CURSE OF THE CAT PEOPLE Coming To BluRay

For me it’s a toss-up as to which is the better film, 1942’s CAT PEOPLE, directed by Jacques Tourneur, or its 1944 sequel, CURSE OF THE CAT PEOPLE, directed by Robert Wise (with Gunther von Fritsch). Both films were produced by classic Horror cinema legend Val Lewton, and both are masterful, beautiful and haunting pieces of art. I guess if I were forced at gunpoint to pick a favorite, I’d go with the first one, since it more closely conforms to the traditional Horror movie mold. In the latter film, Irena, the stunning lycanthrope portrayed by French actress Simone Simon, appears as a ghost who befriends the young daughter of Oliver, Irena’s former husband, whom she tried to kill while in panther form in the FIRST film. (That’s how I choose to interpret it, anyway, although one could argue it was all in Irena’s head. Me, I prefer the lycanthropic explanation.)

Scream Factory, an offshoot of Shout Factory specializing in Horror, is making a name for itself by offering previously hard to find or cult films as high quality BluRay releases. Its latest is CURSE OF THE CAT PEOPLE. Interestingly enough, Scream Factory does not offer the original film; however, the inferior but still interesting 1982 remake is available, and you can find the original CAT PEOPLE on BluRay from other companies (like Criterion), which is probably why Scream Factory didn’t bother releasing it.

By The Evil Cheezman

WAYNE MILLER is the owner and creative director of EVIL CHEEZ PRODUCTIONS (www.evilcheezproductions.blogspot.com, www.facebook.com/evilcheezproductions), specializing in theatrical performances and haunted attractions. He has written, produced and directed (and occasionally acted in) over a dozen plays, most of them in the Horror and Crime genres. His first novel, THE CONFESSIONS OF SAINT CHRISTOPHER: WEREWOLF, is available for purchase at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/734763 MORTUI VELOCES SUNT!

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