Review – Cat People (1982)

This film and the Val Lewton original make an interesting comparison and contrast showing some of the differences between low-budget, black and white genre movies that rely on plot, script and innuendo to portray sex, violence and horror and big-budget, color productions that make more extensive use of nudity and special effects. Further, fans of the original should enjoy keeping an eye out for allusions to the old version in this go-around. Comparisons aside, however, this is a fairly good shape-shifter movie on its own merits. It’s also a good example of early 80s film-making in general, with Paul Schrader in the director’s chair and Giorgio Moroder and David Bowie working on the soundtrack. It might easily have scored a slightly higher rating if not for all the animal violence, which at least for the most part was actually integral to the plot. Mildly amusing