Day 23:Cat People

      Cat People is credited with pioneering the False Jump Scare. Decades before the technique was beaten to death by the slasher genre, this B Movie created it in an iconic scene. This makes Cat People perhaps one of the most important and influential horror films of all time. Yet, it's hardly ever mentioned in such conversations and some casual horror fans probably have no idea what it is.

      Irena is an immigrant fashion designer who meets Oliver Reed at the local zoo. The two quickly (I mean QUICKLY) fall in love. But their relationship is an unusual one. Irena won't allow Oliver to kiss her because she fears that she will transform into a dangerous cat and murder him. Such is the legend of her native village. Regardless the two marry, but still Irena will not show intimacy. After growing impatient, Oliver begins to turn to his coworker Alice. Things start to become strange when Alice begins to feel as though she is being followed by something that isn't human.

     When you think of B Horror movies you don't typically think of something like Cat People. I generally think of monster films that are filled with blood, nudity, and absolutely abysmal acting. The acting isn't going to blow anyone away but it's not that awful. What truly separates this film from it's B movie peers is it's proficient use of suspense and serious subject matter.

    Cat People relies solely on suspense for it's scares. There are no monsters, at least none that we really see. This is truly Hitchcock like work. Few films of this era deliver tense, suspensful moments as well as Cat People. There are two scenes in particular; The bus scene, and the shadowy pool scene that are considered genre landmarks.

      Fans of your typical monster movies aren't going to enjoy this. There is a TON of talking and very little happens until the second half. It's in this second half where the film truly becomes a suspenseful horror masterpiece. Regardless, the first half seems to drag a bit. Which is odd since this is a fairly short movie (72 Minutes). You don't see very much at all in this production. But sometimes you're haunted most by those things you can't see.

 

Body Count:2

Side Note: SPOILER!! A lot of reviews I've read say you don't see anything at all in this movie. Wondering if they're either blind or watching something different. Though it's very brief, we clearly see a panther attacking the Doctor and Oliver/Alice at the end of the film. The other panther is still caged while all this is happening so it confirms that Irena does indeed transform into a cat.