Cat People

Branson selected one of our mutual favorites to discuss Cat People — a 1942 horror film directed by Jacques Tourneur that tells the story of a Serbian immigrant named Irena Dubrovna, who believes that she's descended from a race of people who turn into giant cats when they're sexually aroused. The film stars Simone Simon, Kent Smith, and Jane Randolph, and was produced by Val Lewton for RKO Pictures. The film was a box office success, and has since become a cult classic due to its unique and eerie atmosphere, as well as its exploration of psychological themes such as sexual repression and cultural identity.