Review of Cat People (1982) by Filipeneto — 26 Apr 2020

This is a slightly erotic "remake" (only the title and general concept were reused) of a 1942 film, more than forgotten today. And this film, apparently, follows the same path. The story revolves around a young woman who goes to visit her brother, from whom she was separated as a child because of the death of her parents. She ends up discovering that they are both descended from a long-extinct people where incest is necessary, because they turn into murderous panthers when they try to have sex with normal people, being forced to kill to return to human form.

The film plays on two realities that shock us in almost the same proportion: incest and homicide. The story is rather weak, it never sounds authentic, but if we accept it, the film flows. It is full of eroticism but if we can handle some reasonably explicit woman nudes we will have no problems with that. There are some tougher or violent scenes, but it never shows anything truly grotesque or scary... at least for me.

What I liked most about the entire film was Nastassja Kinski's excellent performance. I didn't like her for her physical beauty (I even thought she was very normal, to be honest) but for the way she was able to show her character's internal doubts and questions, the way she confronts fears, taboos and traumas to find out who really is. The incest issue disturbs and even leaves the romantic plot in the background, but the film works better as a psychological drama and it happens thanks to Kinski. Malcolm McDowell has done a decent job, but he is never more than average and does not shade anyone. John Heard is totally cliché and boring.

Technically, it is a very dated film, with a cinematography and colors very fainted, but that was the standard at the time. Everything else is as it should be, with sets and costumes according to the period and very functional special and sounds effects, which seem totally archaic to our eyes, as that we are used to something much more elaborate. The soundtrack, with an interesting David Bowie theme, looks really good.

Not being a wonderful film, because it is not, it seems to me one of those films that are difficult to frame. Not being terrifying or scary, it has several elements of terror; not being erotic, she has a lot of exposed skin; not being romantic, it is based on a romantic drama. Anyway, not as bad as I expected.