Das Unheimliche

Not a film for ailurophobics (those afraid of cats) - this film might add to their fears because of the nature of the film. The film is about cats, cats that get revenge.

The story of Miss Malkin is quite good. BUT what I don't know is how long she was dead and Janet was hiding in the house but she was hungry to spread cat food on her bread - that tells me she must have been there for two or three days hiding. Not only was Janet hungry - so were those vengeful cats.

The orphan Lucy my favorite of the trilogy. I cannot blame Lucy for what she did to her cousin Angela. I did not like Angela at all nor did I like Mrs. Blake (Angela's mother and Lucy's aunt). And Wellington the cat was not pleased with them either.

The last tale of Valentine De'ath is quite a good comedy-horror. I love the reference to Poe in this one - that pendulum! There are quite a few cat puns too that befit the story. The cat will have your tongue in the end.

Now the parts with Peter Cushing and Ray Milland are actually the best part of the film because it's interesting what happens with the two men, the evidence and the book.

Worth watching if you like horror, cats and a good starring cast. I love those cats!

7.5/10

An anthology containing three tales used by a writer (played by Peter Cushing) in an attempt to warn people that cats are the real rulers of the world. The first story involves a woman who, after suffocating to death her tyrannical employer, is trapped in the house by the employer's vengeful army of cats. The second story is based around the daughter of a witch who comes to live with an adopted family, complete with her late mother's black cat. The third story involves a cat exacting revenge upon its sadistic owner. Though some of the special effects leave something to be desired, the first two stories are well-written and entertaining. The third tale is only okay, but overall the anthology is well worth seeing.

The Uncanny (1977, Dir. Denis Heroux)

Wilbur Gray visits Frank Richards so he can get his book published. This book Gray has written are about cats. Cats watching everyone and controlling everything. He mentions the stories in the book are all true, and gives three examples. The first involves the murder of a cat-loving old woman who gives her entire fortune in her will to her cats. Not everyone is happy about the wills, but would have to get past the cats to get the the will. The second story is a tale of black magic between two girls and the third story is a tale of murderous revenge...by a cat.

How many horror movies do you get where cats are the murder suspect? Not many. That's why this movie could come off being simply a bit silly. It isn't very scary, with not many jumps (most of the jumps rely on cats paws appearing). Plus, it seems more comedic than frighting. But, it is still very fun to watch. There's not many films you see like this, and although it won't win any positive awards, i found it very entertaining to watch.

"Wellington? Wellington? Where are you Wellington?" - Lucy (Katrina Holden)

I only saw the second segment all the way through. I just ordered this film off the internet, so when I see the whole thing, I'll make additional comments. The second segment features an orphaned little girl sent to stay with relatives who have a girl a few years older. The little girl has a black cat. The cat gives the mother the creeps, but she doesn't have the heart to make the girl get rid of the cat after having lost her parents. The older girl starts out with minor verbal taunts, but gets progressively meaner as the story progresses and gleefully laughs as she uses a remote control toy airplane to repeatedly hit the little girl with it. The older girl's wicked laughing pitted against the hysterically frightened little girl's crying made me cringe in horror and it made me really mad. I usually don't like black cats either, but when the little girl finally uses the cat to exact revenge on the other girl, I was cheering for the cat!

The horror anthology has fallen out of favour in the last few decades which is something of a shame, they could be wildly entertaining and some horror concepts (especially those which lack budget which is pretty clearly the case here) work better as short vignettes rather than full length features. They also star some great character actors who obviously come in for a days work, here we have the excellent Peter Cushing, Donald Pleasance, John Vernon and Ray Milland. It's ironic that after making this Cushing and Pleasance both went on to mega success with Star Wars and Halloween. What I don't get is why people reviewing this say that the concept is that cats are 'evil'? In every story all they try to do is either protect or avenge the wrongs suffered by their beloved human keepers? (I almost used the word 'masters' but this film establishes what we all suspected, it's actually the other way around). Plus the world secretly run by cats seems to be a pretty good place, I mean what are they going to force us all to do, give them extra helpings of cream? All dogs to be kept on leads? More belly rubs?