Cat People (1982)

Paul Schrader, the director of American Gigolo, brought a similar kind of sexual chic to this explicit horror movie. A remake of the beautiful, haunting 1942 Cat People, this version takes off from the same idea: that a woman (Nastassja Kinski), a member of a race of feline humans, will revert to her animalistic self when she has sex. Arriving to meet her brother (Malcolm McDowell) in New Orleans, she finds herself disturbed by his sexual presence. A zoo curator (John Heard) becomes fascinated by her, but he will discover that her kittenish ways are just the tip of the claw. Schrader dresses the story up in a stylish, glossy production, keyed on Kinski's green-eyed, thick-lipped beauty; it's hard to think of another actress in 1982 who could so immediately suggest a cat walking on two legs. Luckily Kinski had a European attitude toward her body, because this film has plenty of poster-art nudity. There's also lots of gore and some wacky flashbacks to the ancient tribe of cat people, who hold rituals in an orange desert while Giorgio Moroder's music plays. Cat People doesn't really make all this come together, but it's always interesting to look at, and the dreadful mood lingers. --Robert Horton Amazon.com

Schrader's revision of Cat People

When this film came out in the 70's, many critics lashed out at this revisionist remaking of the Val Lewton/Jacques Tourneur horror classic--like too much sex, blood & gore. What Paul Schrader basically did in his screenplay to the DeWitt Boden story was add his own obsessions, psychologically and sexual, to this story. At the time, Schrader was obsessed with his lead actress, Natasia Kinski, to the point that they were having an affair during the filming. Kinski, by the way, has never been more appealing or sexual on film than she is here thanks to Schrader's direction. Also Malcolm McDowell as her incestuous brother is also excellent as is the always under-rated John Heard as the zookeeper who falls for her (probably representing Schrader) and Annette O'Toole as Alice, Kinski's romantic rival. Ed Begley Jr is seen unfortunately briefly in an early role as a fellow zookeeper and veteran Oscar nominee, Ruby Dee is on hand to provide mystery as McDowell's housekeeper. The New Orleans locations lend an air of Gothic ness to the story and though the '43 version is the better of the two, this still remains a fascinating look into sexual obsession (a recurrent theme in lot of Schrader's films beginning with "Taxi Driver"). I've seen this version several times plus once in HD, and it still holds up very well. Do yourself a favor if you're a horror buff like myself and check this one out. The HD version is a slightly improved version over the Standard Def one. July 27, 2008

Movie "Cat People"

Thbis movie is awesome! It is dark and gets into deep feelings. It is full of beauty and fantasy and the dark savage heart of the leopard. Nastassia Kinski and Malcolm McDowell were never better. July 25, 2008

Haunting

"Cat people" is one of those very few horror films that is worth appreciating. Haunting score, wonderfull locations, good performences and wise editing makes this film worth a watch. The chemistry between Nastassia Kinski and John Heard was excellent, Malcolm McDowell is terrefic and so is Anette O'toole. Not just a horror/creature movie that entertains, I emphasize that! also, an emotional journey. Go, give it a try! June 28, 2008

A welcome difference for Horror fans.

This movie is great for Nastassja Kinski fans,
and it is good for Horror fans as a welcome respite from the usual Vampires and Werewolfs. Not to mention good for cat people as opposed to dog people! February 25, 2008

Erotic horror film.

This was a very strange horror film, it was a re-make of the original film made in the 30's and it was directed by Paul Schrader. I haven't seen the original cause I must admit it doesn't look that interesting, this film however looks alot better since it has a ton of nudity, blood and gore in it and it has a very erotic atmosphere. The weird opening sequence has a dream like quality its a flashback where we get to see an ancient tribe of people who are tying up a young woman in a sacrifice for the leopards this scene in particular has some nice visuals taking place in the dessert its abit illogical but then again who cares, the sex scenes weren't that explicit but they were nice and kinky there was also some nice death scenes as well. The music which was done by David Bowie was very good and memorable and adds alot to the atmosphere along with the eerie synthesized score by Giorgio Moridor it fits perfectly. The film also has some nice ideas about sexuality and how the lead character (Natasha Kinski) starts to experience a weird transformation into a leopard everytime she gets aroused its like shes unaware of her true nature shes also an innocent girl thats still a virgin but is about to go through alot of changes, some scenes were a bit perverse especially with that ending which is supposed to be shocking watching Natasha naked and very bloody is quite a sight ;-). The film starts off with Irina (Natasha Kinski) who just arrived in New Orleans to be reunited with her long lost brother Paul played by Malcom Mcdowell, she grew up in foster homes after her parents were killed and hasn't seen her brother in years she says that shes been dreaming of this moment when she was a little child.

Irena is thrilled to have family again until her brother starts making sexual advances towards her, this off course doesn't go to well with Irena who later discovers that she is the last of her race of cat people who are able to shape shift and it seems more difficult since she has fallen in love with Oliver played by John Heard who is a curator at the local zoo. The film might sound cheesy but its not it was done with a serious tone even though some parts were bad I still managed to like this and it has some nice gore scenes in it including a part where one of the zoo keepers gets his arm ripped off by the leopard that was kept in a cage it looked very nice and sick. If They have sex with humans they revert to leopard form and stay that way until they have the need to kill someone In order for these cat people to stay in human form, this was a really good early 80's horror film the only problem was that it was abit too long at two hours, the effects were brilliant and they were ahead of its time since they didn't use any CGI fx and they looked convincing and not outdated. Anyway I highly recommend this great horror film and two thumbs up. February 7, 2008

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