The Uncanny

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?

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

In 1977, in Montreal, the scared writer Wilbur Gray (Peter Cushing) visits his publisher Frank Richards (Ray Milland) to disclose his new book about the evilness of cats. Wilbur tells that the felines are supernatural creatures, and that there is a saying in which the cat would be the devil in disguise. Wilbur tells three tales to illustrate his thoughts.

In 1912, in London, Miss Malkin (Joan Greenwood) is a wealthy woman that rewrites her will leaving her fortune to her cats rather than to her nephew Michael (Simon Williams). Her maid Janet (Susan Penhaligon), also mistress of Michael, steals one copy of the will from the lawyer's briefcase and tries to destroy the original copy which is kept in the safe. When Miss Malkin sees her attempt, Janet kills her and the cats revenge Miss Malkin.

In 1975, in the Province of Quebec, the orphan Lucy (Katrina Holden) comes to live with her aunt Mrs. Blake (Alexandra Stewart), her husband and her cuisine Angela (Chloe Frank) after the death of her parents in a plane crash. Lucy brings her only friend, the cat Wellington, but her mean cuisine forces her parents to get rid off Wellington. Lucy uses the witchcraft book of her mother to revenge Wellington.

In 1936, in Hollywood, the actor Valentine Death (Donald Pleasence) replaces the blade of a fake pendulum to kill his wife and also actress and give a chance to his young mistress and aspirant actress. The cat of his wife revenges her.

In spite of having great names, such as Ray Milland, Peter Cushing, Samantha Eggar and Donald Pleasence among others, the lead story of the afraid writer and his publisher is very weak and silly. With regard to the three tales, the first one is too long; the second one is far the best; and the last one is only reasonable. The soundtrack is very repetitive, monotonous and boring. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "A Maldição dos Gatos" ("The Curse of the Cats")

I found this very interesting and Peter Cushing is great in this role. Some of it was better than other but it really paid out once you got the hang of the theme about the cats and the whole story revolving around that. Cats are indeed very strange beings. I totally agree with the whole premise and psychology of the thing. Very good movie indeed. Rather exciting actually. I was amazed at some of the special effects also which are quite good and the acting is credible. All thins being equal, I really liked this movie and as a fantasy fan I found it to be a good experience. Clearly the storytelling in this movie is very good and, say, in the tradition of The Twilight Zone, Night Gallery and other great tales of short fantasy.

THE UNCANNY is another horror anthology film from Amicus studios. In the wraparound story, Wilbur (Peter Cushing) is a man with a distinct fear of cats. The three tales he tells to his friend Frank (Ray Milland) illustrate the grounds for his terror.

In LONDON 1912- The aged Miss Malkin (Joan Greenwood) decides to leave her fortune to her large number of cats. Of course, her greedy nephew and the unscrupulous maid (Simon Williams and Susan Penhaligon) have other ideas, leading to skullduggery, death, and ferocious feline intervention! This one has a nice, EC comics-style ending!

In QUEBEC PROVINCE 1975- Young Lucy (Katrina Holden Bronson) and her cat, Wellington, move in with her aunt (Alexandra Stewart) after the passing of her parents. Lucy's insufferably bratty cousin, Angela (Chloe Franks) does her best to make life miserable, not knowing that there's far more to Lucy -and Wellington!- than she or her oblivious parents could imagine. For lovers of occult creepiness and comeuppance!

In HOLLYWOOD 1936- When horror movie actor, Valentine De'ath (Donald Pleasence) loses his wife and latest co-star, Madeleine (Catherine Begin) in a tragic "accident", he suggests her stand-in, Edina Hamilton (Samantha Eggar) for the part. Of course, all is not as it appears to be, and Valentine and Edina are in for a very rude awakening, delivered by Madeleine's faithful, highly intelligent kitty. Pleasence and Eggar have a blast hamming it up for this segment! Co-stars John Vernon.

The wraparound concludes, proving all too late that Wilbur has good reason to be afraid. This is quite good, and arguably the best killer cat movie ever made!...