Mad Cats (2023): Cat-Women, Martial Arts, and Feline Mayhem

In Reiki Tsuno’s surreal action-comedy Mad Cats (2023), a young man battles a gang of catnip-addicted cat-women to rescue his missing brother.

Regarding genre films featuring cats, there is one that has already become a must-see since 2023: Mad Cats by Reiki Tsuno. Though relatively unknown outside of festival circles, it is a wacky and surreal action-comedy that will delight cat lovers.

Mad Cats Synopsis

We follow Taka Kurosawa (Sho Mineo), a young man with social difficulties and no prospects. He is on a wild quest to find his brother Mune, who disappeared after archaeological excavations in Egypt. Mune discovered the source of many problems: a legendary type of catnip. This catnip attracts the attention of a criminal gang of cat-women willing to do anything to get their hands on it.

Yes, you read that correctly: cat-women! Our group of antagonists operates like a Yakuza clan. At the top is the Boss (Hikari Aiko), who gives orders to her lieutenants and warriors. On the surface, they seem like ordinary, pretty women, but they share many characteristics with cats. Each has her personality or a notable trait related to domestic felines. They extend their claws to attack, cough up hairballs, or purr and meow. And they all go crazy when they come into contact with catnip.

On his journey, Taka encounters friends, including the homeless Takezo (Yuya Matsuura) and the young combat and weapons expert Ayane (the actress’ real name). He faces numerous obstacles and must train to confront his adversaries, as the cat-women are skilled in martial arts and possess an impressive arsenal. These skills lead to brilliantly executed action scenes. The fight choreography is spectacular, with dynamic direction that showcases the actresses’ agility. Even when the scenes are absurd, Tsuno pulls out all the stops to dazzle us. It is not just a mindless comedy but a genuine action film.

To mix things up, the director gave each cat-woman a unique weapon she masters perfectly. Take “Insane Nunchaku” (Ruice Mori), for example, who is known for her skill with nunchaku, as her name suggests. Despite being a secondary character, Insane Nunchaku stands out thanks to Ruice Mori’s impressive mastery. She is a massive fan of Bruce Lee, and his influence is evident in her scenes.

The Humor of Mad Cats

Humor plays a significant part in Mad Cats, as you probably guessed with such a theme. The film employs a variety of comic approaches, including visually cartoonish gags with grotesque violence, occasional silly dialogue, and clever ideas that feel straight out of a manga, all skillfully managed by the director’s adept handling of tone. Much of the humor revolves around the ineptitude of our hero and his friend Takezo, who are both weak and cowardly, while Ayane, a teenage ninja, tries to train them in combat as best she can. However, while the film will make you laugh out loud, not every joke hits the mark. It is understandable, considering the constant stream of humor the movie tries to deliver. Not every joke lands with the same level of finesse.

Kaibyō Legacy: Cat-Women in Japanese Horror and Folklore

Although the idea of women with human appearances behaving like animals is intriguing, it is not unprecedented. These kaibyōs, or cat-like women, have been significant in Japanese horror and fantasy cinema since the 1930s, starting with The Arima Cat aka Kaibyô Arima goten, released in 1937, often considered the genre’s inaugural film. These figures typically depict deceased women revived by cats licking their blood and transforming into vampire-like creatures akin to Western werewolves. Key scenes often involve their resurrection: Once the cat’s spirit enters the corpse, the woman awakens, displaying strange movements that blend cat gestures with Kabuki steps. These distinctive movements partly influenced later icons such as Sadako, the queen of J-Horror. Inspired by the fox-woman of Chinese folklore, depicted in countless Kabuki plays and ancient prints for over a century, the kaibyo remains a pivotal creature in Japanese cultural imagination. Unfortunately, these films did not survive past the 1960s, as they became too repetitive and outdated, losing their horror essence and even transitioning into comedy. Despite this, their legacy persists. For instance, Tim Burton’s Catwoman draws heavily from them, and her resurrection scene pays tribute to these films and their traditions.

Mad Cats aims to carry forward this longstanding tradition with humor. With his debut feature film, Tsuno deliberately pays homage, and the result is impressive for a first outing as a director. Tsuno’s humor, reminiscent of Sushi Typhoon productions but toned down on the gore, stems from his background in the Troma stable alongside Lloyd Kaufman. He even had minor roles in Return to Nuke ‘Em High Volume 1 (2013) and Return to Nuke ‘Em High Volume 2 (2017). This background explains his penchant for absurdity, gratuitous violence, surrealism, and his adept handling of a minimal budget. Mad Cats shines in this respect, delivering a string of high-octane action scenes with special effects like explosions and gunfire. While most of these effects are impressive, some are more polished than others. However, the film’s tone helps us overlook occasional imperfections.

Final Thoughts

If you are not into the quirky and surreal style unique to Japan, Mad Cats might not be for you. However, you would miss out on a hefty dose of intense action and astonishing ingenuity. It is a micro-budget gem packed with high-energy scenes and rapid pacing, featuring humor that ranges from crude and blunt to delightfully absurd. And the cast? Undeniably “sexy.” 

And for our cat fans, the clever use of feline characteristics will have you roaring with laughter. The endearing habits of our cuddliest companions are twisted and transformed to match those of a gang of formidable killers, and just that idea alone should convince you to give Mad Cats a chance. And remember to always keep a bit of catnip on hand—you never know when you might encounter a gang of heavily armed cat-women.

Mad Cats where to watch

Mad Cats is currently available from Amazon.

This review on Mad Cats was previously published in the book Meow! Cats in Horror, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy Movies.

About the author

AZZ L’ÉPOUVANTAIL is a videographer specializing in horror cinema, particularly from Asia. In addition to his work on YouTube and social media, he directed the documentary Takashi Miike: le V-Emperor. He also writes essays on cinema and organizes the Cinéma Interdit festival in Paris and Brussels. He is currently working on a book about Japanese Splatter and a documentary on J-Horror.