Cat People (1982)

 Paul Schrader's reimagining of Val Lewton's classic 1942 low-budget, minimalist B horror picture is mystical, erotic, violent and kind of hypnotic. Nastassja Kinski has lived in foster homes since the death of her parents, circus lion tammers, at the age 4. She is contacted by her six year older brother Malcom McDowell, and invited to visit him at his home in New Orleans. Shortly after her arrival Malcom disappears for days, coinciding with the local zoo procuring a black panther from a shady motel where it almost killed a prostitute. Nastassja is drawn to the animal and also begins a romantic relationship with the zoo's curator John Heard. In broad stokes where this is going is kinda obvious, but in its particulars rather surprising. A moody piece, with excellent New Orleans atmosphere and a cast full of recognizable faces, Ed Begley Jr., Ruby Dee, Annette O'Toole, John Larroquette, ect. This took a bit to pull me in, but I stuck with it and am glad I did. ***