Cat People (Paul Schrader, 1982)
Paul Schrader’s provocative reimagining of the 1942 horror Cat People was received with mixed reviews, with lead actress Nastassja Kinski claiming she disliked the film, finding it “slick” and “manipulative.” The erotic horror, also starring Malcolm McDowell, John Heard, and Annette O’Toole, follows a newlywed woman who fears that she is cursed to turn into a black leopard during arousal.
Cat People‘s strange concept is accompanied by a theme song specifically made for the film by one of music’s greatest embracers of all things weird. Bowie was contacted by Schrader to collaborate, to which he obliged. Whilst Bowie wrote the lyrics to ‘Cat People (Putting Out Fire)’, the music was composed by Giorgio Moroder. The successful track has a gothic rock and new wave influence, which features Bowie performing in a deep, moody croon. The dramatic delivery of “gasoline” in the song was even described as “among the most thrilling moments he ever committed to tape.”
Posted from: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/six-times-david-bowie-made-horror-movies-better/