After years of separation, Irena Gallier and her minister brother, Paul, reunite in New Orleans. When zoologists capture a wild panther, Irena is drawn to the cat – and zoo curator Oliver to her. Soon, Paul will have to reveal the family secret: that when sexually aroused, they revert into predatory jungle cats.
Nastassja Kinski
Irena Gallier
Malcolm McDowell
Paul Gallier
John Heard
Oliver Yates
Annette O'Toole
Alice Perrin
Ruby Dee
Female
Ed Begley Jr.
Joe Creigh
Scott Paulin
Bill Searle
Frankie Faison
Det. Brandt
Ron Diamond
Detective Ron Diamond
Lynn Lowry
Ruthie
John Larroquette
Bronte Judson
Tessa Richarde
Billie
Patricia Perkins
Taxi Driver
Berry Berenson
Sandra
Fausto Barajas
Otis
John H. Fields
Massage Parlor Manager
Emery Hollier
Yeatman Brewer
Stephen Marshal
Moonie
Robert Pavlovich
Ted
Julie Denney
Carol
Arione De Winter
Indian Village Mother
Francine Segal
Church Woman
Don Hood
Train Station Agent
David Showacre
Man in Bar
Neva Gage
Cat-Like Woman
Marisa Folse
Indian Girl
Danelle Hand
Indian Girl
John C. Isbell
Police Officer
Roger E. Reid
Policeman
Charles Joseph Konya Jr.
Policeman
Marco St. John
Policeman
Brett Alexander
Cub Scout
Gregory Gatto
Cub Scout
Terc Martinez
Cub Scout
David Ross McCarty
Man in Airport
Harry Hauss
Helicopter Pilot
James Deeth
Helicopter Pilot
Ray Wise
Soap Opera Man
Jo Ann Dearing
Soap Opera Woman
Director, Screenplay
Paul Schrader
Screenplay
Alan Ormsby
Story
DeWitt Bodeen
November 10, 2019
7
***Atmospheric, artistic, dramatic horror in New Orleans***
"Cat People" came out in 1982 and is a modern take on the classic 1942 film. Nastassja Kinski and Malcolm McDowell are siblings cursed to become were-panthers if sexually aroused. The only way they can become human again is to kill a fellow human. The idea is absurd and fantastical, but "Cat People" takes the subject absolutely seriously. John Heard plays a zoo manager who falls in love with Kinski’s character, while Annette O'Toole plays the third person in the romantic triangle.
The movie’s engrossing and has style & pizazz. For instance, the flashback scenes of the ancient panther tribe doing rituals in an orange desert are surreal and captivating; the accompanying atmospheric music by Giorgio Moroder adds to the mood nicely, along with David Bowie’s theme song. While both are decidedly 80’s, they fit the flick and are somehow timeless.
Both Kinski and McDowell are properly cat-like. McDowell, as usual, has a weird and diabolic air about him. John Heard is fine as the protagonist and redhead O'Toole is simply gorgeous. Speaking of which, Kinski is indeed quite attractive, as observed in the scene of her fishing with Heard in hot pants and wader boots, but O'Toole steals Kinski’s thunder a bit, particularly in the pool sequence.
This is a great flick for showcasing the New Orleans area and the Sothern Gothic ambiance thereof. Keep in mind that it’s definitely a horror flick and so can be pretty brutal at times. On a related note, if nudity offends you then you might want to skip it as many of the characters are shown totally nude or near nude.
The film runs just shy of 2 hours and was shot in the New Orleans area with some stuff done in the Los Angeles region (e.g. studio work and the panther tree sequence).
GRADE: B+/A-
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$12,500,000.00
Revenue:
$21,000,000.00