“Cat People” (1982) – Director Paul Schrader (“Hardcore” (1979), “American Gigolo” (1980), “First Reformed” (2017)) isn’t one to shy away from cutting edge material, and here, he cuts his teeth into “Cat People”. Cats may have nine lives, and Schrader resurrects the 1942 thriller for a second act, one that reflects 80s horror with graphic violence and sexual encounters.
Irena (Nastassja Kinski), in her early 20s, travels to New Orleans. Her brother Paul (Malcolm McDowell) meets her at the airport, and they haven’t seen each other in years, and he is more than a tad eager to reunite with his sister. In fact, he’s disconcertingly attracted to Irena, but that’s not the half of it. We discover that Paul can transform in black panther, a cat. Does this skillset run in the family?
Schrader contains his film within a tight New Orleans radius that soon encircles a local zoo, where Irena takes a job and attempts to fit in with her new co-workers, but Paul’s sinister appetites complicate her desire for a simple existence.
“Cat People” plays like a stylish werewolf movie, and some familiar 80s faces join the horror party, including Ed Begley Jr., Annette O’Toole, and John Heard.
Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon: 2
John Heard stars in “Cat People” (1982)
John Heard stars in “Big” (1988) with Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks stars in “Apollo 13” (1995) with Kevin Bacon
Directed by: Paul Schrader
Written by: Paul Schrader and Alan Ormsby
Starring: Nastassja Kinski, Malcolm McDowell, Annette O’Toole, John Heard, and Ed Begley Jr.
Runtime: 118 minutes
Rated: R
Image credits: Universal Pictures
