Jacques Tourneur’s 1942 Cat People expertly uses sound to build tension. In both the bus and pool scenes, sound is distorted with echo and reverb effects to create uncertainty about its origin. The growling of Irena in panther form seems to come from all directions, undermining the conventional role of sound as an identifier of off-screen movements. The spatial sound design enhances the perceived remoteness of the basement swimming pool, with dripping water echoing off the walls. Tourneur’s use of silence in the bus scene is also highly effective. With no ambient sound, and only the sound of Alice’s high heels, her isolation is clear. Again, sound design creates a distinct sense of space — one in which an attack could come from any direction. The rustling of trees suggests the presence of the panther, but just as danger seems to be imminent, a bus arrives and Alice is whisked away.