Cat People

Irena Dubrovna, a Serbian-born fashion illustrator, lives her New York City life under the shadow of a secret: a steadfast belief (and fear) that an ancient curse will render her a terrifying feline predator if she engages in physical intimacy. When she suspects her husband’s infidelity, she taps into her catlike instinct, stalking the alleged mistress. Eschewing the canned effects of earlier monster movies in favor of subtle shadowplay and creative audio cues, Tourneur’s noir investigation of the taboo spurred a frenzy upon its release—and elevated the stature of the horror genre.