It’s well executed, engaging story telling that’s made it resonate with tennis fans and non-tennis fans alike.

Anyone can get caught up in the story of a rise to success through determination. 

Rafa is an ace for Netflix.