Cat People *** (1982, Nastassja Kinski, Malcolm McDowell, John Heard) – Classic Movie Review 5485

Co-writer/ director Paul Schrader’s under-rated 1982 horror movie remakes the 1942 chiller classic Cat People.

Nastassja Kinski stars as the beautiful young woman called Irena Gallier who was raised by adoptive parents. Now she is reunited with her older brother Paul (Malcolm McDowell) in New York for the first time since childhood, only to learn that they are both members of an ancient tribe who transform into killer leopards when they make love.

Albert Whitlock’s special visual effects, animated artifacts creator Ellis Burman’s grisly special effects (including a limb ripped off a black panther), cinematographer John Bailey’s Technicolor camerawork, Ferdinando Scarfiotti’s set designs and Edward Richardson’s art direction are all first-rate, making for a very classy-looking movie.

The acting and Alan Ormsby and Paul Schrader’s screenplay (based on the story by DeWitt Bodeen) are not quite in the same top class. However, Schrader’s stylish, sexy direction keeps the film fascinating, with the help of Giorgio Moroder’s music score.

Also in the cast are John Heard, Annette O’Toole, Ruby Dee, Ed Begley Jnr, John Laroquette, Scott Paulin, Frankie Faison, Ron Diamond, Lynn Lowry, Tessa Richarde, Patricia Perkins, Berry Berenson, and Ray Wise.

The title song Putting Out the Fire (Theme from Cat People) is written (lyrics) and performed by David Bowie, with its music written by Giorgio Moroder.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5485

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