THE CURSE OF THE CAT PEOPLE

This is an odd but strangely enchanting film.

At its centre is six-year-old Amy, a dreamy child with no friends of her own age, which leads her to make two new friends.

One, in a rather unconvincing sub-plot, is an old lady who lives in a large house (what else?) and whose mental health is rather questionable (ditto). 

She sees Amy as a kind of replacement for her own daughter Barbara who she believes died at Amy’s age, except that this is not true - grown-up Barbara is very much alive and well in the house.  Because Barbara is treated as an impostor by her mother she deserves our sympathy but it suits the film at times to make her into a sinister character who seems to wish Amy harm.

Meanwhile at home Amy has an imaginary friend, Irena, the first wife of her father who died in tragic circumstances.  Amy’s father is understandably unnerved by all this nonsense (as he sees it) and wants Amy to snap out of it, which of course is not helping Amy.

Fortunately Amy’s teacher is on hand to offer some sound psychological advice and it all ends happily but not before the inevitable melodramatic conclusion.

Producer Val Lewton incorporated elements of his own childhood in Amy’s story, and he must have been delighted by the performance of Ann Carter as Amy.  You would have to have a heart of stone not to be touched by her loneliness, and the sweet nature of her friendship with Irena. 

Apparently Lewton wanted the film to be entitled ‘Amy and Her Friend’.  Although this would have been more accurate than the highly misleading one the studio chose, you can see why they would want to capitalise on the success of ‘Cat People’.  But although the main three characters from the earlier film do appear here this film is not a sequel. 

Anyone watching this expecting a horror film will probably be disappointed but if you let it draw you into its strange world it may haunt you nevertheless.

One other point of note: one of the two directors of this film is Robert Wise who went on to have a very distinguished career.

RATING: ✓ If You've Nothing Better To Do