View source for Be My Cat: A Film for Anne

{{Short description|2015 Romanian horror film by Adrian Țofei}}
{{COI|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Be My Cat: A Film for Anne
| image          = Be My Cat A Film for Anne's Poster.jpg
| caption        = Official poster
| director       = Adrian Țofei
| producer       = Adrian Țofei
| writer         = Adrian Țofei
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* Adrian Țofei
* Sonia Teodoriu
* Florentina Hariton
* Alexandra Stroe
}}
| music          =
| cinematography = Adrian Țofei
| editing        = Adrian Țofei
| studio         =
| distributor    = Terror Films
| released       = {{Film date|2015|03|01|[[Fantasporto]]}}
| runtime        = 87 minutes
| country        = Romania
| language       = English
| budget         =
| gross          =
}}
'''''Be My Cat: A Film for Anne''''' is a 2015 Romanian [[found footage (film technique)|found footage]] [[psychological horror]] film directed, produced, written, and starring Adrian Țofei, about an aspiring filmmaker who goes to extreme levels to convince actress [[Anne Hathaway]] to star in his film. It is the first entry in Țofei's planned indie trilogy which includes ''We Put the World to Sleep'' and ''Pure''. It is also Țofei's first film and [[Romania]]'s first found footage horror movie.<ref>{{cite web |date=2014-05-20 |title=Production Insights &#124; Be My Cat: A Film for Anne |url=https://bemycatafilmforanne.wordpress.com/production-insights/ |access-date=2016-04-13 |publisher=Bemycatafilmforanne.com}}</ref>
''Be My Cat'' was named by [[IndieWire]] one of "the 50 best indie horror movies to stream", by [[Blumhouse]] "a new intelligent film" people "need to see", and by [[Dread Central]] one of the "top 5 best horror movies of 2016". It won Best Film at the 2015 [[A Night of Horror International Film Festival|A Night of Horror Film Festival]] in Sydney and Best Actor for Țofei at the 2016 [[Nashville Film Festival]].<ref name="http://www.anightofhorror.com/anoh-winners-2015/">{{cite web|url=http://www.anightofhorror.com/anoh-winners-2015/ |title=Winning films at A Night of Horror International Film Festival 2015 |publisher=Anightofhorror.com |access-date=2016-04-13}}</ref><ref name="https://nashvillefilmfestival.org/news/2016-feature-award-winners/">{{cite web |url=https://nashvillefilmfestival.org/news/2016-feature-award-winners/ |title=2016 Feature Award Winners - Nashville Film Festival |publisher=Nashvillefilmfestival.org |date=2016-04-22 |access-date=2016-04-23 |archive-date=2018-06-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628185614/https://nashvillefilmfestival.org/news/2016-feature-award-winners/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="blumhouse.com">{{cite web |author=Matt Molgaard |url=http://www.blumhouse.com/2017/03/24/a-new-wave-of-intelligent-found-footage-films-5-films-you-need-to-see/ |title=A New Wave of Intelligent Found Footage: 5 Films You Need to See – |website=Blumhouse.com |date=2017-03-24 |access-date=2017-05-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519195237/http://www.blumhouse.com/2017/03/24/a-new-wave-of-intelligent-found-footage-films-5-films-you-need-to-see/ |archive-date=2017-05-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="dreadcentral.com">{{cite web|last=Barton |first=Steve |url=https://dreadcentral.com/news/205265/dread-centrals-best-worst-horror-films-2016/10/ |title=Dread Central's Best and Worst Horror Films of 2016 |publisher=[[Dread Central]] |date=2016-12-30 |access-date=2017-05-07}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceB">{{Cite web |last1=Foreman |first1=Ryan Lattanzio,Alison |last2=Lattanzio |first2=Ryan |last3=Foreman |first3=Alison |date=2022-11-14 |title=The 50 Best Indie Horror Movies to Stream Right Now, from 'X' to 'Fresh' |url=https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/best-indie-horror-movies-streaming/ |access-date=2022-11-23 |website=IndieWire |language=en}}</ref>
[[IndieWire]] called it "a hidden gem", "a nonstop nightmare" and "a dazzling debut", [[The Austin Chronicle|Austin Chronicle]] called it "terrifying" and compared it to a modern ''[[Peeping Tom (1960 film)|Peeping Tom]]'', [[Little White Lies (magazine)|Little White Lies]] called it "a prime example of [[Metacinema|meta-cinema]]" and said it falls between ''[[Man Bites Dog (film)|Man Bites Dog]]'' and ''[[Creep (2014 film)|Creep]]'', [[Dread Central]] described it as "revolutionary and dangerous", and [[WatchMojo]] included the film in top 5 best low budget horror movies alongside classics ''[[The Blair Witch Project]]'', ''[[The Texas Chain Saw Massacre]]'' and ''[[Night of the Living Dead]]''. It is considered a [[cult film]].<ref name="Whittaker" /><ref name="Bitel" /><ref name="Millican" /><ref name="horrornews.net">{{Cite web|date=2020-10-22|title=Cult horror movie "Be My Cat: A Film for Anne" released on DVD and YouTube|url=https://horrornews.net/160730/cult-horror-movie-be-my-cat-a-film-for-anne-released-on-dvd-and-youtube/|access-date=2020-10-25|website=Horror News }}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">{{Citation |title=Top 10 Best Low Budget Horror Movies |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hChC8GdC9V0 |language=en |access-date=2022-06-17}}</ref><ref name="indiewire.com">{{Cite web |last1=Foreman |first1=Kate Erbland,Ryan Lattanzio,Alison |last2=Erbland |first2=Kate |last3=Lattanzio |first3=Ryan |last4=Foreman |first4=Alison |date=2022-07-30 |title=The 15 Best Found Footage Movies, from 'Blair Witch Project' to 'Host' |url=https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/best-found-footage-movies/ |access-date=2022-08-09 |website=IndieWire |language=en}}</ref>
''Be My Cat: A Film for Anne'' initially received a limited release by Țofei in 2016, then benefited from a wider release by distributor Terror Films in 2018, and in 2020 cult distributor TetroVideo gave the movie a special limited DVD release. Adrian Țofei also made it available on signed Blu-ray and signed DVD on his website.<ref name="Horror Society">{{Cite news|url=https://www.horrorsociety.com/2018/04/25/a-deranged-filmmaker-sends-a-macabre-invite-in-be-my-cat-a-film-for-anne/|title=A Deranged Filmmaker Sends a Macabre Invite in Be My Cat: A Film for Anne. {{!}} Horror Society|date=2018-04-25|work=Horror Society|access-date=2018-05-03|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="horrornews.net"/><ref name="DreadCentral-LiveStream">{{Cite web |date=2020-10-19|title=Live-Stream Event with the Star/Director: BE MY CAT: A FILM FOR ANNE on YouTube 10/27|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/?p=351658|access-date=2020-10-25|website=Dread Central }}</ref><ref name="adriantofei.com">{{Cite web|date=2020-10-08|title=Get "Be My Cat: A Film for Anne" on Signed DVD & receive a credit in Adrian Țofei's upcoming movie!|url=https://adriantofei.com/be-my-cat-signed-dvd/|access-date=2020-10-25|website=Adrian Țofei - Filmmaker & Actor|archive-date=2020-10-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028180444/https://adriantofei.com/be-my-cat-signed-dvd/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="amazon.com">{{Cite web|title=Be My Cat: A Film for Anne - DVD|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08J5HHX2T/|access-date=2020-10-25|website=Amazon.com}}</ref><ref name="youtube.com">{{Cite AV media |title=BE MY CAT: A Film for Anne {{!}} Full FREE Horror Movie |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aqnw4Pf2yrg |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="tetrovideo">{{Cite web|url=https://tetrovideo.com/shop/be-my-cat-anne-dvd-dvdpack-edition/|title=BE MY CAT: A FILM FOR ANNE - DIGIPACK DVD PREMIUM EDITION |website=TetroVideo|date=December 14, 2020}}</ref><ref name="bemycatmovie.com">{{Cite web |title=Video on BE MY CAT: A FILM FOR ANNE |url=https://bemycatmovie.com/ |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=BE MY CAT: A FILM FOR ANNE |language=en}}</ref>
==Plot==
An aspiring Romanian filmmaker and actor obsessed with Hollywood actress [[Anne Hathaway]] tries to convince her to come to Romania and star alongside him in his upcoming film. He goes to shocking extremes using three local actresses to shoot demo scenes to send to Anne as proof of his filmmaking and acting skills.
Adrian explains that the film he is making is not, in reality, ''Be My Cat''. ''Be My Cat'' is a film he has written so Anne Hathaway can play the leading role. He states that his interest in Anne and making this film came from her portrayal of [[Catwoman]] in ''[[The Dark Knight Rises]]'', citing a love for cats.
The first actress that he uses as an example of his directorial style is a girl named Sonia, whose parents drop her off with Adrian at an abandoned house down the street from where he stays with his mother. Adrian begins shooting a scene with Sonia that doubles as a frustrating acting exercise. It becomes clear that ''Be My Cat'' is about a stalker obsessed with an actress, and the lines start to blur between Adrian as director and Adrian as the character. Increasingly frustrated and frightened, Sonia calls the police. After talking with her, Adrian explains to the police that it was a misunderstanding and convinces Sonia to shoot another scene at night. In the night scene the stalker uses [[chloroform]] to abduct the actress. In the second take, Adrian uses real chloroform and knocks Sonia out.
After taking her to his bedroom Adrian procures a cat suit. Before undressing her and putting the cat suit on her, Adrian explains to the camera (now personified as "Anne") that he would never do this in real life, and that it is only him in character. He also states that he is worthy of Anne in every way, betraying that his intentions for Anne may be more than artistic. Adrian stays the night beside the knocked out Sonia. When she wakes up frightened he insists that she must be sacrificed for her art. He chokes Sonia to death and hides her body in the basement.
While going to meet the second actress Adrian explains that he was bullied in the past, and due to this he dislikes boys and dogs for their meanness and likes girls and cats due to their sweetness and innocence. He also explains that the character in his film seeks to turn the actress character into a surrogate of his cat that he accidentally killed, and that this is based on how he accidentally killed his cat as a child. He ironically chances upon a dead cat on the side of the road.
Upon meeting the second actress Flory, Adrian is disappointed, as she had sent him pictures of herself when she was younger. Displeased with her age and weight, Adrian berates her. Flory offers him sexual favors in exchange to let her be in the movie, which disgusts Adrian. He tells Anne that he will not accept.
In the next scene Adrian has apparently allowed Flory to stay as they pick up the third actress, a young girl named Alexandra. Adrian asks Alexandra to wait upstairs and he performs surgery on Flory with a kitchen knife in the basement. Two neighbors come and investigate when they hear Flory's screams but Adrian assures them that they are filming a horror movie. Later that night, Adrian returns with a cat suit, having surgically thinned Flory, intending for her to wear it and be transformed. He is surprised to find her dead from blood loss. He acknowledges and enjoys that he has completely disappeared into his character and therefore can send Alexandra home, already having proved his abilities to Anne.
While Adrian is retrieving trash bags, Alexandra comes downstairs and finds Flory's body. Adrian finds himself faced with a dilemma, not wanting to kill Alexandra but knowing she will turn him in. She tries to talk him out of killing her and briefly tries to escape. Realizing she cannot escape, she continues to reason with Adrian. Adrian finds himself somewhat attracted to Alexandra due to her resemblance to Anne Hathaway, but tells Anne not to be jealous and that he only loves her. Alexandra uses this and tells him that he needs to go to Anne. Adrian says he cannot due to his fear of leaving his hometown. Alexandra says that to win her he must face his fear and go to her. She excites Adrian with the ideas of marrying and having children with Anne Hathaway. He decides that she is right and agrees to let her live, on the condition that she will wait in the basement and give him thirty minutes to escape and leave for Hollywood. Alexandra wishes him luck as he decides that he does not need to make a movie after all, since the movie was just a means to be with Anne. Overjoyed, he turns off the camera, leaving his and Alexandra's fates ambiguous.
==Cast==
* Adrian Țofei as Adrian
* Sonia Teodoriu as Sonya
* Florentina Hariton as Flory
* Alexandra Stroe as Alexandra
== Production ==
The character played by Țofei in the movie was developed over the course of 5 years. It started as a 15 min monologue in a theatre-dance show in college, then Adrian transformed it into a full-length 50 min one-man-show called ''The Monster'', and then the character in ''The Monster'' ultimately ended up being adapted for the movie. A year in advance before filming, Adrian moved to his hometown and began to experience some of the circumstances that surround his character's life.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-01 |title=Production Insights |url=https://bemycatmovie.com/production-insights/ |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=BE MY CAT: A FILM FOR ANNE |language=en}}</ref>
Țofei, who came from a background in [[method acting]] and [[theatre]] ([[Ion Cojar]]'s method), partially improvised the movie in his hometown in Romania on a limited budget as director, producer, writer, lead actor, editor, cinematographer and most other jobs usually performed by a [[film crew]], he never used a camera before in his life, had no crew present during shootings other than him and the actresses, partially lived in [[Character (arts)|character]], met the actresses for the first time in character with the camera on, and kept only first takes in the final cut.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-01 |title=Production Insights |url=https://bemycatmovie.com/production-insights/ |access-date=2022-09-03 |website=BE MY CAT: A FILM FOR ANNE |language=en}}</ref>
A language switch was used during filming to ensure the safety of everyone involved: speaking [[English language|English]] meant everyone is interacting in character, and speaking [[Romanian language|Romanian]] meant everyone returns to be being themselves (with a few exceptions when the characters had to speak Romanian). Filming was preceded by months of preparation via emails between Țofei and the three actresses.<ref name="horrornews.net" /><ref name="bemycatmovie-production">{{Cite web |date=2014-09-01|title=Production Insights|url=https://bemycatmovie.com/production-insights/|access-date=2021-07-31|website=BE MY CAT: A FILM FOR ANNE }}</ref>
Țofei's filmmaking method consists of working for months on an alternative psychological reality for the actors including himself, partially living in character, so that when they start improvising, he mainly needs to record the unfolding events and to make sure the [[improvisation]] goes in the right direction. The script mostly consists of plot points. Adrian shoots tens of hours of footage [[Guerrilla filmmaking|guerrilla style]] (25 hours for ''Be My Cat: A Film for Anne''), and then he watches the footage like a [[Documentary film|documentary]] filmmaker would and creates the details of the story in [[post-production]] during the editing process.<ref name="horrornews.net"/><ref name="bemycatmovie-production"/>
Țofei kept his character away from any sexual crimes, first because it would be grotesque and no one would watch the movie, second because Țofei wanted him to have a child-like innocence to become paradoxical, and third because he only belongs to [[Anne Hathaway]] in his mind, so he wouldn't cheat on her by touching other women. On the contrary, he severely punishes the second girl for hitting on him. The character is quite principled in his “relationship” with Anne.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-01 |title=Production Insights |url=https://bemycatmovie.com/production-insights/ |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=BE MY CAT: A FILM FOR ANNE |language=en}}</ref>
==Release==
===Festival release===
''Be My Cat: A Film for Anne'' had its world premiere on March 1 at the 2015 [[Fantasporto|Fantasporto International Film Festival]] in Portugal in its initial 109 minutes version,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cineuropa.org/nw.aspx?t=newsdetail&l=en&did=287538 |title=Be My Cat: A Film for Anne competing at Fantasporto |publisher=Cineuropa |date=2016-04-08 |access-date=2016-04-13}}</ref> and then the Romanian premiere at the 2015 [[Transilvania International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tiff.ro/en/program/122/filme |title=TIFF |publisher=Tiff.ro |access-date=2016-04-13}}</ref>
The movie's 87 minutes cut premiered at the 2015 Dracula Film Festival in Romania.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.draculafilm.ro/categorie/festival/competitia-de-lungmetraj/ |title=Feature Films Competition |publisher=draculafilm.ro |access-date=2016-05-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416144306/http://www.draculafilm.ro/categorie/festival/competitia-de-lungmetraj/ |archive-date=2016-04-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Over 25 more official selections followed, including at the 2015 [[A Night of Horror International Film Festival]] in Sydney (Australian premiere),<ref name=":4" /> the 2016 [[Nashville Film Festival]] in the US (North American premiere),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nashvillefilmfestival.org/news/nashville-film-festival-announces-features-in-competition/ |title=Nashville Film Festival Announces Features in Competition - Nashville Film Festival Nashville Film Festival |publisher=Nashvillefilmfestival.org |date=2016-03-10 |access-date=2016-04-13 |archive-date=2016-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427060750/https://nashvillefilmfestival.org/news/nashville-film-festival-announces-features-in-competition/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> 2016 Fright Nights in Vienna (Austrian premiere),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://frightnights.wordpress.com/programm-2016/ |title=Programm 2016 &#124; Fright Nights |publisher=Frightnights.wordpress.com |access-date=2016-04-13}}</ref> 2016 On Vous Ment! Mockumentary Film Festival (French premiere),<ref name="http://onvousment.fr/programme/competition/">{{cite web |url=http://onvousment.fr/programme/competition/ |title=Competition long-metrages |publisher=OnVousMent.fr |access-date=2016-05-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160522183841/http://onvousment.fr/programme/competition/ |archive-date=2016-05-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 2016 [[TromaDance]] Film Festival in New York City (East Coast Premiere),<ref name="http://www.troma.com/news/24203/the-17th-annual-tromadance-announces-feature-length-official-selections/">{{cite web|url=http://www.troma.com/news/24203/the-17th-annual-tromadance-announces-feature-length-official-selections/ |title=The 17th Annual TromaDance Announces Feature Length Official Selections |publisher=troma.com |date=2016-06-30 |access-date=2016-07-25}}</ref> 2016 Hamilton Film Festival (Canadian premiere), 2016 Toronto Indie Horror Fest (Toronto premiere), 2016 Other Worlds Austin Film Festival (Texas premiere), 2017 Horror-on-Sea Film Festival in the UK, 2017 Shockproof Film Festival in Prague, 2018 Unnamed Footage Festival in San Francisco, 2018 [[Nightmares Film Festival]] in Columbus, Ohio, and the 2018 [[Anchorage International Film Festival]] in Alaska.
===Digital and Blu-ray/DVD release ===
Țofei initially released ''Be My Cat: A Film for Anne'' on [[Vimeo]] On Demand in December 2016, on [[Amazon Video]] in 2017, and, for a limited time, on DVD via Amazon. Cult distributor TetroVideo gave the movie a special limited DVD release with French and Italian subtitles in 2020, featuring a gory artistic rendition of [[Anne Hathaway]] on the cover. Adrian also re-released it worldwide on DVD via [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]], and later on signed DVD and signed Blu-ray on his website.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Be-My-Cat-Film-Anne/dp/B071Z2GPVL/|title=Be My Cat: A Film for Anne + extra scenes DVD, original cover|via=Amazon}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Be-My-Cat-Film-Anne/dp/B071GVWZ55/|title=Watch Be My Cat: A Film for Anne &#124; Prime Video|website=www.amazon.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://vimeo.com/ondemand/bemycat |title=Watch be My Cat: A Film for Anne Online &#124; Vimeo on Demand on Vimeo |access-date=2017-05-27 |archive-date=2018-12-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206191053/https://vimeo.com/ondemand/bemycat |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="horrorfreaknews.com">{{cite web|url=http://horrorfreaknews.com/controversial-award-winning-shocker-cat-film-anne-coming-vod |title=Controversial and Award Winning Shocker "Be My Cat: A Film for Anne" Coming to VOD |website=Horrorfreaknews.com |date=2016-11-18 |access-date=2017-05-07}}</ref><ref name="horrornews.net"/><ref name="adriantofei.com"/><ref name="amazon.com"/><ref name="tetrovideo"/><ref name="bemycatmovie.com"/>
Terror Films acquired the movie's worldwide VOD distribution rights in late 2017 and gave it a wider release starting with April 2018 on [[Amazon Prime]], [[iTunes]], [[Google Play Movies & TV|Google Play]], [[Microsoft Movies & TV|Microsoft]] / [[Xbox Live|Xbox]], [[Vudu]], and later on [[Steam (service)|Steam]], Screambox, Vidi, [[Tubi]], [[Roku]] and POV Horror. In 2020 Terror Films teamed up with [[Cinedigm]] to expand the release, and also with Kings of Horror to release it for free on [[YouTube]].<ref name="Horror Society"/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Romanian-Horror-Film-BE-MY-CAT-A-FILM-FOR-ANNE-Terrorizes-Digital-Platform-One-More-Time-20180425|title=Romanian Horror Film BE MY CAT: A FILM FOR ANNE Terrorizes Digital Platform One More Time|last=Desk|first=TV News |access-date=2018-05-03 }}</ref><ref name="horrorsociety.com">{{Cite web |date=2020-02-21 |title=Terror Films and Sister Label Global Digital Releasing Team with CINEDIGM for Multi-Channel AVOD Content Deal |url=https://www.horrorsociety.com/2020/02/21/terror-films-and-sister-label-global-digital-releasing-team-with-cinedigm-for-multi-channel-avod-content-deal/ |access-date=2020-02-26 |website=Horror Society |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="horrornews.net"/><ref name="DreadCentral-LiveStream"/><ref name="youtube.com"/>
==Reception==
===Critical response===
On [[Rotten Tomatoes]] the movie holds an 88% approval rating based on 8 reviews.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/be_my_cat_a_film_for_anne/ |title=Be My Cat: A Film for Anne |publisher=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] }}</ref> It is considered a [[cult film]] by fans and film professionals.<ref name="horrornews.net"/>
It has been included by [[Dread Central]] in "Top 5 Best Horror Movies of 2016",<ref name="dreadcentral.com"/> by [[Blumhouse]] in "Top 5 New Intelligent [[Found footage (film technique)|Found Footage]] Films You Need to See",<ref name="blumhouse.com" /> by [[IndieWire]] in "The 50 Best Indie Horror Movies to Stream"<ref name="ReferenceB"/> and "Top 15 Best Found Footage Movies",<ref name="indiewire.com"/> by [[Yardbarker|YardBarker]] in "Top 20 Best Found Footage Horror Films",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/the_20_best_found_footage_horror_films/s1__29513177|title=The 20 best found-footage horror films|date=2019-07-15|website=Yardbarker |access-date=2019-11-20}}</ref> by [[Film Threat]] in "Top 7 Recent European Horror Films Worth Watching",<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://filmthreat.com/features/7-recent-european-horror-films-worth-watching/|title=7 Recent European Horror Films Worth Watching|last=Foster|first=Chuck|date=2019-02-20|website=Film Threat|access-date=2019-11-20}}</ref> by [[WatchMojo]] in "Top 10 Best Low Budget Horror Movies",<ref name="ReferenceA"/> by [[WhatCulture]] in "Top 10 Psychological Horror Movies",<ref>{{Cite web |last=John-Day |first=Michael |date=2022-08-18 |title=10 Seriously Messed Up Psychological Horror Movies |url=https://whatculture.com/film/10-seriously-messed-up-psychological-horror-movies |access-date=2022-09-03 |website=WhatCulture.com |language=en}}</ref> by [[/Film|Slash/Film]] in "Top 25 Scariest Found Footage Horror Movies",<ref name="Feldberg">{{Cite web |last=Feldberg |first=Isaac |date=2021-10-01 |title=The 25 Scariest Found Footage Horror Movies |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/622056/the-scariest-found-footage-horror-movies/ |access-date=2022-09-03 |website=SlashFilm.com |language=en-US}}</ref> by [[Paste (magazine)|Paste Magazine]] in "Top 35 Best Found Footage Horror Movies"<ref name="pastemagazine.com">{{Cite web |date=2021-05-25 |title=The 35 Best Found Footage Horror Movies |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/best-found-footage-horror-movies/ |access-date=2022-09-03 |website=pastemagazine.com |language=en |archive-date=2022-09-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220903184851/https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/best-found-footage-horror-movies/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and by Audiences Everywhere in "Top 50 Best Horror Movies of the 2000s".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.audienceseverywhere.net/100-horror-2000s-lists/3/ |title=The 100 Best Horror Movies of the 2000s (So Far) - Page 3 of 5 |publisher=Audienceseverywhere.net |date=2015-10-27 |access-date=2016-04-13 |archive-date=2016-04-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420084108/http://www.audienceseverywhere.net/100-horror-2000s-lists/3/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[IndieWire]] called the movie "a sublimely meta hidden gem that is nothing short of a nonstop nightmare", "a chilling character study and a dazzling debut for Țofei".<ref name="indiewire.com"/>
[[Austin Chronicle]] called it "terrifying" and wrote that it's "a jaw-dropping character study of a murderer, made all the more grueling and transfixing because of Țofei’s performance. Adrian (the character) is as unlikely a killer as [[Norman Bates]], but that’s what makes him so terrifying. This is emotional extreme horror, but you won’t be able to look away. Adrian Țofei's pointed decision to avoid overt gore, instead concentrating on the interactions, makes the film something akin to a modern [[Peeping Tom (1960 film)|Peeping Tom]]."<ref name="Whittaker">{{cite news |last=Whittaker |first=Richard |url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/screens/2016-12-07/other-worlds-austin-review-be-my-cat-a-film-for-anne/ |title=Other Worlds Austin Review: Be My Cat: A Film for Anne: Bizarre Romanian horror brings insane spark to found footage - Screens |newspaper=[[The Austin Chronicle]] |date=2016-12-07 |access-date=2017-05-07 }}</ref>
[[Little White Lies (magazine)|Little White Lies]] wrote that the movie "is a prime example of [[Metacinema|meta-cinema]], endlessly blurring the line between behind-the-scenes reality and onscreen fantasy, between documentary and fiction, while also repeatedly commenting on the process of its own making. The results are an unnerving study in [[cinephilia]] and [[erotomania]], falling somewhere between Rémy Belvaux's [[Man Bites Dog (film)|Man Bites Dog]] and Patrick Brice’s [[Creep (2014 film)|Creep]]."<ref name="Bitel">{{cite web |author=ANTON BITEL |url=http://lwlies.com/articles/be-my-cat-a-film-for-anne-adrian-tofei-dvd/ |title=Discover the stomach-turning horrors of this Anne Hathaway baiting thriller |website=Lwlies.com |access-date=2021-05-04 }}</ref>
[[Blumhouse Productions|Blumhouse]] wrote: “Adrian scared the shit out of me, often entering the realm of paralyzing. If you think that’s a joke, give the film a look and tell me the chloroform sequence doesn’t send a wave of shivers racing down your spine.”<ref name="blumhouse.com" />
[[/Film|Slash/Film]] said that “Be My Cat is insidiously terrifying and Țofei is magnetic on screen. Even as Adrian’s world grows darker and more unhinged, you can’t avert your eyes.”<ref name="Feldberg"/>
[[Dread Central]] gave the movie 4 stars and wrote that "Be My Cat takes [[Metacinema|meta-filmmaking]] to mind-bending levels and plays out like an [[Art film|arthouse]] [[snuff film]]. Simply calling it unique is an understatement. What we have here is potentially revolutionary and, like the most impactful examples of uncompromising art, potentially dangerous. The line between fact and fiction has never been so terrifyingly and brilliantly blurred."<ref name="Millican">{{cite web|last=Millican |first=Josh |url=https://dreadcentral.com/reviews/117093/be-my-cat-a-film-for-anne-2015/ |title=Be My Cat: A Film for Anne (2015) |publisher=Dread Central |date=2015-08-07 |access-date=2016-04-13}}</ref>
[[Paste (magazine)|Paste Magazine]] wrote that the movie is "a daring and effective example of meta-cinema, as Tofei plays a terrifyingly convincing murderer living with his mother, played by his actual mother. A deeply troubled, sheltered man whose misogyny and perversion combine to create a portrait of passion and obsession, one that is both terrifying yet deeply fascinating."<ref name="pastemagazine.com"/>
28DLA gave it 4 stars, calling it a "disturbing found footage masterpiece" and added that "the authenticity comes from exceptionally strong performances by an excellent cast. Sonia Teodoriu, Florentina Hariton, Alexandra Stroe and Adrian Țofei are so convincing that, at times, it’s uncomfortable to watch."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.28dayslateranalysis.com/2015/09/be-my-cat-takes-swipe-at-hollywood-in.html |title=Be My Cat Takes a Swipe at Hollywood in this Disturbing Found Footage Masterpiece ~ 28DLA |publisher=28dayslateranalysis.com |date=2015-09-13 |access-date=2016-04-13}}</ref>
[[Dean Bertram]] from [[A Night of Horror International Film Festival|A Night of Horror]] described ''Be My Cat'' as "the most revolutionary addition to the found footage genre since [[The Blair Witch Project]] and infinitely more convincing and frightening"<ref name=":4">{{cite web |url=http://www.anightofhorror.com/2015program/#/be-my-cat-a-film-for-anne/ |title=Be My Cat: A Film for Anne at A Night of Horror |publisher=AnightOfHorror.com |access-date=2016-05-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515111316/http://www.anightofhorror.com/2015program/#/be-my-cat-a-film-for-anne/ |archive-date=2016-05-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[Lloyd Kaufman]] from [[TromaDance]] wrote that it's "a new masterpiece in horror".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/lloyd.kaufman/posts/10153760784181475 |title=See the east coast premiere of Adrian Țofei's "Be My Cat: A Film for Anne" Sat. July 30th at Tromadance in Brooklyn! A new masterpiece in horror!|publisher=Lloyd Kaufman on Facebook |date=2016-07-23 |access-date=2016-07-25}}</ref> [[Jed Shepherd]] (co-writer of [[Host (film)|Host]]) said that “When it comes to underrated/under-appreciated horror movies that are actually very good, few have been more overlooked than the new found footage classic ''Be My Cat: A Film for Anne''. The line between fiction and reality is so effectively blurred, I was watching my front door for a SWAT team to burst through and taser me for watching something I shouldn’t.”<ref>{{Cite web |title=JED Talks: JED TALKS // to ADRIAN TOFEI (BE MY CAT: A FILM FOR ANNE) on Apple Podcasts |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/jed-talks-to-adrian-tofei-be-my-cat-a-film-for-anne/id1191242095?i=1000502743754 |access-date=2022-09-03 |website=Apple Podcasts |language=en-GB}}</ref>
''Audiences Everywhere'' named it "dangerous and progressive"<ref name="Audienceseverywhere.net">{{cite web |url=http://www.audienceseverywhere.net/cat-film-anne-dangerous-progressive/ |title=Be My Cat: A Film for Anne is Dangerous and Progressive |publisher=Audienceseverywhere.net |date=2015-10-23 |access-date=2016-04-13 |archive-date=2015-12-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151212133007/http://www.audienceseverywhere.net/cat-film-anne-dangerous-progressive/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and added that "the film is fascinating, challenging and essential for the evolution of found footage horror."<ref name="Audienceseverywhere.net" /> Mondo Exploito wrote that it "totally transcends the trappings of the found footage subgenre to create a truly unique experience that will be talked about for years to come."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mondoexploito.com/?p=13311 |title=Be My Cat: A Film for Anne (2015) |publisher=Mondo Exploito |date=2015-12-10 |access-date=2017-05-07}}</ref> Addicted to Horror Movies said it's "''the rare original horror film that fans scream for''",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://addictedtohorrormovies.com/2016/12/01/be-my-cat-a-film-for-anne-is-a-rare-original-horror-movie-review/ |title='Be My Cat: A Film for Anne' is a Rare Original Horror Movie (Review) – Addicted to Horror Movies |website=Addictedtohorrormovies.com |date=December 2016 |access-date=2017-05-07}}</ref> PopHorror wrote, "I couldn't take my eyes off the screen"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pophorror.com/be-my-cat-film-anne-2015-movie-review/|title=Be My Cat: A Film For Anne (2015) Movie Review |last=Cargile |first=Charlie |date=2017-02-28|website=PopHorror |access-date=2019-11-20}}</ref> and Cinehouse called it a "cinematic miracle".
<ref>{{cite web|last=Harris |first=Sandra |url=https://cinehouseuk.blogspot.ro/2016/11/be-my-cat-film-for-anne-terrifying.html |title=Cinehouse: Be My Cat: A Film For Anne- A Terrifying Romanian Horror Film Reviewed By Sandra Harris |website=Cinehouseuk.blogspot.ro |date=2016-11-25 |access-date=2017-05-07}}</ref>
Found Footage Critic rated the movie 9.7 out of 10 and wrote that it's "a near perfect horror/thriller found footage film that sets itself apart in acting, cinematography, plot, tone, execution and production value. Found footage fan or not, this is a film you won’t want to miss! The acting of Adrian Țofei and the three supporting cast, Sonia Teodoriu, Florentina Hariton and Alexandra Stroe, is nothing short of exceptional, resulting in a genuineness that I have yet to encounter in any other found footage film to date.".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://foundfootagecritic.com/be-my-cat-a-film-for-anne-2015/review/ |title=Be My Cat: A Film for Anne (2015) Review |publisher=Found Footage Critic |date=2015-09-18 |access-date=2016-04-13}}</ref>
Țofei received praise for his acting performance as well, which has been described by critics as “incredible", “exceptionally strong", “authentic", “excellent throughout", “complex”, “powerfully convincing”, "captivating", "shockingly good", "haunting" and “frighteningly natural“.<ref name="theblood-shed.com">{{cite web|last=Macabre |first=Johnny |url=http://www.theblood-shed.com/revolutionary-dangerous-cat-film-anne-coming-vod-dvd/ |title="Revolutionary and dangerous" Be My Cat: A Film for Anne coming to VOD and DVD |website=Theblood-shed.com |date=2016-12-10 |access-date=2017-05-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bemycatmovie.com/reviews/|title=Reviews|date=September 1, 2014}}</ref> PopHorror included it "Top 5 Must-See Indie Horror Performances of the Decade"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pophorror.com/indie-horror-performances-list/|title=5 Must-See Indie Horror Performances of the Decade so far|last=Howdy|first=Captain|date=2018-06-14|website=PopHorror |access-date=2019-11-20}}</ref> and Artsploitation said that Țofei did "the most believable movie psychopath since [[Norman Bates]]."<ref name="theblood-shed.com"/> Severed Cinema wrote that Be My Cat is "expertly acted" and called it "horror's answer to the [[Dogme 95|Dogma 95]] filmmaking ideals".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-12-30|title=Be My Cat: A Film for Anne Review from TetroVideo!|url=https://severed-cinema.com/be-my-cat-a-film-for-anne-review-from-tetrovideo/|access-date=2021-08-11|website=Severed Cinema }}</ref>
===Awards and festivals===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Festival / Event (year)
! Award
! Recipient
! Result
! {{Abbreviation|Ref.|References}}
|-
|rowspan=4|[[A Night of Horror International Film Festival]] (2015)
|Best Film
|Adrian Țofei
|{{won}}
|<ref name="http://www.anightofhorror.com/anoh-winners-2015/"/>
|-
|Best Director
|Adrian Țofei
|{{nom}}
|<ref name=":3">{{Citation|title=Be My Cat: A Film for Anne: Awards & Nominations on IMDb|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3176980/awards|access-date=2019-11-20}}</ref>
|-
|Best Male Performance
|Adrian Țofei
|{{nom}}
|<ref name=":3" />
|-
|Best Female Performance
|Alexandra Stroe
|{{nom}}
|<ref name=":3" />
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Nashville Film Festival]] (2016)
|Grand Jury Prize
|Adrian Țofei
|{{nom}}
|<ref name="https://nashvillefilmfestival.org/news/2016-feature-award-winners/"/>
|-
|Special Jury Prize for Best Actor
|Adrian Țofei
|{{won}}
|<ref name="https://nashvillefilmfestival.org/news/2016-feature-award-winners/"/>
|-
|[[Fantasporto]] International Film Festival (2015)
|Best Film
|Adrian Țofei
|{{nom}}
|<ref name=":3" />
|-
| [[Transilvania International Film Festival]] (2015)
|Best Romanian Feature Film
|Adrian Țofei
|{{nom}}
|<ref name=":3" />
|-
|[[Anchorage International Film Festival]] (2018)
|Best Narrative Feature
|Adrian Țofei
|{{nom}}
|<ref name=":3" />
|-
| [[TromaDance]] Film Festival (2016)
|Official Selection
|Adrian Țofei
| n/a
|<ref name="http://www.troma.com/news/24203/the-17th-annual-tromadance-announces-feature-length-official-selections/"/>
|
|}
==See also==
* [[List of films featuring fictional films]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{Official website|https://bemycatmovie.com}}
* {{IMDb title|tt3176980|Be My Cat: A Film for Anne}}
* ''[https://letterboxd.com/film/be-my-cat-a-film-for-anne/ Be My Cat: A Film for Anne]'' on [[Letterboxd]]
[[Category:2010s English-language films]]
[[Category:2010s mockumentary films]]
[[Category:2010s psychological horror films]]
[[Category:2010s serial killer films]]
[[Category:2015 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:2015 films]]
[[Category:2015 horror films]]
[[Category:2015 independent films]]
[[Category:2015 psychological thriller films]]
[[Category:Camcorder films]]
[[Category:English-language Romanian films]]
[[Category:Films about filmmaking]]
[[Category:Films about snuff films]]
[[Category:Films about torture]]
[[Category:Films about violence against women]]
[[Category:Films about murder]]
[[Category:Films set in 2014]]
[[Category:Films shot in Romania]]
[[Category:Found footage films]]
[[Category:Mumblecore films]]
[[Category:Romanian horror films]]
[[Category:Romanian independent films]]
[[Category:English-language horror films]]
[[Category:English-language independent films]]
[[Category:English-language crime films]]
[[Category:English-language thriller films]]