Amazon.com: 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
Nastassja Kinski Rocks! This was quite an interesting movie, especially with wild cats and people who become them, which in this case were Natassja Kinski and Malcolm McDowell along with the fact that CAT PEOPLE had a lot of violence and nudity, especially since Natassja Kinski did quite a bit of nude scenes with full frontal nudity showing Natassja Kinski's tush, cucchi, tatas when she becomes devirginized in a steamy sex scene just before she transforms into a panther.
Therefore, this horror flick kind of reminded me of DRESSED TO KILL in a way, since DRESSED TO KILL was a viloent errotic kind of movie too, since DRESSED TO KILL was a terror film with a lot of killing, sex, and nudity, especially with full frontal nudity like CAT PEOPLE had.
Light entertainment for grownups This starts with a variant on the werewolf mythos: this time it's kitty, not doggy. A few things make the early parts of this movie work. Malcolm McDowell became known early on in A Clockwork Orange and Caligula , and reprises his role as sadistic psychopath. Nastassja (nee Nastassia) Kinski did what she did best back in the early 1980s, which was look good in a clothing-, or at least bra-optional kind of way. She also reminds us of that simpler time when a B cup was a gift from heaven and a joy to behold (or hold). I can't wait for that fashion to come around again.
Logic eludes us, for example at the end when Irena decides - well, I won't spoil it for you, but the words and the foreseeable result of her final decision just don't line up. Also, earlier on, she makes some eye-blink transition from sweet young thing (doesn't eat meat) to carnivorous vamp. I think that a 1950s trace of "fallen woman" morality somehow leaked into this flick. No matter. If the R-movie people in your house want something to watch that won't get in the way of good conversation, give it a shot. For what it is, it's pretty good - and that includes the surprising theme song by David Bowie during the closing credits.
-- wiredweird
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.
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.
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!
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