Film Adaptation of “Cat Person” Overexplains Terror, Falls Flat
The highly-anticipated film adaptation of Kristen Roupenian’s “Cat Person,” a short story that went viral in 2017, has finally arrived. Directed by Susanna Fogel and written by Michelle Ashford, the movie attempts to capture the same chilling essence as the original text, but ultimately falls short due to its overexplanation and lack of subtlety.
“Cat Person” tells the story of Margot, a college student who becomes involved with an older man named Robert. The story gained popularity for its candid exploration of the complexities and horrors of modern courtship in the midst of the Me Too movement. The film faithfully recreates many of the pivotal scenes from the story, but adds unnecessary padding to fill its two-hour runtime.
New characters, such as Margot’s anthropology professor and feminist roommate, are introduced in the film. While these additions provide some pop culturally astute humor, they ultimately dilute the impact of the story. The movie also leans heavily into full-blown horror, using alarm bells and ominous symbolism to heighten the tension. Unfortunately, these tactics come across as gimmicky rather than powerful.
One of the film’s strengths lies in the performances of Emilia Jones and Nicholas Braun, who play Margot and Robert, respectively. They expertly convey the lack of chemistry between their characters and navigate the intricacies of their interactions. However, the movie’s tendency to overexplain and telegraph its ideas undermines their nuanced performances.
The film includes fantasy sequences that give viewers a glimpse into Margot’s imagination during moments of discomfort. While some of these sequences are powerful and thought-provoking, others feel unnecessary and forced. The movie would have benefited from trusting the audience to interpret the scenes without explicit explanation.
Overall, the film adaptation of “Cat Person” fails to fully embrace the ambiguity and uncertainty of its source material. It overexplains and lacks subtlety, detracting from the original’s chilling simplicity. While the performances of Jones and Braun are commendable, they are not enough to salvage the film’s shortcomings.
Fans of the original short story may find the film adaptation to be a disappointing missed opportunity. However, those unfamiliar with “Cat Person” may still appreciate the film’s exploration of the complexities of sex and romance in the modern era.