Reviews

This film is so much more than it appears to be at first viewing. It is essentially an adult's view of a lonely child's fantasies and how those fantasies affect her relationships with the adults around her. The performances are uniformly excellent with Ann Carter as Amy, the lonely girl, a standout. Her angelic look is perfect for her character. Also excellent are Julia Dean as Mrs. Farren, the ex-stage actress living in her own fantasy world, and Elizabeth Russell as her daughter, Barbara. And to justify the title reference to "Cat People", Simone Simon appears as Amy's imaginary friend. This is a small film that deserves a much larger audience. Excellent in all respects.

Dario Argento has scored again with an interesting take on the "giallo" which he explored so well in earlier films like "Profondo Rosso" and "Tenebrae". From the opening moments, Argento establishes the mood that will run through the rest of the film. The first 15 minutes are sometimes unbearably tense as he sets up the first murder and Argento fans will not be disappointed with the payoff. Argento's signature trademarks are all here - extreme closeups, long tracking shots, vivid colors, running water. The film is slightly marred by some poor performances but Max Von Sydow is great in the main role of the retired detective determined to unmask the killer. This is a welcome return to form that Argento fans should embrace and should win new fans for this Master.