Cat People (1982)

Better Late Then Never

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

The acting in this movie is really good.

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

Paul Shrader is far better known as a writer (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull) but he has also directed a few films and Cat People is one of them. A remake of a 1942 film it tells of an old, ancient time when big cats(leopards to be specific) roamed the lands and humans sent their daughters as sacrifice to mate with them(it is shown more poetically than how I wrote). One such union results in the birth of siblings whom we follow in present day New Orleans. This is a strange film in that it can be classified as fantasy-erotic horror. The atmosphere is supreme and the early scenes in the ancient times are reminiscent of David Lynch's Dune. The acting by everyone from the gorgeous Natasha Kinski to the always sublimely crazy Malcolm Mcdowell to John Heard as the sole "normal "human being is good. This is a good, distinctive horror film.

Growing up in the 80s, Paul Schrader's Cat People was (in)famous, mostly for its reported violence and sexual content. As a pubescent cinephile obsessed with horror movies, this film was a mainstay in my must-watch list. Sadly, it wasn't so until 2018. I have many cherished memories of wanting to watch Cat People: the awesome Giorgio Moroder soundtrack, the divided and heated reviews, the haunting poster and the much talked-about sexual content of the film. I am sure that if I had discovered the film during the 80s, my appreciation of Paul Schrader's film would have been quite different to my current opinion. I have the greatest respect for Paul Schrader's body of work whether it is his scriptwriting or directing; the titles simply speak for themselves: Taxi Driver, The Last Temptation of Christ, Raging Bull, ... to name a few Scorsese pictures. One thing is sure about Mr Schrader, his scriptwriting is absolute genius. So what went wrong with Cat People? Please don't misunderstand me. Cat People is perfectly watchable from beginning to end and I do recommend the film. The source material, Jacques Tourneur's Cat People, is an established RKO classic from the early 40's, where it was all about oppressive atmosphere with extremely efficient cinematic expressionism. Stepping away from the traditional horror mould, Paul Schrader explores the themes of sexual frustration and emancipation pointing towards perversity, masochism and desperation doing so without holding back on nudity, violence and taboos. Again, the film is fine but, halfway through, I was getting that niggling feeling that it could have been so much more: bolder, more dreamlike or more nightmarish, more morally violent and more engaging (Lucio Fulci did it with The Beyond and Ken Russell with Altered States). Sadly, the film ends up being a sleazy piece of entertainment with just a few moments of genius. As an open-minded cinephile, I tend to forgive plot holes based on how gaping they are. Be warned, Cat People has its fair share. Once controversial upon its release, Cat People is tame to today's standards while still interesting in its exploration in sexual liberation.

Meow! - To the max!.... Yes. It's "Cat People" - Where Sexual Chic Meets Explicit Horror.Released in 1982 - Cat People is technically a really well made film - Very stylish. Sleek and glossy. In this flick the viewer is, pretty much, spared nothing - Incest, Bondage, Bestiality.... (Yep. It's all here, folks)Apparently, Cat People was intended to be a remake of the 1942 film of the same name. But this flick really bears little, if any, resemblance to the original production. Although this adaptation does take off on the same basic theme - That a woman (a member of a race of feline-humans) will automatically revert back into her animalistic self whenever she engages in fornication. (Get the picture?) Cat People stars the exquisitely seductive, but, emotionally vacant beauty, Nastassja Kinski as Irena. This horror film's moody title track was written and performed by pop star - David Bowie.

A young woman's sexual awakening brings horror when she discovers her urges transform her into a monstrous black leopard.Something went wrong with this film. The director is a hugely talented man, and has made some great films. Even here, the film looks beautiful and has an incredible color palette. But it drags in spots, seems to switch gears without warning, and just never hits the high notes.The film infamously has been said to have "more skin than blood", and that is quite true. For anyone looking to see Nastassja Kinski naked for long periods of time, this is the film for you. But if you want suspense, go for the original. This one has more gore, which is welcome, but that does not make up for the weak plot.