Cat Person
Written by Michelle Ashford (screenplay) and Kristen Roupenian (based on the short story)
Directed by Susanna Fogel
Starring Emilia Jones, Nicholas Braun, Geraldine Viswanathan and Isabella Rossellini
Running time 2 hours

by Rosalie Kicks, Editor in Chief and Old Sport

In spite of not finding enjoyment in my viewing experience of Cat Person, it still is a movie that I recommend everyone watch… if it ever finds distribution.

Based upon a 2017 fictional short story published by The New Yorker (read it here) of the same title, Cat Person tells the tale of a relationship gone wrong due to a series of miscommunications, immaturity and social ineptness. Despite the message and overall tone of the film being hard to swallow, Cat Person will undoubtedly spark conversation. The plot initiates at an arthouse cinema with nineteen year old college student Margot (Emilia Jones) behind the concession stand slinging popcorn. She has a quirky interaction with a patron named Robert (Nicholas Braun) regarding his purchase of Red Vines. Upon a follow-up visit to the theater the duo exchange numbers and the texting begins.

The exchanges start off as coy banter and innocent flirting. It was fascinating to witness how quickly the two build a rapport solely via a screen-based interaction. One evening Margot finds herself working on a late night school assignment and Robert offers to bring her food after she informs him of her hunger and concern about traveling to the local 7-11 at the late hour. Soon thereafter, her delivery arrives. Margot invites him to join her in the classroom where she is working. It is quickly realized that when these two personalities come together it is like taking a trip to Awkward City. There is an incident in which an ant bites Margot and without hesitation Robert annihilates it. This moment has Margot question whether she made the right decision being alone with someone she barely “knows”. She texts her best friend, “Robert is here… what if he is a serial killer (laughing face emoji).” Later this scene would feel like a cakewalk.

Upon their departure Margot informs Robert that her fall break will be starting and she will be returning home. They agree to meet up and have a “proper date” when she is back at school. While at home Margot spends much of her time consumed by her phone. So much so, that her parents begin to question who this mystery person is that she keeps communicating with. The idea of Robert is now introduced to her family along with a constant relay to Robert of all the familial happenings. There is even a mention of him meeting them one day.

When Margot and Robert do finally go on a “proper date” it involves an evening at her workplace to see Empire Strikes Back. As the film projects across the screen, it is clear Robert is a war of the stars fan given that he is mouthing the dialogue. Margot seems less enthused. It was seen prior to her acceptance of going to the movie that she was doing so begrudgingly. Sometimes though, we do things for the sake of getting to know someone (shrug). Afterwards he invites her to a bar for a nightcap, where it is not only discovered she is under twenty-one, but that Robert is thirty-five. At this point the film begins to spiral to a place of unpleasantness fueled perpetually by bad decisions.

There are many motion pictures at Sundance that I can choose to spend my time with. I want to be clear: I have no regrets selecting Susanna Fogel’s, Cat Person as one of the films that my eyeballs witnessed. Except for a few quibbles with the third act I found the film to be impeccably made. With that said, consider my review paying it forward as the flick should really come with a warning akin to how a prescription drug commercial threatens side effects. Watching Cat Person may induce anxiety, panic attacks, stress and post-traumatic episodes. I don’t want to spoil any specifics, however the scene in which Robert and Margot engage in sexual relations is quite… something. Obviously, the point of this engagement is meant to trigger discomfort and may even lead to anger. This is especially warranted when after he climaxes he comments “good girl”. Although, I could not wait for the troublesome affair to end (especially given Margot’s chats to her out of body self as he performed his gyrations) there is a reason it goes on for as long as it does: it wants the viewer to squirm and feel the distress of the situation. While Margot is experiencing this unfortunate act she is in turn trying to convince herself that her feelings don’t matter. This is due to society’s preconceived notions that instilled from a young age, specifically concerning women and sex. No matter what anyone says, a person has the right to change their mind and have an action stop if they want.

Essentially, after a clumsy, troublesome love making sesh, it would be easy to jump to the conclusion that one person is at fault over the other. Given his age, I initially thought “he should have known better” but then following much contemplation after the credits rolled (hell even still now) I have decided they are both at fault for how this all plays out. In this hyper digital age it is extremely easy to communicate with our futuristic walkie talkies or Dick Tracy-esque watches. But with this power comes great responsibility. When Margot’s best friend gives the advice to “ghost” Robert after their wretched roll in the hay, there was part of me that understood the mentality “you don’t owe him anything”, but then I put myself in his shoes. It is easy to forget that there is another person on the end of that device and not a pod (at least not yet). Even if the majority of their interactions did not occur in a live face-to-face environment, they are still tangible, these transmissions sent still invoke feelings. The two characters in Cat Person, both had a lot of growing up to do and are a perfect example of what happens when clear communication with regard for how it affects someone else is thrown to the wind.

Cat Person premiered at Sundance 2023 and is still seeking distribution.