Cat people [Blu-ray]

DVD Wholesale Quick Overview:

Format: Blu-rayVerified Purchase
Cat People (1982) is a remake of the original movie by the same title, Cat People 1942. It is hard to review a remake after seeing the original because it never feels truly original and you find yourself comparing the remake to the original. It kind of ruins the experience. I am a big fan of the original Cat People (1942) and I think the story works better in the original. However, this is still a decent effort and adds some new elements to the story. For instance, this is a more sexual movie (thanks to gorgeous looks of Nastassja Kinski with her sexy short hair and delicious figure). I might even call this “sexual horror”, if there is such a genre. I wish there were more attempts in this genre because when done properly, sex and horror go together very well (but only if done properly like in this picture). With that said, I think the inability to consummate the marriage and the jealousy element involving another woman created a better tension in the original movie.

This one mostly takes place at the zoo whereas the zoo was shown in only certain scenes in the original movie. There is implications of incestuous relations. Brother character is totally new (non-existent in the original film). I’ve always though the visual effects are what would primarily separate this movie from the original. However, there are only few scenes (aside from using actual leopards in most of the picture) where the special effects come to spotlight. I was expecting a more impressive transformation scenes (the kind of transformation we see in A Werewolf in London which was fantastic). There is a similar transformation scene but it is not as elaborate and feels like rushed. However, this is still a very good picture and does deliver thrills.

If not anything, you should check out Nastassja Kinski at her sexiest. I must add that Anette O’Toole is also very sexy (I’ve always thought she was very attractive, she also stars in Superman 3, and the TV mini series of “It” (1990)

Blu ray transfer is very good. I wish there was a director commentary but there isn’t. Special Features: New interviews with director Paul Schrader, Nastassja Kinski, Malcom McDowell, John Heard, Anette O’Toole and composer Georgio Moroder, Theatrical Trailer and Still Gallery

– Serkan Okar

This watershed film started the ball rolling with a creepy, psychological bent on the dying horror film genre of the 1930’s and replaced by the send up films by Abbott and Costello in the 1940’s.
The gorgeous B&W photography and stellar cast set this film apart from all the films that were spawned by lesser rivals after its release. I highly doubt the Master, Mr. Hitchcock himself, was not inspired by this powerful film. This also has the added bonus of having the amazing MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS wooden staircase in the film before God knows what happened to it in the ensuing years sitting in the RKO storage stages.
This film is a classic example of what can be achieved with very little budget-wise in conjuring up a dream/nightmare-like landscape where anything the mind can trigger up, can happen.

-Richard H. Strobel

This is among the very finest so-called “B-movies” ever made. The direction is superb (and what a way Jacques Tourneur had with actors); the lighting, camera movement, editing (Mark Robson went on to become a top tier director himself) and use of sound are all excellent. Particularly when you take into account the budget. It’s all pretty astonishing. And there’s always something more going on in Val Lewton’s pictures, something deeper, richer and more meaningful than what one would expect. His movies are melancholic, soulful. I couldn’t ask for more.

– GHD

DVD Wholesale Main Features:

Actors: Simone Simon, Kent Smith
Directors: Jacques Tourneur
Format: Widescreen
Language: English
Subtitles: English
Region: Region A/1
Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR-Not Rated
Studio: Criterion Collection
DVD Release Date: September 20, 2016
Run Time: 73 minutes
ASIN: B01H66WATE