Think being ghosted is the worst thing that can happen in modern dating? Think again. The new psychological thriller Cat Person, now streaming exclusively on Lionsgate Play via PLDT Home, Smart, and Cignal, dives deep into the unsettling gray areas of dating, consent, and connection in the digital age.
When Flirting Turns Frightening
What starts as a fun exchange of emojis and flirty texts quickly turns into a nightmare in Cat Person, a story that feels all too real for today’s online dating generation.
The film follows Margot (Emilia Jones), a college student who meets Robert (Nicholas Braun), an older man who often visits the movie theater where she works. Their casual chats evolve into constant messaging and romantic tension—but the spark soon fades into suspicion.
As Robert’s stories start to contradict and his messages grow more controlling, Margot’s instincts begin to scream that something’s not right. The result is a haunting exploration of how easily attraction can slip into anxiety and how blurred the line between desire and danger can become.
A Film That Holds Up a Mirror to Dating in the Digital Age
Directed by Susanna Fogel and written by Michelle Ashford, Cat Person is based on the viral 2017 New Yorker short story by Kristen Roupenian. The film doesn’t try to offer neat answers, it thrives in the gray area of relationships: those awkward silences, overanalyzed texts, and moments when we question our own instincts.
In an interview, Fogel captured the film’s haunting realism:
“Most encounters aren’t fairy tales or horror stories, they’re somewhere in between. That ambiguity is what makes modern dating so complicated.”
With Emilia Jones delivering a painfully relatable performance and Nicholas Braun (yes, Cousin Greg from Succession!) balancing charm with menace, Cat Person will make you rethink every red flag you’ve ever ignored.
Where to Watch
Cat Person is now streaming exclusively on Lionsgate Play starting October 17, available through:
- PLDT Home – offering unli-entertainment and award-winning internet speed
- Smart – the country’s leading mobile provider
- Cignal – via the Cignal Super app, the Philippines’ first streaming aggregator
You can also stream Lionsgate Play directly at www.lionsgateplay.com for ₱79/month with PLDT Home or ₱199/quarter with Smart.
Why You Should Watch It
If you’ve ever second-guessed a message, a date, or your own gut feeling, Cat Person will hit close to home. It’s not your typical love story, it’s a mirror to how connection, power, and fear collide in the modern world of dating apps and unread messages.
So before your next swipe, maybe take a moment to ask yourself: Do I actually like this person or do I just like that they like me?