Friday, October 23, 2015

31 Days of Halloween - Day 23 - Movie 2



Irena Dubrovna (Simone Simon) falls in love with and marries Oliver Reed (Kent Smith) but her fears that she will turn into a panther if the marriage were to be consummated opens a rift between them, and as that rift spreads, Irena's jealousy and emotional state go to a very dark place.


Cat People (1942) is deservedly a classic of understated horror, proving that what is suggested and not shown is often much more effective than what is. Stylish and well acted, this film contains a few set pieces where sound design and shadows do all of the heavy lifting to great effect. Whether Irena is actually able to turn into a panther, or not, doesn't matter. All it takes is for someone to believe it is possible, and half of the work is done for her. This is an excellent film. Not to be missed.







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