Will I like this film if I like Cat People? - The Curse of the Cat People Discussion

[–] Courtesy_Flush 17 years ago

By all means! I believe you can get both films together on a single DVD. If nothing else, it completes the Irena story.

"Curse" is made with a different approach. It is, superficially, a beautiful fairy tale. Underneath, there are some horrific elements open to your interpretation. If nothing else, there is a commentary featuring Simone Simon.

It's a beautiful film unto itself. Let me know how you like it!

Take care,

Foo

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[–] Imlac 17 years ago

If creepiness and dread are what you're after, you might do better with any of the other Val Lewton & Jacques Tourneur productions from the same period. Curse has got to be up there with Exorcist II in terms of being billed as a sequel, insofar as audiences expecting more of the same will be sorely disappointed.

Which is a shame, because Curse itself is a magnificent little (and largely, it seems, forgotten) gem of a fairy tale. It's one of the best renderings of childhood wonderment I've seen. I was amazed at where the story went, and the ending brought (happy) tears to my eyes. This might sound strange, but I've always thought that this film pulled off what Disney tries - and typically fails - to do.

Hope you like it.

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[–] emmas_place2003 17 years ago

Hello Courtesy and Imlac,

I've seen the film at last and not sure yet what I make of it.

I tried to remember your comments about it being completely different from Cat People but I still found most of it too child-like and whimsical, it was almost like watching a children's film and didn't seem to bear any resemblance at all to Cat People. In fact I don't think you even need to have seen Cat People to understand it. However, the scenes where Amy visits the old lady and the last 20 minutes had a great atmospheric and creepy quality about them that made up for the slow parts. I'm sure it will grow on me.

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] Noir-It-All 16 years ago

In fact I don't think you even need to have seen Cat People to understand it.

I agree with you there. There is a childlike, fairy tale quality to it. It is a child's view of what unfolds. What unfolds is a psychological drama between members of families.

"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne

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[–] Noir-It-All 17 years ago

It is a great film. I am lucky to have found the DVD along with Cat People and a commentary special feature for both films.

"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne

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[–] rpniew 16 years ago

I went into a little depth in this on another board, but, actually, it IS a decent sequel to "Cat People." I won't go into it again, but, essentially, imaging it has a subtitle: "The Redemption of Irena." It is, essentailly, a catharsis for Irena, as seen through the eyes of Amy.

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] dementia13 12 years ago

The second reuses the characters and some of the themes from the first, but its main character is a child and it has no actual "cat people." It's a good movie in its own right, but it's very possible that a viewer might love one yet hate the other.

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[–] 12 years ago

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[–] Zuider_Zee 10 years ago

You might like it but no one here can say. I found that I liked it more than I did the predecessor.

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[–] ElectricWarlock 10 years ago

I loved it much more than the first film. There aren't many sequels that manage to surpass the first film in every way, but I think this is one of those rare ones that does. It is one of my favorite movies of all time.

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[–] mcannady1 9 years ago

Movie girl: Yes, I love this film much more than the original! Cat People is good, but Curse of the Cat People has so much more to offer - going beyond the usual realm of imagination! I found myself drawn to Amy as well as to the lonesome old lady she spends time with. There is something magical about her, Julia Dean.

The daughter, Elizabeth Russell is an excellent actress who is in The Uninvited and
The Seventh Victim. She manages to give an eerie performance here and I was teary eyed at the end of the film; as her mother did not survive the ordeal of worrying about Amy.

We do find ourselves wondering if she is the daughter, for the lady claims that her daughter died a long time ago. It seems she finds solace by being with Amy.
She does seem to be lucid, but lonely. It is mysterious and magical when she quotes from the Highwayman and other poems. SHe kindly gives the a ring to Amy in friendship.

Anyone who admires the atmospheric and eerie touches in this film would also like
The Brighton Strangler with John Loder. THis and COTCP are 2 of my favorite films!

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[–] 9 years ago

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