Cat People (1982)

A young woman's sexual awakening brings horror when she discovers her urges transform her into a monstrous black leopard.

Director:

Paul Schrader

Writers:

DeWitt Bodeen (story), Alan Ormsby (screenplay)

Stars:

Nastassja Kinski, Malcolm McDowell, John Heard

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nastassja Kinski	...	Irena Gallier (as Nastassia Kinski)
Malcolm McDowell	...	Paul Gallier
John Heard	...	Oliver Yates
Annette O'Toole	...	Alice Perrin
Ruby Dee	...	Female
Ed Begley Jr.	...	Joe Creigh
Scott Paulin	...	Bill Searle
Frankie Faison	...	Detective Brandt
Ron Diamond	...	Detective Ron Diamond
Lynn Lowry	...	Ruthie
John Larroquette	...	Bronte Judson
Tessa Richarde	...	Billie
Patricia Perkins	...	Taxi Driver
Berry Berenson	...	Sandra
Fausto Barajas	...	Otis

Storyline

The Cat People originated way back in time, when humans sacrificed their women to leopards, who mated with them. Cat People look similar to humans, but must mate with other Cat People before they transform into panthers. Irene Gallier was raised by adoptive parents and meets her older brother Paul for the first time since childhood. We follow brother and sister - who seem to be the only ones of their kind left.

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Plot Keywords:

female removes her clothes | sexuality | panther | human sacrifice | female pubic hair | 

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Taglines:

They are something more than lovers who are about to become something less than human.

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Genres:

Fantasy | Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

This bestial horror movie was made and released towards the tail-end of a Hollywood cycle of werewolf pictures that had included An American Werewolf in London (1981), Wolfen (1981) and The Howling (1981).

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Goofs

While Ruthie, was screaming "Somebody! Somebody help me!", her lips weren't moving. (After being attacked by the leopard, while crawling down the stairs)

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Quotes

Paul Gallier: Did they ever tell you how our parents died?
Irena Gallier: Yes.
Paul Gallier: What did they tell you about me?
Irena Gallier: Well, not much. I knew I had a brother but I was only four. I used to fantasize about you when I was in the orphanage.
Paul Gallier: Fantasize?
Irena Gallier: Well, you know, about you coming to rescue me and things. Daydreams.
Paul Gallier: Yes, I had the same dreams.

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Alternate Versions

Syndicated TV version also features brief shots of the animatronic leopards that were ultimately cut from the theatrical release.

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Connections

Featured in Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies (2020)

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Soundtracks

Why Not Tonight?
Performed by Jimmy Hughes
Courtesy of Atlantic Records

User Reviews

Sex, Violence, Silliness, and an Emerging Cult Favorite

In general terms, the basic premise of both original 1942 CAT PEOPLE and the 1982 Paul Schrader remake are the same: an exotic European beauty is given to transforming into a black panther when sexually aroused. But Schrader unravels this fantasy concept in some very overtly Freudian directions, setting his version in against the decadent charm of New Orleans, introducing a theme of incest, and ramping up the original with a lot of nudity, a lot of sex, and some of the most graphic violence around. The result is an American blood-and-gore horror film with a hypnotic European sensibility that equates both sexual frustration and orgasm with violent death.

The story line concerns two orphaned siblings (Natasha Kinski and Malcom McDowell) who are reunited in New Orleans as adults--but they are, unbeknownst to the sister, the descendants of a mutant race who can only mate with their own kind without transforming into ravening beasts who must then kill to regain their human form. When sister Natasha rejects her brother's advances and then falls in love with a hunky zoo director all hell breaks loose.

In some respects the film is extremely, extremely frustrating, often sliding over the edge from a sexually provocative shocker into moments of annoying silliness--but on the whole it works extremely well as a both a sexual fantasy and a semi-camp statement in gratuitous sex and violence. Kinski is ideally cast as the sexy but virginal Irena; you can literally see the "cat" side of her nature emerge more and more as the film progresses. McDowell is equally interesting as her mad brother, and John Heard, Annette O'Toole, and particularly Ruby Dee offer excellent performances in the supporting cast. The New Orleans backdrop is extremely effective, and (speaking as one who has been there) the darker side of the city is perfectly captured; the Moroder score--which includes some sultry vocals by David Bowie--is also extremely good.

A great many people will loathe CAT PEOPLE, and the reasons will be diverse. The film is extremely bloody, often to a can-you-stand-to-look-at-the-screen degree; there is tremendous nudity and considerably sexual activity; and the combination of sex and violence into a sadomasochistic eroticism is quite disturbing. Beyond this, more critically inclined viewers may find themselves annoyed by the script's silliness and the fact that it does not always go as far over the top as it leads you to expect, and certainly the film's very literal depiction of fantasy elements will not be to every taste. But if you have a hunger to walk on the wild side, CAT PEOPLE (which is rapidly gaining status as a cult film) will suit your need as guilty pleasure.

Gary F. Taylor, aka GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 April 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cat People

Filming Locations:

1031 N Claiborne Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,617,636, 4 April 1982

Gross USA:

$7,000,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$7,000,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Pictures, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min 93 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1