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The Curse of the Cat People

Play trailer Poster for The Curse of the Cat People Released Mar 2, 1944 1h 10m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
89% Tomatometer 35 Reviews 65% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
In this sequel to "Cat People," Oliver Reed (Kent Smith) is married to the lovely Alice Moore (Jane Randolph). The couple has a daughter, Amy (Ann Carter), a withdrawn young girl with a vivid imagination who soon begins talking to visions of her father's deceased former wife, the cursed Irena (Simone Simon). When Amy unintentionally incurs the wrath of a mentally unstable woman (Elizabeth Russell), the girl's relationship with Irena's apparition comes into play.
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The Curse of the Cat People

The Curse of the Cat People

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Critics Consensus

Foregoing the horror thrills of its predecessor in favor of childhood fantasy, Curse of the Cat People is a touching and psychologically complex family film couched in a ghost story.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media Old-fashioned horror fantasy isn't too scary for tweens. Rated: 3/5 Dec 22, 2010 Full Review Variety Staff Variety Made as sequel to the profitable Cat People, this is highly disappointing because it fails to measure up as a horrific opus. Nov 14, 2007 Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Hardly a moment is wasted. Nov 14, 2007 Full Review Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault One of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. Rated: A+ Nov 23, 2022 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Often cited as Lewton's most personal film, some even calling it his best, The Curse of the Cat People remains unclassifiable and beguiling, yet supremely human in its understanding of and sympathy for the inner workings of a child's mind. Rated: 4/4 Feb 14, 2022 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy One of the most curious sequels ever made. Rated: 3.5/4 Aug 10, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Dave C What a travesty that the studio forced such a misleading and disappointing title onto this project! Whilst there is an ethereal, fairytale-like link to Cat People in Irena’s relationship with Amy, this is a very different film. It is a story of childhood fantasy with suggestions of Lewis Carroll’s works throughout, and is the birth of childhood fantasy films This ‘sequel’ shows what good writing and directing can do for the longevity of a movie – and for genre-defining writing, whilst also showing what impact overbearing studios can have on a story’s trajectory. A psychological horror or thriller this is not, but I must admit it is a great child fantasy, and it is nice that it is the brainchild of such a talented auteur My rating reflects the story and overall production, thankfully moving away from the title and poster artwork that would have seen me rate it much lower! Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/23/24 Full Review Elvis D Aunque esta secuela de Cat People sigue la trama de la original y parece prometer ser otro thriller, en realidad esta película es un drama que deja a un lado el suspenso de la cinta original. Aquí Irena regresa como un espíritu que no busca venganza, sino mas bien es el ángel guardián de la niña protagonista. La historia es linda, pero deriva mucho de la película anterior haciendo que esta sea otra película distinta y ni siquiera pega con el titulo. The Curse Of Cat People lamentablemente falla bastante como secuela de la cinta de suspenso original y aunque trae de regreso a los personajes con una tierna historia, acaba siendo una película olvidable. Mi calificación final es un 7/10. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/09/23 Full Review georgan g Having nothing to do with Cat People, this is still a cute film about a lonely child teaching her parents to believe her. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member I watched this as a child and loved it and I watch it every time it comes on. I grew up remembering everything about it. Perhaps because I am older now I can appreciate it but even as a child I loved it. At the time I watched it I didn't know nor care it was supposed to be a sequel. I watched it for itself. Maybe if more people would have watched it for itself and not a sequel it would have been appreciated more. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Audience Member Despite it being considered a sequel to the Cat People and sharing some of the same actors, this is a very different story. There is more sweetness and tenderness to this story. It’s an incredible story about childhood and how being a child is often so hard. I really enjoyed this film. The imaginary friends, the disbelief of the adults, and the alienation of childhood is captured wonderful here. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/03/18 Full Review Audience Member Though falsely given a horror look, this is an exquisite family drama and directorial debut for Robert Wise. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Curse of the Cat People

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis In this sequel to "Cat People," Oliver Reed (Kent Smith) is married to the lovely Alice Moore (Jane Randolph). The couple has a daughter, Amy (Ann Carter), a withdrawn young girl with a vivid imagination who soon begins talking to visions of her father's deceased former wife, the cursed Irena (Simone Simon). When Amy unintentionally incurs the wrath of a mentally unstable woman (Elizabeth Russell), the girl's relationship with Irena's apparition comes into play.
Director
Robert Wise, Gunther von Fritsch
Producer
Val Lewton
Screenwriter
DeWitt Bodeen
Distributor
Turner Home Video, Image Entertainment Inc., RKO Radio Pictures, RKO Home Video
Production Co
RKO Radio Pictures Inc.
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 2, 1944, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 2, 2012
Runtime
1h 10m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)
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