Also Known As: Thérèse Raquin

Directed by: Charlie Stratton

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: Based on an Emile Zola novel. Thérèse (Elizabeth Olsen) is raised by her Aunt Madame Raquin (Jessica Lange) and roped into marrying her ailing Cousin Camille (Tom Felton). The loveless marriage leads to infidelity and worse.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): A gray cat lives in the Paris shop and apartments with the family. In most scenes he is in the background or inserted in reaction shots. One time when Thérèse is making out with her lover, Laurent (Oscar Isaac), Madame Raquin calls up from below asking if the cat is hacking up furballs again. The cat also watches as the couple makes love.

Eventually the cat plays a more prominent role when Madame Raquin is holding him in the shop as Thérèse approaches. Thérèse takes the cat and sets it aside.

Shortly afterward a family friend, Suzanne (Shirley Henderson) enters the shop. The cat looks up.

As Suzanne starts upstairs, there is a Spring-Loaded Cat moment as the cat startles her, jumping down from a table. This leads Suzanne to seeing the message which Madam Raquin frantically scribbled on the floor with her cane.

The cat’s name is not mentioned in the film but it is François in the novel, where he also played a more important role in the proceedings. The animal handler on the film was Mirko Sirkovic.

Final Mewsings: If your romance sounds like cats hacking up furballs, better rethink your relationship!

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