Although it was the first film that he directed from a screenplay he didn't write, Paul Schrader claims that his 1982 erotic nightmare Cat People remains one of his most personal films. And as he reveals on DVD producer Laurent Bouzereau's 25-minute Cat People: An Intimate Portrait by Paul Schrader, found on Universal's new edition, much of that stems from the affair he had with his leading lady, 21-year-old Nastassja Kinski. `She sort of invaded my life and threw it askew for a period of time-not without my complicity, of course,' he admits. (He also makes a point of mentioning that as his relationship with Kinski was collapsing, she approached Universal executive Ned Tannen about removing many of her nude scenes. Tannen refused.) The featurette and Schrader's commentary focus strongly on the meticulous color scheme and production design of visual consultant Ferdinando Scarfiotti and DP John Bailey and the film's mood of `prurient voyeurism vs. a fear quotient,' as Schrader puts it. `The idea was to get [the audience] ready for sex and show them violence and vice-versa.' The Dolby 2.0 mix is quite invigorating, giving uncomfortable prominence to such effects as the cat-like screech of a cable car and Kinski's growing talons tearing through her sheets, not to mention Giorgio Moroder's sexy score. Other supplements include a 10-minute on-set documentary from 1982, an 11-minute discussion with make-up effects artist Tom Burman and a look at Albert Whitlock's stunning matte paintings
Reviews
2 Reviews
Soundman
(1998)
A very gripping film.
7 June 2001
This movie completely pulled me in. It started off as a dark comedy, but turned very quickly into a gripping drama. I expected to see a typical indie film, but was pleasantly surprised with the quality of directing and acting. I consider this an exceptional film. Also a very strong and eclectic soundtrack. Who knew that Slash (from Guns and Roses) had a sensitive side to him?
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