I avoided this one for a very long time after seeing the trailer for it. I thought it looked too DIY to be an effective creepy stalker story. If you’re not a fan of found footage, then this one isn’t going to be for you. I wouldn’t say that I’m not a fan, but the percentage of FF movies that I’ve seen and liked is pretty darn small. The subject matter is probably going to be off putting for some as well – a stalker weirdo killing women. I don’t know if that counts as a trigger warning or a spoiler or both. Whatever it is… I chose this as my 30th film of 31 for this Spooky Season. Let’s get into it, shall we?
Adrian is an aspiring filmmaker who has had an intense parasocial attraction to Anne Hathaway since he saw her portrayal of Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises. He hopes to convince her to come to his hometown in Romania to star in his first feature film by chronicling the lengths to which he will go to prove he is an artist of her calibre. One way he hopes to achieve that goal is through talking directly to his camcorder about the film and how she would be perfect for it. The other way is by hiring actresses who resemble Hathaway to act out scenes from his movie that result in their real deaths. No special effects needed.
Adrian Tofei is credited with pretty much every role imaginable in filmmaking here. It is probably safe to say that he is an auteur (at least for this particular project). He has written, directed, produced, edited, shot, and starred in an absolutely terrifying found footage film. His character is so awkward and strange in his gleeful excitement while outlining his film to “Anne” (the camera) that we can see how the actors he hires would be slightly wary but ultimately trusting. He’s undeniably goofy but he seems mostly harmless. That makes his psychopathy all the more shocking and believable. He smiles and giggles while speaking directly to camera about how he is going to kill these unsuspecting women. And when he delivers on those promises (to Anne), he does so in a disturbingly emotionless and remorseless way. It is hard to watch at times. But that is a testament to how effectively horrific this film is. It’s not going to be for everyone. And not just for the reasons mentioned above. The film makes viewers feel awful. Like we are complicit in the foul things Adrian is doing by continuing to watch. Whether this is your cup of tea or not, there is no denying that it is supremely potent as a character study of a disturbed individual. It’s hard not to worry that the film is (even slightly) autobiographical. I hope Tofei is healthy and well-adjusted, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he is not.
The Final Cut: Be My Cat is a disturbing found footage film that makes its audience complicit in its heinous depictions of the actions of a convincingly disturbed individual.
No Real Danger 