Cat People

In the vibrant city of New Orleans, a young woman named Irena Gallier (Natassia Kinski), adopted and raised by loving parents, embarks on an unexpected reunion with her older brother Paul (Malcolm McDowell). Their chance encounter at the airport is the beginning of a journey that will unravel the secrets of their mysterious ancestry. Paul, who has lived with this knowledge for years, has developed a peculiar routine to cope with his unique condition - he transforms into a panther after mating and must then hunt to reclaim his human form. Irena, however, remains oblivious to this aspect of her heritage, still a virgin and unaware of the transformative power of intimacy.

As Irena settles into Paul's apartment, surrounded by his quiet existence and the gentle care of his housekeeper Female (pronounced Fee-MAL-ee) (Ruby Dee), she is introduced to the seedier side of New Orleans. Her first night in the city is marked by her brother's arrangement with a prostitute (Lynn Lowry), which ends in disaster when Paul, in his panther form, becomes trapped in a hotel room. The authorities, led by Curator Oliver Yates (John Heard) and his assistants Alice Perrin (Annette O'Toole) and Joe Creigh (Ed Begley Jr) from the New Orleans Zoo, are called to capture the elusive black panther.

As Paul's predicament unfolds, Irena decides to explore the city, taking a taxi ride through the historic French Quarter and later visiting the zoo. It is there that she becomes fascinated by the new panther exhibit, mesmerized by the majestic creature until the zoo closes. Her lingering presence draws the attention of Oliver, who, after startling her, coaxes her down from the trees. As Irena begins to feel overheated, Oliver tends to her with a cool cloth and suggests they grab some dinner. The conversation flows easily, and Oliver learns that Irena is seeking employment. He offers her a job at the zoo's gift shop, marking the beginning of her journey into the heart of this enigmatic city and the mysteries that lie within.

As Irena commences her first day on the job, a series of events unfolds with eerie precision. Her new colleague, Alice (character), takes Irena under her wing, sharing a meal as they bond over their shared experiences. However, an unsettling encounter follows when a mysterious woman greets Irena with an affectionate "mi hermana" (my sister). The afternoon takes a dark turn as Irena becomes fixated on the black panther exhibit, only to witness Joe's gruesome demise at the hands of the beast. Oliver returns to find Joe's lifeless body and, in desperation, attempts to subdue the panther, but it vanishes before he can act.

As night falls, Irena returns home to an unsettling surprise: Paul, once a brotherly figure, now presents himself as a suitor with a disturbing fixation on Irena. His claims of being "in jail" during his absence only add to the sense of unease. Rebuffed by her instinctive rejection of his advances, Irena flees in terror.

In a desperate bid for safety, she flaggs down a police car, but their search yields no signs of pursuit. However, the keen senses of the police dog lead them to Paul's basement, where they uncover a horrific scene: a cage, chains, and gruesome remnants of human remains. Further investigation reveals that Paul has a troubled history, having been institutionalized since childhood after his parents, circus performers, took their own lives.

As authorities ponder the possibility that Paul might be connected to the escaped panther, Oliver and Alice arrive at the scene. It becomes increasingly apparent that Irena's life is in peril, and a shaken policeman advises her to seek refuge elsewhere. Oliver, sensing her vulnerability, offers her a place to stay with him.

As Irena grapples with the trauma of her encounters, she begins to experience strange and unsettling transformations. One fateful night, she finds herself driven by an uncontrollable urge to chase after a rabbit, a symptom of her growing turmoil. Meanwhile, her feelings for Oliver deepen, but she struggles to reconcile her emotions, torn between her attraction to him and her sense of loyalty to Alice. The trio's tangled web of relationships threatens to consume Irena as she navigates the treacherous landscape of love, danger, and self-discovery.

As the days tick by with no sign of the elusive panther, Paul's darker impulses continue to unfold. His compulsion to commit heinous crimes takes another victim, leaving him tormented by his own depravity. One fateful night, driven by a twisted sense of desperation, Paul bursts into Irena's bedroom window, only to be met with her fierce resistance and a brutal rejection. In a flash of defiance, she skewers him with shards of glass, catalyzing a transformation that will forever shatter the boundaries between human and beast.

The gruesome aftermath unfolds as Oliver returns home, accompanied by Alice, only to find himself facing the wrath of a panther he had failed to apprehend earlier. Alice, quick-witted and resourceful, seizes a shotgun and puts an end to the creature's reign of terror. The autopsy that follows reveals a haunting discovery: within the beast's stomach lies a human hand, which, in a gruesome display of spontaneous combustion, disintegrates into nothingness.

The next morning, Alice embarks on a routine jog, unaware of the terrors that await her at the local gym. As she prepares to take a refreshing swim, a menacing growl sends her leaping into the pool for cover. When the lights flicker back to life, Irena stands before her, her presence as unnerving as the shredded remains of Alice's robe.

Alice's warning call to Oliver falls on deaf ears, for he is too enthralled by Irena's return and her sultry allure, which promises a night of passion. The morning after, however, brings a chilling revelation: Irena has transformed into a panther once more, evading capture as she slips away into the shadows.

As Oliver searches for his lost love, he finally tracks her down to her human form, now stained by the blood of her latest victim. Irena's desperate plea for mercy is met with refusal, prompting her to implore Oliver to free her from her feral existence by rekindling their passion. "I want to live with my own," she whispers, her voice a haunting echo of her primal longing.

In the end, Oliver binds Irena to his will, surrendering to her desire and committing an act that seals her fate forever. As the curtain closes, Oliver visits the zoo, where he finds Irena caged and docile, her human spirit trapped behind bars, a poignant reminder of the horrors she has endured and the price she has paid for her own survival. With a gentle touch, Oliver strokes the neck of his captive love, acknowledging the tragic fate that has befallen them both.