Review of Cat People (1982) by Lynda M — 07 Jan 2010

3: I haven't seen the original for a couple years, so I can't be sure exactly how this remake diverged from it, but it's safe to say their have very little in common. What was so brilliant about the original was that we never see the cat people, because they would have looked ridiculous at that time.

Instead, the picture simply used darkness, shadows, and music to create the necessary suspense, mood, and style. This version still has its fair share of darkness, shadows, and relatively creepy music, but the cat people are in full view.

It works here and seems quite natural though, whereas it would have been a disaster in the original. This picture has a definite unique style about it, but it isn't as brilliant or groundbreaking as the original.

It's simply a interesting and a bit quirky genre piece here. However, it is still unique enough that one is unlikely to confuse with another film any time soon. It also delves deeper into the psychological underpinning of brutal and instinctual actions than the original did.

The painted mountain lions and black leopards used to depict the transformed people are perfect. One definitely gets a sense both of beauty and menace. The actors chosen to portray them are ideal as well.

McDowell has the appropriate look and demeanor to make one believe he's capable of turning into a savage animal and eating his prey. However, it is by no means his best performance and their are probably other actors that would been more than equal to the task.

Kinski is another matter entirely. She is perfect for the role. Her face, body, and manner of carrying herself already seem somewhat catlike. She has the softness, vulnerability, sexual dynamism, and ruthlessness about her person that make you believe this could be her reality.

It's an excellent performance and the highlight of the picture. However, I couldn't help but think of her sexual escapades with Roman Polanski when she was still a teenager that I recently read about in The New Yorker.

She certainly is completely naked often enough her to leave one with no doubt as to her being comfortable in her own skin. It struck me that this film must have seemed fairly risqué at the time, as at one point in the third act she takes the blood from her first sexual encounter and rubs it on her lips and face.

I'm curious what I'll think of the picture the second time through as I didn't really know what to expect this time around. It seemed dated, but it still worked. It is possible I'm being overly generous with a 3 though.