Review of Cat People (1942) by Drew R — 12 Jul 2007

"Cat People? is a classic of its genre, made on a modest budget with minimal special effects, yet managing to evoke a spine-chilling atmosphere of sheer terror. Paul Schrader's expensive reworking of the material 40 years later is so different from the original that it can scarcely be counted as a remake. Although the superior production values, with Ferdinando Scarfiotti as production designer, the clever special effects under the direction of Albert Whitlock, and the Giorgio Moroder score give the film a gloss way beyond its predecessor, overall it remains less effective.

Silly? Of course, but it is the style that matters. Schrader is a considerable craftsman, and tells the story on two parallel levels of fantasy and reality. The result has a certain cinematic beauty, and Kinski, in particular, plays her role with an appropriate cat-like presence. Yet alongside the 1942 version (produced by Val Lewton, directed by Jaques Tourneur) it is clear which one is the winner.