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Atmospheric, artistic, dramatic horror in New Orleans

posted 8 months ago by Wuchak (8732)
16 replies | jump to latest

This is a modern take on the classic 1942 film (modern for 1982, that is). Nastassja Kinski and Malcolm McDowell star as siblings cursed to become were-panthers if sexually aroused. The only way they can become human again is to kill a fellow human. The idea is absurd and fantastical, but the flick takes the subject absolutely seriously. John Heard plays a zoo manager who falls in love with Kinski's character while Annette O'Toole plays the third person in the romantic triangle.

The movie's engrossing and has style & pizazz. For instance, the flashback scenes of the ancient panther tribe doing rituals in an orange desert are surreal and captivating; the accompanying atmospheric music by Giorgio Moroder adds to the mood nicely, along with David Bowie's theme song. While both are decidedly 80's, they fit the flick and are somehow timeless.

Both Kinski and McDowell are properly cat-like. McDowell, as usual, has a weird and diabolic air about him. John Heard is fine as the protagonist and redhead O'Toole is simply gorgeous. Speaking of which, Kinski is quite attractive, as observed in the scene of her fishing with Heard in wader boots, but O'Toole steals Kinski's thunder a bit, particularly in the pool sequence.

This is a great flick for showcasing the New Orleans area and the Sothern Gothic ambiance thereof. It's definitely a horror flick and so can be pretty brutal at times. Also, if nudity offends you, you might want to skip it as many of the characters are shown totally nude or near nude.

[–] kwestmo (4385) 3 months ago

The only reason to watch this movie is the female nudity

[–] Wuchak (8732) 3 months ago

You're deep.

[–] kwestmo (4385) 3 months ago

You're correct. I am. This film is style over substance which you call atmosphere and artistic. I can't think of a weaker Shrader film.

[–] Wuchak (8732) 3 months ago

I respect your take.

One very minor correction (which might've been a typo): The writer/director's name is spelled Schrader.

[–] kwestmo (4385) 3 months ago

Thanks. It was a typo.

[–] Wuchak (8732) 3 months ago

It is true that "Cat People" is more outlandish (to say the least) compared to Schrader's flicks that are relatively grounded in the mundane, like "Hardcore," "Mosquito Coast," "Light of Day," "Auto Focus," "Dog Eat Dog" and so on.

[–] letess (1513) 3 months ago

There’s way more than that. The pool scene with Nastassja and Annette was fantastic and scary and it was in the original too. Everything the OP said is true. And so was the music by Bowie. Great location movie for NOLA.

[–] kwestmo (4385) 3 months ago

We agree somewhat.

The best two scenes are the ones taken from the original - the one you mentioned and the restaurant encounter with the cat lady.

The Bowie recording is great.

NOLA was a good location. I live there, but Schrader could have made better use even then.

[–] letess (1513) 3 months ago

Yes, those two scenes I think are the only similarities - the pool scene and I’ll call it the mi hermana scene. Otherwise, there is not much in common between the two other than the obvious. I love New Orleans. It’s my favorite city in the US, and it’s been in a lot of movies because it’s atmospheric - and then you get Angel Heart. But I can’t think of many movies that really do it justice.

[–] letess (1513) 3 months ago

Great movie. Sleazy sensual horror. With Nastassja and Annette at the famous pool scene. And Ruby Dee as Female. Bowie singing Putting Out the Fire with Gasoline. Filmed on Ursulines in NOLA. Original Jacques Tourneur 1942 one is good also with Simone Simon. Mi hermana. Schrader is one of my favorite directors.

[–] Wuchak (8732) 3 months ago

I've been meaning to catch the original. Thanks for reminding me.

[–] letess (1513) 3 months ago

And poor Ed Begley Jr. and his arm. Don’t feed the big cats when their blood is up. Always wondered if that was the real New Orleans zoo because the cages were horrible. When I went there, the zoo was completely different.

Nastassja was perfect - way more than McDowell. The original is kind of dated but Simone Simon has the perfect cat face.

[–] Wuchak (8732) 3 months ago

IMDb cites Audubon Zoo, New Orleans (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Audubon+Zoo/@29.9111371,-90.1403934,12.71z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x8620a4e1c4a2d6b1:0xa55ba92017f083!8m2!3d29.9237334!4d-90.1314068!16zL20vMDRoOWNu?entry=ttu).

Not sure if the particular scene you're talking about was shot there though. While the flick was mostly filmed in the New Orleans area, some stuff was done at Universal Studios.

[–] letess (1513) 3 months ago

I forgot. I went to the Audubon Zoo and it was beautiful. I just looked it up - Schrader created sets for zoo part.

Did you read that Nastassja and Schrader had an affair and what she said to him. “He fell in love and planned to propose marriage to Kinski at the wrap party, but she didn't show up and cut off all communication with him. After three months Schrader finally tracked Kinski down in Paris, where she bluntly told him, ‘Paul, I always ___ my directors. And with you it was difficult.’”

[–] Wuchak (8732) 3 months ago

I did read that a year or two ago. It's an interesting behind-the-scenes tidbit.

[–] letess (1513) 3 months ago

This movie is now on the Criterion channel along with a lot of conversations of Schrader and other Schrader and Kinski movies. I’m glad you brought this back around, and I will watch it as I haven’t seen it for sometime. Some of these movies made then are great to watch now since there is such a real void in movies.