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Poster for Cat People

Cat People

They are something more than lovers who are about to become something less than human.

1982 · 1h 58m · R Horror, Thriller
Directed by Paul Schrader

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Overview

After years of separation, Irena Gallier and her minister brother, Paul, reunite in New Orleans. When zoologists capture a wild panther, Irena is drawn to the cat – and zoo curator Oliver to her. Soon, Paul will have to reveal the family secret: that when sexually aroused, they revert into predatory jungle cats.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
61%
Tomatometer
Rotten

Paul Schrader's hammering, art-porno remake of Jacques Tourneur's deft little thriller.

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Fresh

Kinski was essential to the film as conceived, and she's endlessly watchable.

Variety Staff, Variety
Fresh

Cat People is a good movie in an old tradition, a fantasy-horror film that takes itself just seriously enough to work, has just enough fun to be entertaining, [and] contains elements of intrinsic fascination in its magnificent black leopards.

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Fresh

The seductively exotic surface of this mythically underpinned fantasy might be offset for some by much graphic gore, but if you can buy the romantic metaphors for the primitivisms of sexual obsession, the film delivers down the line.

Time Out

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