Underrated remake


Paul Schrader's 1982 interpretation of Cat People is a glossy, eroticized guilty pleasure I find myself returning to on occasion, it has beautiful pre-digital matte paintings that depict the ancient desert world of the title shapeshifters,it's two lead Cat People are appropriately European,and the art direction/sets are superb.
New Wave composer Giorgio Moroder gave us one of his best scores, a sensual electronic theme that infuses every frame with a dark sexuality, the century old concrete zoo sets emphasize the concept of a primordial sleeking beast that is worshipped even in modern times.The Alan Ormsby script should have delved more into the backstory of the Cat People,as the "myth" is never fully explained, only visually told, still, this is a one of a kind Horror-Eros tale that deserves more praise than it's gotten.

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Amen. Very aptly put.

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But, remember this was written in a period when people didn't have to know everything about the movie. Unlike today, where people insist we have to know every nuance and motivation for what a character does. In the original, it's unnecessary to know more about the myth of the cat people. I think of Halloween. We didn't need to know why Michael killed his sister and had a serious attitude problem. That's what makes the movie so uncomfortable and suspenseful. But, the remake felt it had to tell the whole story about his background. It took away from the feel and tone of the movie.

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It definitely deserves more praise, but not from me. I've been praising this film since I first saw it when I was a kid in the early 80's.


My body's a cage, it's been used and abused...and I...LIKE IT!!

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Cool.

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Schrader's version of Cat People is a true gem, for those who are willing to see. I have it in my library.

Plus, it has David Bowie's "Putting Out The Fire . . . With Gasoline" as its closing song, and Tessa Richarde stark, raving nude, AND Malcolm McDowell doing the most wonderful cat-leap from the floor to the footboard of Kinski's bed!

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I see many people call this a 'guilty pleasure' or a 'flawed' film. Not sure why. Seems solid across the board too me.

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This just came out in 4k. Worth watching?

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