If you read the online reviews, you would think Tom Hooper’s remake of the classic musical “Cats” combines the psychological terror of “It” with the gory grotesquerie of “Hostel.” Social media feeds have torn the trailer apart, unabashedly declaring it nightmare fuel. Some reviewers stated they felt so disturbed, they couldn’t sleep after watching it.
Despite what internet critics have to say, the trailer for Hooper’s “Cats” dazzles the eyes and imagination. The choreography alone is jaw dropping and the impressive visual effects bring the characters to life. The teaser promises a visual spectacle that audiences will flock to theaters to see (including many of the detractors).
So Why Do People Find the Trailer So Creepy?
The reason many viewers reacted to the trailer with horror has to do with a psychological phenomenon known as “the uncanny valley.” Humans want other humans to look, well, human. They want non-human characters to look phony.
Animators understand this. Even though the technology exists to make cartoon characters look completely real, illustrators draw them to appear deliberately fake. Think of anime or “Frozen’s” Elsa. If humans had eyes that big, you’d think we’d evolved from aliens.
In short, people feel intensely uncomfortable when creatures fall into neither human or non-human categories. It’s why horror directors create humanoid terrors like zombies and killer clowns. Even without supernatural powers, these creatures terrify audiences because they don’t easily fit into a box.
Even more infuriating, some critics have taken umbrage with the curves certain characters display. Hate to tell you this, folks, but women have bodies just like men. Are you suggesting they should corset themselves up? And how, exactly, would you expect anyone to dance if they’re dressed like the tin man in a puritanical attempt to hide their anatomy?
Is the New Remake Doomed to Failure?
Judging from the online outrage, some critics proclaim the remake of “Cats” doomed to failure. But with a star-studded cast — hello, Dame Judy Dench and the inimitable Ian McKellen, anyone? — the film promises top-notch performances. Combined with the ethereal, if sometimes whimsical, musical score, a new generation will soon sport t-shirts bearing the show’s title the way they did after seeing the Broadway production back in the ’80s.
Granted, critics do express valid concerns about the quality of the CGI. They point to the unrealistic-looking fur characters sport, which admittedly does look like Hooper jacked Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop” coat and repurposed it. And while the choreography promises to wow viewers, the way the cats’ ears remain stiff even as the rest of their bodies leap and twirl further detracts from the realism.
The original “Cats” surprised the musical world, reaching the distinction of longest-running Broadway musical for its era until Phantom of the Opera came along. I predict Hooper’s “Cats” film version will similarly reach cult classic status. Sure, morbid curiosity may initially draw many to theaters, but once they lose themselves in the musical’s magic, they’ll likely rethink their initial opinion.
Cats Is the Must-See Movie of the Holiday Season
Whether you love the trailer or recoil in horror, Cats is the must-see movie of the coming holiday season. You can catch “Cats” in theaters starting December 20th.
