City by the Sea

Audience emotional responses for 'City by the Sea' are heavily dominated by the profound sadness and melancholy stemming from the estranged father-son relationship and the detective's unresolved past traumas. High anxiety and fear are present due to the high-stakes crime investigation where the son is a suspect, creating constant tension. Empathy is a key emotion as viewers connect with the characters' struggles, particularly Vincent's deep guilt over his past failures and Joey's difficult life. There's also a significant undercurrent of anger at the tragic circumstances and a disturbing sense of a generational cycle of pain.