10 Great Monster Movies You May Have Missed

Rightfully regarded as a classic of the black and white era, RKO's Cat People is a stylish and inventive take on the monster movie. The plot centres on Irena Dubrovna, whose recent marriage to Oliver Reed (not the actor) is beset by a peculiar trouble. Irena believes that she is descended from an ancient tribe of 'cat people,' and that, if stirred to passion, she will transform into a half-woman, half-cat beast.

The sublime French actress Simone Simon plays Irena, Kent Smith plays the husband and the film is directed by Jacques Tourneur, a French filmmaker who could have easily made this list with two other classics: 1943's I Walked With A Zombie and, from that same year, The Leopard Man.

Much has been made of Cat People's subtext concerning the 'dangerous lusts' of women, ingrained patterns of misogyny and hypocrisy but, if you wish, you can easily put all that aside and simply enjoy this well-made and surprisingly original 'Sunday afternoon' movie. Check out the sequel and the 1982 remake for added pleasure.