Cat People (1982)

A young girl (Nastassja Kinski) arrives in New Orleans to reconnect with her brother (Malcolm McDowell) who she hasn't seen since they were children. After their parents death, they were separated and placed in foster homes and institutions. But now that they are reunited, the brother must tell his sister of their dark heritage and the tortured existence they will have to deal with. Loosely based on the classic 1942 horror film and directed by Paul Schrader (AMERICAN GIGOLO). Schrader and his screenwriter (Alan Ormsby) have taken on what was only hinted at in the 1942 film and placed it center stage and turned it into a piece of erotic horror. Namely, the connection between sexual "animal" urges that literally turn one into an animal. The film has a spectacular look to it courtesy of Ferdinando Scarfiotti (Bertolucci's THE CONFORMIST), here billed as a visual consultant. The film was done pre-CGI yet the special effects are first rate and give the film a more natural look than computer generated images could provide. The underscore is by Giorgio Moroder and features a killer song by David Bowie played over the end credits. With John Heard, Annette O'Toole, Ruby Dee (excellent), Frankie Faison, John Laroquette, Berry Berenson and Ed Begley Jr.