Cat People
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Movie Reviews of Cat People
Movie Review: Terrible film, great DVD
Summary: 2 Stars
I'm not opposed to the idea of remakes, although this film shows just why it's a better idea to remake bad films with unfulfilled potential than great ones that far exceeded theirs. Even ignoring comparisons with Val Lewton's classic, it's rare for a film to misfire on quite as many levels as this early Bruckheimer movie - and it's much more of a Bruckheimer movie than a Schrader one - but sadly, like all Bruckheimer movies, this promises much but then resolutely fails to deliver (after all, Bruckheimer is the guy who made a car chase movie and then forgot to include any car chases until the last reel). The sexual fantasies may be Schrader's, but the style is all Bruckheimer's - glossy visuals, marketable soundtrack, good-looking cast given little to work with, meandering script and a dogged refusal to make good on the hype.
However, even ignoring the fact that the producer is more interested in the marketing than the movies themselves, taken on its own merits, `Cat People' just doesn't work. For a film about a race of incestuous cat people, it's astonishingly boring. Nothing much happens in the most uninteresting way possible for 90 minutes until Kinski's character undergoes a sudden complete moral u-turn and the filmmakers try to wrap everything up in a hurry so they can get home before the pubs shut. As a film about sexuality, it has no insight. As a sex film, it has no sex or eroticism. As a thriller, it doesn't thrill. As a horror film, it has no atmosphere or menace. Worst of all, it's just so astonishingly dull. And don't expect much in the way of special effects or gore - most of what was shot hit the cutting room floor (and don't go looking for them on the DVD - no deleted scenes there). Suddenly the omens for `Exorcist IV' are looking very, very bad indeed...
The DVD itself is a good package - a new 25-minute interview with Schrader and a worrying one from 1982 where he's barely coherent and obviously under the influence; interview with make-up FX man Tom Burman; Robert Wise on Val Lewton; stills montage; trailer; and an audio commentary by Schrader. Absolutely none of which makes this film any better, but at least gives you some insight into how Schrader's admitted personal problems helped send it off the rails. Only a poor stereo mix lets the side down.
Movie Review: Meow.
Summary: 2 Stars
The original movie, Cat People / The Curse of the Cat People was made in 1942. It was stunning, haunting and unique. Only 73 minutes long and in black & white it sends chills down your spine. Cat People / The Curse of the Cat People (1942) had the cast of Simone Simon as the "femme fatale", Kent Smith, Tom Conway, Jack Holt and Jane Randolph. You might say Simone Simon was the original "catwoman". It was followed in 1944 with the sequel, "Curse of the Cat People" with Simone Simon, Kent Smith and Jane Randolph returning.
40 years later , "Cat People" was remade with a new cast, special effects with nudity and sexual situations.
Nastassia Kinski, fresh from her critically acclaimed role in "Tess" (1979), plays the virgin cat with Malcolm McDowell on the prowl.
Also in the cast: John Heard, Annette O'Toole, Ruby Dee, Ed Begley Jr and John Larroquette.
WARNING: If you have a pet cat at home, don't let them hear or see this film. They will go into their Alpha mode.
Lots of Bonus Features on this DVD.
Cat People (1982) isn't really that great a film, but I would suggest American Werewolf in London Special Edition (1981).
Movie Review: Cat People NOt Purrr-fect
Summary: 2 Stars
After not seeing the film for many years, I was excited to finally watch this movie on DVD. The movie is plenty erotic and eerie, but very little substance, action, suspense and gore. The best feature I can say about this movie is its musical score and title song. There are a few moments of chills, but a lot of scenes that are confusing. Quite frankly I was bored to pieces.Movie Review: Question about DVD
Summary: 2 Stars
Just a general question to other buyers of this DVD -- my copy does't seem to have a working title screen. The disc plays the FBI warning, followed by a black screen. You can play the movie by pressing play, but you cannot use the menu options like on other discs. Anyone else have this problem, is it part of the press run...or do I just have a mildly defective copy?Movie Review: Clunky remake of a classic
Summary: 1 Stars
For those who don't believe in vampires, all one needs to do is look at the movie Cat People. At one time, this had been a great 1940s horror movie, but someone (or something!) got a hold of it and drained all the life from it. The lifeless remnants of the original movie became this 1980s version, which seems to believe that all the classic version was missing was some blood and some nudity.
After a nice-looking but rather slow prologue involving women mating with panthers in the distant past, we come to the present where Irena (played by Natasha Kinski) is arriving in New Orleans from some foreign land. There she meets her brother, played by Malcolm McDowell, whose interest in her goes well beyond sibling love.
Both are under a curse of sorts that forces them to turn into cats if they are sexually aroused (although for Irena, it doesn't occur until she actually completes the act). In cat-form, they must kill before they can be restored to humanity. Of course, soon enough, Irena falls in love and must deal with her curse.
Where the original movie succeeded with implied horror - things lurking in the shadows and similar suspense-generating effects - this movie puts it all out in front of the viewer. Comparisons with the original aren't really necessary, however: this dud fails on its own merits, especially from the greatest of all crimes a horror movie can suffer from: it's often boring. Add to that a distinctly '80s style and soundtrack, and this movie also looks extremely dated. Stick with the original.