Cat People (1942) - Lisa's Review

Cat people is a rather odd entry in the Time Out 100 best horrors.  It's beautifully shot and competently acted.  The cinematography and lighting is probably the strongest point of the movie.  I struggle to understand why it achieves a No 29 on the list, above the likes of 'Martyrs'!

This movie isn't one that I would imagine most people would rush out to view.  It's probably a movie buffs choice.  A person who watches all kinds of movies searching for those rare little gems.  It definately isn't something that will appeal to todays mass audience.

The story of 'Cat People' is very odd.  We follow Serbian born sketch artist Irena Dubrovna as she meets and falls in love with architect Oliver Reed.  They meet as she is sketching a panther in Central Park Zoo, bringing in the cat theme right from the start.  As the movie progresses we find out that Irena believes she has been cursed along with many women from her native Serbia; the curse being that if she falls in love and gets aroused, she will turn into a large cat/panther and kill her partner.  Irena, who loves Oliver puts up a barrier, not even daring to kiss him lest she transform into a cat.  Not to be deterred, Oliver marries Irena, but this does not convince her to relax her stance on physical closeness with him.

Obviously there is only so long a man can wait and when his beautiful assistant Alice professes her love for him he is tempted away from Irena before she can tell him of her decision to defy the curses warning and be with him.  Devastated, Irena becomes somewhat obsessed with Alice, stalking her and frightening her out of jealousy.

I won't say any more about the story-line or give away how it ends just in case any reader wants to watch the movie.  We never see anything horrific, bloody or even slightly frightening in the movie.  Instead the movie relies on atmospheric lighting, the soundtrack and cinematography to create an uncomfortable, tense atmosphere.  while I have to admit to not being a fan of the movie and failing to understand its placement on this list, I will say the director Jacques Tourneur and producer Val Lewton have done well with what they set out to do.

I won't recommend this movie as it wasn't for me at all, but neither can I tell you to avoid it.  Give it a watch and make your own mind up.