Read Roger Ebert's Great Movies essay on Cat People, answer his question: Does this movie still work today? Explain your answer with details from the film.
In a second paragraph, what are some techniques Jacques Tourneur uses to develop suspense? Describe with evidence from the film.
Cat People uses psychological horror to toy with the mind of the audience and create a lingering worry long after the end of the movie. Many modern horror movies rely on jump scares to momentarily frighten the audience, but Cat People keeps them at the edge of their sets while never giving them the satisfaction of seeing Irena in cat form on-screen. Although it does seem a bit quiet, it isn’t the cinematic aspects but rather the storyline itself. Modern audiences aren’t as easily scared as they once were and killer cats don’t create the same fear as they once may have. The iconic scene with Alice walking down the sidewalk while being followed by what is implied to be Irena in her panther form uses suspense extremely well, it recreates the uneasy feeling Alice has while walking, and forces the audience to insert themselves into the story. In the pool scene, a modern director may have added a jump scare, but Jacques Tourneur allows the suspense to build up and ends it with Alice screaming rather than Irena emring from the shadows.
ReplyDeleteIn the iconic street scene, Tourneur uses post-production effects to create a sense of uneasiness. The same shot of Alice walking and Irena following her is played back to back in order to make the short walk feel longer. This reflects how Alice may have felt as her usual walk was interrupted by an unknown danger. As the film was in black and white, lighting is an extremely important element; one that Tourneur utilizes very well. In the pool scene, Tourneur maximizes the effectiveness of the lighting by reflecting the light off the water, creating an unusual pattern on the walls. The movement of the water, as seen on the walls, makes the room appear as though it is alive, forcing the audience into an unfamiliar situation in which the shadows are not solid shapes. In the scene ate the office, in which Irena is implied to have attempted an attack on Alice and Oliver, lighting plays an extremely important role in saving their lives as well as creating suspense beforehand. Throughout the scene, the room is extremely dark, with the only light source coming from the tables, which in itself is an usual light source, this type of lighting casts unflattering shadows on the actors faces, while emphasizing their terror. Although at first the lighting choices may have been jarring, the audience soon learns how it saves Alice and Oliver’s lives as it makes Oliver appear to be King John holding a cross.
In Ebert’s essay on Cat People, he asks whether the film works today and claims that it depends on who is watching it. Personally, I think the movie works less as a horror movie today, but it is still has a compelling narrative and the main character, Irena, is likable and sympathetic perhaps more so today than she was at the original release of the film. As a horror film, it wouldn’t be as scary to most viewers who are experienced with modern horror movies, because it never shows any intense gore, nor any monstrous transformations, where today there would likely be a heavy focus on explicitly showing the viewer Irena’s transformation into her cat form. For example, scenes like her fight with Dr. Judd, portrayed entirely through shadows, which served to both create an atmosphere of suspense through ambiguity and avoid expensive effects, would probably be more explicit in a modern retelling. That doesn’t mean that parts of the film aren’t still unsettling - because some of the suspense is really well executed - just that a modern audience is going to respond differently than the original audience. Where this movie succeeds is in the tragic narrative surrounding Irena’s character. There’s a large focus on the temptation she feels, shown through the prominence of cat imagery throughout the film (such as her statue and her visits to the panther), as well as playing up her desire to not be a cat person but the inevitability of it (she wears black throughout the entire movie, an extreme contrast to the lighter colors that Alice and Oliver wear, emphasizing her distance from them and her darker side). Ultimately, when Irena dies at the end, it’s a genuinely sad moment for the audience, because she spent the whole film trying to fight her instincts and was, in the end, unable to.
ReplyDeleteBecause there is never an explicit shot of violence or gore at any point throughout the film, Tourneur had to rely on creating suspense through a danger element to invoke fear in the viewers. In order to develop suspense, Tourneur uses empty frames and obscured subjects to extend the length of a scene and create a confusing but unnerving atmosphere. This is seen in the pool scene and during the walking scene. During the pool scene, there are multiple shots of Alice walking around in the dark, as well as POV shots of her looking around the room at empty corners, stairwells, walls, etc. This obscurity creates the idea that Irena could be waiting anywhere, and thus Alice is in great danger. During the walking scene, there are similar empty shots of the wall Alice is walking past, where she walks out of frame and the camera lingers on the wall, creating the expectation that Irena is walking just out of frame behind her. There are also many close up shots of Alice’s and Irena’s feet walking during this scene, which creates suspense through the fact that it does not reveal how close they are walking to each other, just the fact that Irena is following Alice.
Cat People is a low budget suspense horror film that uses implied action as a tool of suspense. To a modern audience, although this film is well done, it just isn’t scary. In the Ebert review, Cat People is compared to a slasher and how slashers rely on shock to generate scares. I do not like this comparison because it makes slashers the example for modern horror. Great, scary suspense is in every good modern horror film, but the subject matter behind the suspense is more scary. Cat People is a movie about just that. Cat People. Now to an audience in 1942, before horror hit its stride, anything could seem scary. But to a modern audience, we do not see the terror in people that turn into cats, even if they are murderous. As a modern audience, we have been desensitized to a certain level of horor just because of the society we live in. We live in a society where the people that are meant to protect us abuse their power and harm society. And we are supposed to be afraid of a creepy cat lady? There is definitely a higher standard for what constitutes as “scary” nowadays. Not only does the subject material not help the scariness level, but also the narrative structure contributes. Cat People focuses heavily on the relationship between Irena and Oliver and has brief moments of horror. This is quite different from modern horror. The narratives in horror films are usually based around the horror with implicit meaning or narrative depth surrounded around this horror. I also appreciate the narrative depth and how it discusses mental illness at a time where mental illness was incredibly taboo and shock therapy was considered as a go to method of treatment. This however, doesn’t make it any more scary. I think if someone watches this movie as a drama, it would be a lot more interesting to the viewer.
ReplyDeleteWith this said, some scenes in the movie do a great job at building suspense. Of course there is the famous scene in which the character Alice is walking along the sidewalk in the dark of night, but I personally love the scene in which Alice in in the pool. The best kind of suspense is when we know what is going to happen, but don’t know how it will happen, when it will happen, and the characters on screen are completely unaware. This scene does this perfectly. Most animals possess mirror neurons. Mirror neurons are responsible for the “monkey see, monkey do” attitude but also more general things like empathy. If we see someone on screen in a truly helpless position, we try to understand their position and experience their emotions. Often times in modern horror movies, the protagonists are stupid or make silly mistakes and those drive the plot or put them in a scary situation, but in this film, Alice really is just going for a swim and she in’t being stupid or silly, she is just truly helpless. Another characteristic of humans is that we are always afraid of the unknown- what we can’t see. This scene does an excellent job of playing into these innate fears. We can’t see the actual cat person, but we see the shadow darting about, we see Alice’s reactions, and so we are afraid of this beast we can’t and won’t even see.
Cat People definitely still works today. The main thing that I picked up on is the idea of intense fear of foreigners from the American point of view. This was most likely included because Jacques Tourneur was born in France, but moved to America when he was ten so he experienced both sides. Val Lewton, who wrote the original short story, emigrated from the Ukraine with his family as a child. Everything negative in the film, namely Irena’s “curse,” is due to her Serbian heritage. The fact that Irena’s cat form is almost never shown directly could reflect how Americans are naturally scared of foreigners even if there is no outright reason to be afraid of them. An example of this is the pool scene, in which a lot of Alice’s fear comes from her own thoughts because she cannot actually see anything--she is almost making up fear. Characters like Oliver and Dr. Judd represent the American ideal. In the cafe Oliver asks for apple pie as he tries to work through his problems with Irena. He uses something typically associated with American culture to combat issues caused by Irena’s Serbian heritage. During her sessions with Dr. Judd Irena is essentially told to give up her heritage and just conform in order to be a good wife. The foreigners (Serbians) are also associated with evil through the mise-en-scene, most notably the costume design. In the restaurant the mysterious woman who speaks to Irena is dressed in all black to convey her threatening nature. As Irena gets more and more wrapped up in the curse her wardrobe also becomes darker to convey the evil.
ReplyDeleteTourneur develops suspense by not showing Irena as a cat, but rather showing people’s reactions. Going back to the pool scene, we are put in Alice’s shoes as she looks around blindly trying to see what is after her. This also happens in the scene on the street at night. We follow Alice as she walks and grows more fearful. We hear Irena and we see the trees moving when Alice gets on the bus. However we do not see Irena directly. Cat People plays into the fear of the unknown that humans naturally have. Suspense is built in these scenes because we know that Irena is following Alice but Alice is mostly just confused and afraid because she doesn't know what is going on. When Irena’s cat form is finally shown at the end it is more effective because so much fear has already been built up in the audience and characters without even seeing her directly.
I believe that what makes the film Cat People(1942), is rooted in the films production. The movie was shot on a minimal budget and therefore the filmmakers were not given the opportunity to rely on big sets or special effects to make their movie. It is this lack of a budget that creates the film that exists, one that is deeply rooted in mystery, suspense and fear. As Robert Ebert states, “ ‘Cat People’ is constructed almost entirely out of fear. There wasn't a budget for much of anything else. It exists on eight or nine sets, the running time is only 73 minutes, it has few special effects, there are no major stars, the violence is implied or dreaded but not much seen.” If the filmmakers had had greater resources at their disposal then perhaps they would not have been forced to make a film that relies so heavily on what is unseen, and perhaps the film would not have been as successful as it was. When we go back and view old movies, it is typically the cheap effects that stand out and serve to age the film. However, due to the lack of these effects in the film, this is not a problem. The film derives much of its draw from its suspense and implied horror, and that is a feat that the filmmakers of the day could pull of just as well as movie makers today.
ReplyDeleteThe director of the film, Jacques Tourneur, uses a variety of methods at his disposal to create the suspense on which the film thrives. One essential technique is lighting. The director chooses to cast much of the film in shadow, which helps keep the danger in darkness and just out of sight, making it that much scarier. For example, the silhouette of the panther on the wall creates much greater fear than simply seeing the panther itself. The second major technique that the director uses in sound. In the same way, hearing a sound without seeing its origin creates a much strangers sense of dread. By combining the dark lighting with the ominous soundtrack, the director effectively creates a chilling, edge of your seat masterpiece.
Cat People does still work as a suspenseful horror movie in present day. The techniques Jacques Tourneur to make an effective horror film would definitely be considered unorthodox in present day, but they would still prove effective. Tourneur utilizes space and set design create an eerie feeling, to an already creepy dialogue. This film can be categorized as noir, and that just adds to the dreary setting of the film. Constant foreshadowing of the panther with objects like the statue, and stories of cat people make the audience feel on edge for the entire film. Being on edge is a powerful tool when used correctly. Modern horror films usually put the audience on edge with the same old creepy music and jumpscares, which don’t work out in the long run. But when this constant fear lingers for an entire film until the climax, the audience get a feeling of satisfaction and fright at the same time.
ReplyDeleteTechniques Tourneur uses to draw fear from the audience is mostly based on the actions of Irena and her surroundings. Irena has so much mystery to her, yet she is always so softly lighten. This makes us confused whether to feel comforted by a softly lit pretty woman, or the fact that she has so much mystery and confusion surrounding her personal life and experiences. Irena’s apartment is arranged in such a way that makes her seem like she has something to hide. The fireplace, decorations, and statue of King John make her seem intelligent yet, creepy. This eerie feel is continued into the relationship Irena has with Oliver and the fact that after all the time spent together, they have never kissed. Overall, the characterization of Irena is eerie and this is brought out by her surroundings, lighting, and dialogue with Oliver.
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ReplyDeleteAlthough horror as a genre has evolved and changed into the present day, Cat People (1942) by Jacques Tourneur still has an important place within within the genre, and is able to stand alone as a suspenseful and fear inducing film. Currently, the horror film market is dominated by gory, jump scare filled slasher films, featuring huge amounts of special effects and outlandish stories. While there is merit to this, Cat People (1942) is much more mature in its methods of creating suspense, opting to illicite fear through what is not seen or heard. The root of this method can be found in the film’s production, which was made as “B picture for only $135,000” (Ebert), and as such required certain tricks to make sure it held up. To achieve such a feat with such a small budget, Tourneur opted to utilize psychological terror, constantly teasing the audience with implied danger but never truly showing the monster which hides behind Irena’s innocent exterior. This is where the film may fail for some people, with the lack of true visual payoff creating an unsatisfactory experience. In my eyes however, this divergence from the common horror movie allows this film to withstand the test of time.
ReplyDeleteThis psychological terror is no better featured than in the film’s most famous scene, in which Alice walks through the night to catch a bus home from work. The set design is basic, featuring a stone wall cast in shadow by the streetlamps above. However, this basic set design plays to the scene’s strengths, with the background being a few shots looped together in editing, thus creating an almost inescapable and surreal feeling. It seems as if her path will never end, and she will be forced to walk for eternity. Furthermore, the lighting used in the scene invokes a sense of terror when juxtaposed with the endlessness of the stone wall. Alice is seen sprinting from streetlight to streetlight, avoiding the darkness which is dispersed throughout the street. This plays on the human mind’s natural aversion to darkness, which makes the viewer think that something may be lurking in her path. While the visual aspects of the scene are important to set the mood for the film, the payoff is created by sound. Nothing creates a better implication of danger than sound absent of visuals, reflected by Alice’s pure terror as she hears footsteps behind her. As Alice looks back and sees nothing, the viewer becomes filled with a sense of dread. Something is stalking her. Eventually, the audience is met with a substantial jump scare, with the sound of a panther pouncing. The sound only ends up being the bus arriving at its destination, but the damage is done. Alice is obviously shaken, and the audience is filled with a sense of dread due to her impending danger. This is why Cat People (1942) works in the present day. It plays on the natural fears humans have, thus allowing it to make up for its outdated equipment and low budget.
Cat People still works today as a horror movie to modern audiences. It doesn’t visually show Irena as a cat, but offers shadowy silhouettes and growling sounds. However Cat People doesn’t need to rely on visual horror, because it can still be genuinely scary without it. The cat being shown off screen in scenes at night film taps into humans’ fear of the dark and what’s lurking around the corner. The scene of Alice swimming explains this the best. She turns the lights off, already setting an eerie tone. Alice is scared herself, in the dark of the locker room as she sees a shadow of a cat and hears growling. The shadow and the sound is all that is needed to scare her and the audience, as it allows for imagination to fill the gaps.
ReplyDeleteTourneur further effectively scares the audience by developing suspense at crucial times. Editing is the main way this suspense is built up. For example, the aforementioned pool scene has a suspenseful build up through editing with repeated shots of the walls as a terrified Alice looks around trying to find the cat. Repeated shots are also used to develop suspense in an earlier scene where Alice is walking late at night, and shots of her walking are shown again and again to make the sequence longer. Lengthening scenes through editing effectively builds suspense as Tourneur withholds satisfaction from the audience and makes them endure the anxiety and anticipation alongside the characters in the film.
Cat People, directed by Jacques Tourneur, is a psychological horror released in 1942, and has still managed to hold up on it’s own as being effective. In the modern age, horror movies put a majority of emphasis on jump scares and superfluous gore in order to get a reaction from audiences. In movies like Cat People, the main sense of fright is cultivated through an overall sense of impending doom and suspense. The uncertainty behind the narrative drives viewers to feel uneasy, especially considering they are never actually shown the “monster” Irena becomes. The film adds more scare by exploiting people’s fear of cats, a very real animal that audiences have encountered before rather than hypothetical creature created just for shock value (Ebert). The notion of marital issues and problems mixed with horror is a tension very uncomfortable for viewers as it exposes possible fears within their own lives, especially considering all the couples that saw this movie on date night. Overall, the sense of implied humor developed in the film through dialogue, suspense, and confusing visuals is incredibly effective in creating a well-preserved horror film, one that can even hold up today.
ReplyDeleteThe director of the film, Jacques Tourneur, uses a multitude of different methods to develop the suspense that drives the narrative of the plot forward. A major directorial choice he makes is to never show Irena transformed into the cat so viewers stay uncertain of what i really happening to the protagonist. This creates a huge sense of mystery to the terror being inflicted upon Irena’s victims, adding a stronger sense of fear amongst viewers. There is a large contrast between how daily Irena is shown and then what viewers assume her to turn into that also becomes conflicting on how she can really be a villain. Irena is shown through very soft lighting, emphasizing her daintiness and elegance as a young woman while distracting from any evil. When she transforms, viewers only see a shadow of the cat, making it hard to believe Irena could actually be the same thing that causes harm. This suspense builds until the end for more impact, showing how nuanced horror can be just as effective.
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ReplyDeleteIn contrast to Roger Ebert’s assertion that Cat People as a film still works in the modern era, I completely disagree with this notion. Cat People, much like Irena’s hairdo, is a product of its time, and if it were not for the excellent cinematography and direction consistent throughout, then I would be rather quick to write off the film as B film cheese. The dialogue, plot, and pacing do not match the standards of modern films, as the plot points in the film establish and grow at breakneck speeds, and other than the character arcs that take the entire film to complete, these elements are underdeveloped as a result of the all too fast pace. The protagonist and her lover, Oliver, form a deep love for one another within minutes of their first encounter together; which in a modern film, would take up far more screen time. The other issue with Cat People’s primitive quality pertains to how cinema has evolved since 1942.
ReplyDeleteFrom bashing the film’s screenplay which I dislike, the cinematography and direction is the bread and butter of the film. Tourner employs a wide range of techniques to build a distinct mise-en-scene that highlights the overall tone of the film. Monolithic shadows are cast upon the walls, cinematography that jumps back and forth between soft and harsh lighting depending on the mood and action of the scene. These innovative techniques distract from the low budget of the film, lending an eerie mystique quality to the frame that is aligned with the gothic themes of the script. The editing in scenes of tension is at first drawn out, but builds up with the tension of the scene as the cuts become more frequent, until the action does happen, allowing for an emotional payoff. This editing is put on display most notably in the pool and bus stop scenes. The cinematography is noir like in its use of harsh lighting that focuses on the actors physical features, and adds a chaotic dream feel that is present during moments of action or tension, but absent during the more mundane scenes. This intentional choice by the director emphasizes the emotions that the characters are experiencing within the scene. These elements of direction and cinematography are the saving graces of the film, and rise it above the status of B movie cheese, to B+ cinema.
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ReplyDeletePersonally I do not think that Cat People would work in today’s times, this is for a plethora of reasons. To start off a lot of “good” horror movies are the movies with the best least predictable jump scares, and this movie has none. Let’s even forget about jump scares and regard the movie just as a thriller horror which is what the movie is, even then the movie lacks to keep me on the edge of my seat as nothing is very unknown and the only horror elements we get are a couple murder scenes and the shadows of some cats The movie does not keep people's attention which is even more of an issue now then back then do to the short attention spans in the era of technology.
ReplyDeleteTourner attempts to build suspense with the lighting in the movie, more specifically the shadows, as all we see of the cats we see are from shadows on walls. This is supposed to build suspense by giving the viewers a fear of the unknown and giving us a lack of truthful information and only giving us what we can assume from context clues.The movie also likes to keep a much darker view in most scenes as it is a horror movie and this leads to us feeling a dreary feeling over us of unease.