The Uncanny

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.

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.

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!