THE BLACK CAT/THE FAT BLACK p***yCAT: Nice DVD release from Something Weird and Image Entertainment

[Chris K.]

I applaud the fine folks at Something Weird Video for their DVD Killer Kitty Double Feature THE BLACK CAT/THE FAT BLACK p***yCAT. Sure, SWV might have released some bad video copies, but I like the fact that their film quality is better on their DVD releases.

THE BLACK CAT (1965):
Based on the Edgar Allen Poe story, this concerns a mystery writer (Robert Frost) and his wife getting a pet cat on their anniversary. But, the writer soon sulks into becoming an alcoholic and after his pet cat bites him the loaded writer gouges out the cat's right eye. Later on, the writer hangs the cat and electrocutes the black feline which results the house burning down. The writer then spends a few months in a asylum and once when he is cured he befriends a black cat that has a bad eye (wink,wink). Well, if you know your Poe then you know that his wife gets killed, walled in, and a cat that spoils his plans! Very faithful to Poe's story and updating it to modern times, THE BLACK CAT is a stylish low budgeter shot in Texas by Harold Hoffman (a regular assistant and actor for Texan director Larry Buchanan). The widescreen 1.85:1 black&white photography is STUNNING. Performances are a bit wooden, but the atmosphere is all there and the film is still shocking to this day (I literally SCREAMED when I saw the scene of Frost holding the cat's bloody eye in his hand and when he slams an axe in his wife's head). A good horror flick.

THE FAT BLACK p***yCAT (1963):
OK film about people being murdered and the only witness to the killings is a "Fat Black p***ycat". Originally a so-so murder mystery, this was BADLY re-edited by Michael A. Ripps with new footage and a "Fat Black p***ycat" added in. Ripps version is effective, but needed more work. Also included is some footage that Ripps edited out of his version for supplimetal material.

Overall, a good DVD. But I was dissapointed by the fact that SWV added some X rated trailers for their "Kitty Kat Trailer" selections. The X rated trailers really HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TWO FEATURES. SWV also did this with their DVD release of TERROR IN THE MIDNIGHT SUN/INVASION OF THE ANIMAL PEOPLE by adding X rated Sweedish traliers for supplimental material so it does not suprise me. But a good DVD nonetheless.

Now all I need is my Limited Edition DVD of BAD TASTE to come in tomorrow and I will be all set.

Questions or comments anyone?

[StatCat]

I know swv released another double feature not too long ago think it was the child/I drink your blood. Nothing they have released recetly really interests me. I want to buy the bad taste dvd too but I think it sucks that anchor bay has to put one short documentery on another disc. That forces you to buy the limited edition if you really liked the movie. The last dvd I bought was opera with the soundtrack. Nice THX job was done on the movie and it was pretty much flawless except for the defective discs that were circulating.