THE TURN-ONS AND TURN-OFFS IN CURRENT HOME ENTERTAINMENT RELEASES : VIDEOCASSETTES : Excellent Good Fair Poor

“Cape Fear.” MCA. $59.95. Back in 1962, few could have guessed that this sordid melodrama was more indicative of America’s cinematic future than, say, “Lawrence of Arabia,” “Lolita” or “Ride the High Country.” J. Lee Thompson’s brutal thriller--pitting helpless, decent people against swaggering scum--has been copied hundreds of times since: It’s the granddaddy of the modern revenge movie. Based on a John D. MacDonald novel, “ Rape Fear” might be a more appropriate title. Still, the film’s better than most of its squalid progeny, largely due to its nonpareil “heavy.” As psychopath Max Cady--terrorizing Gregory Peck and family--Robert Mitchum projects so much sleepy-eyed sadism, the movie doesn’t really need graphic blood and guts. Information: (818) 777-4315. 1/2