Cat Person 2023

College sophomore Margot, played by Liza Koshy, juggles her life at college while working at a local movie theater. Her roommate Taylor, portrayed by Geraldine Viswanathan, actively manages a feminist subreddit known as The Vagenda and often has a critical view of men. As fate would have it, Margot begins to date Robert, a frequent visitor to the theater, but her excitement quickly turns into anxiety as she starts to imagine violent scenarios involving him.

After their initial romantic outing, a revelation comes to light when Robert discovers Margot is only 20, leading to complications during their time together. Denied entry at a bar, they end up at his house, where a disturbing internal dialogue ensues for Margot. Throughout their intimate encounter, she imagines a second version of herself urging her to speak up and tell Robert about her discomfort. However, she succumbs to fear of potential retaliation and fakes an orgasm, expressing her dread to her alternate self. As she learns that Robert is 33, she becomes increasingly suspicious upon noticing discrepancies about his life, particularly the absence of his promised cats.

The tension escalates as Margot contemplates ending things with Robert, leading to Taylor taking matters into her own hands and texting him on Margot’s behalf, saying, “I’m not interested, please stop texting.” While initially receptive, Robert’s temperament quickly shifts, culminating in angry messages and derogatory names aimed at Margot.

Things take a darker turn when Margot realizes that Robert is stalking her. Despite filing a report with the police, they inform her that his behavior doesn’t qualify as illegal at this stage but advise her to keep evidence. Out of fear, Margot considers purchasing a taser, though she is encouraged by a salesperson to acquire a firearm. Instead, she opts for tracking devices to keep tabs on Robert’s activities.

In a tense turn of events, while attempting to plant one of these devices in Robert’s car, Margot encounters a dog—an unsettling connection back to her dorm life. This leads to an unexpected confrontation with Robert, who discovers her in a precarious situation. In a chaotic moment, Margot accidentally sprays herself with pepper spray, resulting in a head injury that leaves her unconscious.

When she regains consciousness, Margot finds herself captive in Robert’s house. An explosive argument ensues, revealing Robert as a stalker long before their relationship began. His disturbing thoughts venture toward drugging Margot to erase her memories so she wouldn’t alter her account of events should she escape. As Margot struggles to break free, the situation escalates into a physical confrontation that leads to a basement incident where a cat escapes, finally confirming Robert’s earlier claims about his pets.

As the fight spirals, both Margot and Robert tumble down the basement stairs, inadvertently causing a fire. They manage to save themselves by climbing into Robert’s cistern amidst the chaos. Following the harrowing experience, Margot wakes up in a hospital and learns that Robert has vanished, leaving no way for anyone to reach him.

Upon returning to the theater, Margot tries to move on with her life, only to find herself in the spotlight of potential romance once more when a new man shows interest in her. This twist leaves Margot with a mix of hope and trepidation as she steps back into the world of dating, forever changed by her harrowing experience.