Cat People
© Florence Cardinal
Everyone knows the myths and stories regarding werewolves. But how about other creatures? According to the Therianthropy Resource, there are werefoxes, werebears, werecats, and so on.
This brings up yet another question. What is Therianthropy? Quoting from the Resource: "This is a question that is asked by most people, including weres themselves. (A Werecreature (or Were for short) is the general term for a Therianthrope.) For every Therianthrope encountered, a different definition of what Therianthropy is will arise. Keeping this in mind, the best way to determine what Therianthropy is, is to regard the views of many."
Put more simply, a therianthrope is a shapeshifter, whether the Change transforms the person into a wolf, a fox, a bear -- or a cat.
It's the cat people I would like to discuss today. Can anyone who has looked into the eyes of a cat doubt that there's something "other-worldly" about the animal? Especially if that cat is one of the large variety - a leopard or a tiger, or, my favorite, a black panther?
In 1942, I watched a movie called Cat People. The heroine (Simone Simon) believed she carried the Curse of the Panther in her genes. I have never forgotten that show and have watched it several times since. It's a very short movie, black and white, but it leaves a vivid memory.
In 1982, there was a remake of Cat People, this time in living color, starring Nastassia Kinski and Malcolm MacDowell. This time the viewer was offered scenes of nudity, extreme gore and profanity.
One would think the Technicolor remake with much improved special effects would be the better show. I didn't think so. And neither, apparently, does the Martin & Porter Video Movie Guide that gives the older version four start and the new version only two stars.
The reason I prefer the older version? It leaves much to the imagination, and, as any reader of horror will tell you, the imagination can lift you to greater plains of terror than any video thrill or special effect can.
Cat People
1982
Cat People
1942
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