Film Theory: The Dark Secret of Jellicle Cats *CREEPY* (CATS 2019)

I went to see CATS and it was an experience I won't soon forget. The opening song alone, well, that's everything you need to know! Jellicle songs for Jellicle cats - it makes perfect sense right? WRONG! It makes NO SENSE! What even IS a Jellicle anyway? That question has been bugging me since seeing the movie - no, since seeing the stage show years back. Today, we are solving the mystery of Jellicle cats once and for all!

#CATS #JellicleCats #Jellicle #CATS2019 #CATSMovie #BeautifulGhosts #TaylorSwift #FilmTheory #Matpat

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Credits:
Writer: Matthew Patrick and Schyler Martin  
Editors: Danial "BanditRants" Keristoufi, Koen Verhagen, and Forrest Lee
Assistant Editor: AlyssaBeCrazy
Sound Editor: Yosi Berman

Sources

[Dawnishere]

This is why I love Game/Film Theory turning basic, normal stuff into dark and twisted horrors.

[DarkGaming-xjly]

Wish you had of included the review of cats: "I'm not a cat person, and after seeing the film adaptation of cats, I'm not quite sure I'm a movie person either"

[BobbinRobbin]

this is a weird sequel to that "fifthy shades of grey" video.

[reversedinfinity]

"I guess we're all a little bit jellical now"
Seeing as barely anyone went to see it, I'd say the damage is contained

[thegayone]

What MatPat theories usually are:

A) There's an evil killer bunny
B) The villain is the good guy
C) Maths and maths and maths and maths and maths
D) It's actually a cult

[OhSweetDarlingAkuma]

The Netflix show Unbreakable has an episode dedicated to Cats: The Musical and portrays it pretty well as a cult

[Prospitfox]

Surprised you didn’t mention the thing jellicle cats all have in common: they’re specifically described in the song as SMALL, as in... RUNTS of the litter. The cats that would be most vulnerable early in life; more susceptible to sickness, less likely to be fed as kittens, maybe even being “abandoned” (they often need milk longer than other cats, so by the time most kittens would be separating naturally from their mothers the runts would still need them), slow development... this is the key thing that made them all perfect targets

[sophgrayson]

Every search history can be explained by just saying
"I was writing a book."

[sammieinc.]

Matpat: Cats is about a cult!


Theater kids, off in the corner: Why do you think we like it? *It's relatable*

[ifinnalychangedmyprofilepi]

"Loyal theorists" you say, showering us with compliments and indicating how we should be loyal. AND then introduceing prize of being shouted out ehh...

Sure where do i sign up

[lalaland]

Now let's try to imagine how people who had never even heard about the musical reacted when they saw the movie. Or even just the trailer for that matter.

[hannanags]

Sometimes Matpat's theories make even more sense that the original plot I was led to believe and they help me find new meanings in every movie. I know that you're supposed to interpret movies to how you understand their theme but Matpat's just seem to hit the nail right on the head everytime and I LOVE believing his theories rather than the original plot.

[KadenMacKay]

“I don’t know what’s worse: the idea that this poor cat is being tricked into joining a dangerous cult, or the slant rhymes that are being used in the song’s lyrics.” PREACH

[TheLizbliz]

I know this is mainly focusing on the new version, but I think you should also consider this: originally Old Deuteronomy is a male cat (they clearly casted Judi Dench cause she has history with the musical, and it's one of the top roles in the story) and as you said the lyrics say she has live 99 lives, but originally the song goes,


"Old Deuteronomy's lived a long time
He's a cat who has lived many lives in succession–"


then not long after goes


"Old Deuteronomy's buried nine wives
And more i am tempted to say ninety-nine–"


it goes with the cult theory cause there have been several accounts of cult leaders having multiple partners such as Warren Jeffs, David Koresh, and Pazuzu Algarad.


-pls notice this matpai-

[annadavis]

As a theater kid... this is literally how I explain the musical to people who don't know about it, tbh

[makaniwebb]

It sounds like Step 3, dangling the prize, is the one you need to be most aware of. That seems to be where the differences start between cults and regular friendships.

[Kelpeon]

The Cats Movie Scared Everyone, Even Furrys.

[cent]

I think more people are interested in this video, than the real Cats movie.

[lindahaws]

matt: man this movie is so bad


also matt pat: BUT ITS ALSO A SACRIFICIAL CULT OF BRAINWASHED...

[sophiea]

Jennyanydots: *dancing and singing about her life as a jellicle cat*


Me: Ma’am this is a Wendy’s