Ted B
4.0 stars; This movie is a great example of how you can create suspense, fright, and horror in a psychological thriller without using a bunch of cheap special effects. The suspense was created in the unseen. The only attempt at it was the silly cartoon cats that appeared in Irena's dream/nightmare.
Simone Simon was perfectly cast for the lead role. The plot was weird only because she made it so. I can't help but wonder what the audience in 1942 thought of this movie. Did they recognize it as a classic in its own right?
Today, cheap special effects and over-the-top acting would be slapped onto the production, and it would be relegated to B-level TV and theaters.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
06/10/24
Full Review
Alec B
Despite the silly title, this is a solid and economic thriller. Also, the movie is barely coy about it's sexual themes which no doubt contributed to it's surprisingly popularity.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
01/03/24
Full Review
Dave C
It has the elegance and intelligence akin so many 1940's movies, and such qualities work superbly with this story. The premise is simple enough, but that doesn't weaken the story at all. In fact, it allows Jacques Tourneur the ability to slant the story to one of intimate relationships and the strange idea that some may not be intimate, with consequences beyond rational thought, as opposed to a thoughtless horror/suspense movie. Admittedly, this isn't suspenseful by today's standards perhaps, but it is strongly written, and suggestive, making it an absorbing watch - which is sometimes more powerful. The performances are brilliant too.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
10/31/23
Full Review
Dave S
Irena (Simone Simon), a Serb working in New York's fashion industry, believes that she is a descendent of an ancient group from her homeland who are transformed into cats when passionately aroused. When she falls in love with the skeptical Oliver (Kent Smith), things begin to become awkward. Jacques Tourneur's Cat People is an exceptionally well-made film, filled with vivid black and white cinematography, some creative lighting, strong performances, and a creepy score. However, it's sometimes difficult to buy into the silly premise and, furthermore, horror fans will probably be disappointed as there is little in the way of scares (other than the creepy pool scene, maybe) over the course of the scant 73-minute running time.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
11/07/23
Full Review
ChrisCSH H
Beautifully shot film, starring Simone Simon, who is absolutely brilliant in the film. Great visuals and overall plot, emphasizing on the struggles of female sexuality of the time and how they were criticized for that belief. all in all a really good horror film for the time although there were better horror films of the time.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
10/16/23
Full Review
Sabrina F
The first thing to state about Cat People is that it is very much a product of its time for better and for worse. For better, you get some great dialogue, atmospheric use of chiaroscuro, and nice set pieces, features common in film noir at the time. For worse, you get "foreign woman bad/American woman good", an odd bit of Christian propaganda, and a glimpse into the sad reality of zoos back then.
If you can enjoy the film despite its more dated aspects, Cat People is ultimately a tragic story about a woman who is cursed. There is even a slight little wink-wink to The Wolfman in this film. It visually stunning, and it has a few genuinely creepy moments. The tragic conclusion is met with a sort of "Oh, well" attitude by some of the other characters, which was an odd and rather cold choice, but overall I thought Cat People was a pretty good watch. It is fast-paced, and it has a lot of strong cinematic elements that make it edge towards greatness. The big problem is that the creative team could not figure out if we are supposed to feel bad for Irena or view her solely as a villain.
Hot take, but if you want to see Cat People done right, with a more complex and sympathetic heroine, give the 1982 movie a watch. It is far better in so many ways.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
09/29/23
Full Review
Read all reviews
>
