Watch Are We Not Cats

Are We Not Cats is a 2016 indie horror film that premiered at the Venice Film Festival, directed by Xander Robin. It is a relatively unconventional love story between two individuals who are both struggling with a rare obsession with the ingestion of hair. The film came about from an idea Robin had after learning about the little-known disorder, trichophagia, which is a compulsive disorder involving the ingestion of hair.

The film revolves around the story of Eli (Michael Patrick Nicholson), a man who has recently lost his job, his girlfriend, and his apartment, all within the span of a day. He is already feeling lost and alone when he meets a young woman named Anya (Chelsea Lopez) at the funeral for his ex-girlfriend's brother. Anya is dealing with her own issues as well, like Eli, she has an obsession with the ingestion of human hair.

Despite the unlikely circumstances, Eli and Anya quickly hit it off and end up spending the night together. However, as they begin to get to know each other more, they realize that their individual obsessions may be linked in a way that they never imagined. They both discover that they feel a sense of comfort and satisfaction from eating hair, and they use it as a coping mechanism to deal with the various traumas in their life.

The first act of the movie sets up the main characters and their backgrounds, but the second act is where things start to become unravelled, and the darker themes of the film begin to surface. As the story progresses, Anya's behaviour becomes more erratic, and Eli begins to suspect that there is more to her than he originally thought. He follows her one day to a junkyard, only to find that she is hiding something from him. Without giving too much away, the third act of the movie becomes a surrealistic horror that depicts the possible consequences of Eli and Anya's actions.

One of the most impressive things about Are We Not Cats is the cinematography. The film was shot on a shoestring budget, but Xander Robin did an excellent job of creating an atmosphere of eerie tension. The colour palette is primarily dark, with a lot of greens and blues, which add an unsettling feel to the movie. Additionally, the use of sound and music is also noteworthy, as it helps to set the tone of the film.

The acting in the movie is also commendable, with the two lead actors delivering convincing and sympathetic performances. Michael Patrick Nicholson portrays Eli with a certain vulnerability that makes it easy to empathize with him, despite his strange predilection. Chelsea Lopez, on the other hand, plays Anya with a ferocity that hints at the darkness within her character. The supporting cast, which includes Michael Godere, also did an excellent job of adding to the film's unsettling atmosphere.

One of the most striking things about Are We Not Cats is how it manages to combine elements of romance, horror, and drama into a cohesive whole. The concept of two people bonding over a shared obsession is both bizarre and intriguing, and the relationships between the characters are fleshed out enough to keep the audience invested. However, there is an underlying sense of dread that permeates the movie, and it sets the stage for some truly terrifying moments.

In conclusion, Are We Not Cats is a unique and unconventional film that manages to leave a lasting impression. The story is both strange and compelling, and the performances and cinematography are top-notch. It may not be to everyone's taste, but those who appreciate indie horror and a bit of weirdness will find a lot to appreciate in this film.

Are We Not Cats is a 2018 romance movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 18 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.7 and a MetaScore of 68.