I was at a dinner, talking about dating experiences and a film name came out: Cat Person. This is supposed to be a movie exploring how the same dating experience can feel so different for the two people involved.
On one side, we have Margot, a college sophomore, sharing a dorm with radical feminist Taylor. On the other side, we have Robert, a frequent visitor at the local movie theater where Margot works. The film is rooted in a promising ground: the disparate perceptions and outcomes of a shared experience, particularly a date that spirals into unforeseen darkness.
At its heart, the movie critiques the essential human yearning for connection — how true intimacy requires being on the same emotional wavelength for an experience to be mutually fulfilling. Yet, Cat Person underscores the often grim reality of seeking such connections in today’s world.
The narrative unfolds as Margot navigates the early stages of romance with Robert, leading to a series of events that blend anxiety, fear, and the quest for safety. The film takes a deep dive into Margot’s psyche. The pair’s first date causes much anxiety in the girl. She decides to see Robert in the forensic laboratory of her college, a quite creepy setting. Here we see what the movie wanted to highlight. With a clearer directing style, we would have better walked in Margot’s shoes, while she imagines what would happened if Robert was a serial killer — as she was joking about with her best buddy, Taylor
Robert of course is not a serial killer. He’s just a nerdy awkward dude who fears rejection and who gets ecstatic and relieved once Margot decides to have sex with him. And here is the whole point of the movie. Robert awkwardly, yet passionately in his own way, kisses and undresses Margot. Margot is crushed between the last minute anxiety and the fear of a violent reaction from Robert, should she retract now that things are steaming up.
Eventually, after an inner monologue (awkward directed), Margot decides to give in. For Robert, this is the best experience ever. Young, hot girl, with a soft and smooth skin, and who seems to be really into in, ready to do it the PornHub way. For Margot, this is the worst decision ever. No warm up, no buil-up, no connection, and no orgasm. She has to fake it in order to make Robert come and finish this ordeal.
The premise was great, sharp, funny, but even serious, fertile ground for self-reflection, for men and women alike.
However, from that point on, the movie turns into the typical American thriller, with the typical college drama between girlfriends, the frustrated dude who was hoping to have found an inexperienced young girl, but turns out to be (in his view) a “whore” who might have already slept with 20 guys, apparently better at “fucking her”, and all the paranoia and violent climax that could erupt from an escalation of acid texts, stalking, and counter-stalking.
If it wasn’t for the last 20 minutes, and the lazy scripting and directing, this could have been a great movie. However, it remains an incomplete work and that’s a pity.
In essence, Cat Person is a thought-provoking film that, despite its foray into thriller territory, offers valuable lessons on the importance of empathy, consent, and the pursuit of true connection amidst the complexities of modern dating. It serves as a cautionary tale, urging viewers to consider the depth and quality of their relationships in a world where the illusion of choice often leads to disconnection rather than genuine intimacy.
My rating: 6/10