Film Review: ATTACK OF THE CAT PEOPLE (2019) (Short Film)

Filmed in glorious B&W, the ‘Attack of the Cat People’ is a crystal clear hark back to the classic Universal horrors of the ’30s and ’40s or the old sci-fi films of the ’50s

A meteor crashes into the sea and a team of doctors and scientists leave to investigate. Heading out into the Pacific Ocean they find a ‘Utopia’ in the form of the meteor. Trees, plants and animals are evolving there in a matter of record time, making a  ‘Garden of Eden’ on the new meteor/island.

Janet Reeds (Emma Critchell) and Diana Lawerence (Jessica Ham) the only female members of the Utopia Expedition chat at the waters edge, being spied on by one of the cat people of the title and Captain John ‘Jack’ Baker (Peter O’Hanlon), who previously had a relationship with Diana. John then kisses Diana, as Janet is attacked by one of the creatures, fainting in the process, in an amazingly dramatic style, just like the damsels in distress in the old classics!

They find a footprint, from which they deduce that the creature walks on two legs.

The film follows the crew members as they are gradually attacked and kidnapped by the creatures that are at large on the island meteor – add to this a sub plot of one of the team Dr. Fraser – really Ivan Dragovich – (Wayne Bassett) messaging a Russian submarine with details of what’s happening and you have a fairly classic styled action adventure horror – in a similar vein to ‘The Creature From the Black Lagoon’.

The acting is basic, yet adequate, though the score by Jacquie Joy is perfect in its copying of the styles of classic films from years gone by.

The film is best as described as a ‘fun romp’ and a true Sunday afternoon adventure movie, not a classic, but a great short movie and the perfect homage to years gone by, with adequate effects and storyline.