The Black Cat (1981)

A professor with the psychic ability to communicate with the dead uses his powers on his pet cat in order to take vengeance upon his enemies.

Director:

Lucio Fulci

Writers:

Biagio Proietti (story), Edgar Allan Poe (story: "The Black Cat")

Stars:

Patrick Magee, Mimsy Farmer, David Warbeck

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Patrick Magee	...	Prof. Robert Miles
Mimsy Farmer	...	Jill Trevers
David Warbeck	...	Inspector Gorley
Al Cliver	...	Sgt. Wilson
Dagmar Lassander	...	Lillian Grayson
Bruno Corazzari	...	Ferguson
Geoffrey Copleston	...	Inspector Flynn
Daniela Doria	...	Maureen Grayson (as Daniela Dorio)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lucio Fulci	...	Doctor (scenes deleted)

Storyline

Robert Miles is a psychic that can communicate with the dead. He also has the ability to control the mind of his cat (who incidentally is black). He uses the cat to take vengeance upon his enemies. A photographer who happen to be working for the local constables begins to notice cat scratches on some of the accident victims that are turning up. She pays a visit to Miles (kitty just happens to be present) and conveys her suspicions of the cat's involvement in some of the local deaths. Kitty doesn't like this at all, and it's his turn to control the mind of owner Miles to take it's vengeance out.

---

Plot Keywords:

cult film | grindhouse film | italian horror | cat | black cat | 

---

Taglines:

When you hear this cat breathing down your neck...START PRAYING!!!

---

Genres:

Horror

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

10 February 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Black Cat

Filming Locations:

RPA - Elios Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Italian International Film, Selenia Cinematografica

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Lucio Fulci has stated on numerous occasions that this film was actually directed as a favor to the producer.

---

Goofs

During one of the later scenes when the cat is terrorizing Jill you can see a crew member's hands holding onto the cat.

---

Quotes

[Sergeant Wilson sees Jill coming out of an underground crypt]
Sergeant Wilson: Miss, let me give you some advice, don't go down there anymore.
Jill Trevers: Why not?
Sergeant Wilson: My Grandad used to tell me when I was a lad that the dead like to be left alone. They're not very hospitable.

---

Alternate Versions

The Anchor Bay release is the complete, uncut version of the film.

---

Connections

Version of The Black Cat (1941)

User Reviews

Surprisingly good.. my favorite Fulci so far

This was a good version of the Poe story. Not quite as bloody as Fulci's other flicks, and it didn't really need to be. It tells its tale of a man who records the dead conversing (!) while his cat commits murders convincingly, and the way they present the cat as the master over the man is very fetching. The only problem with this movie-- (shudder) the EYEBALL CAM!! Wayyyy too many close-ups of a man's eyes (pause for 3-5 seconds), then to the cat's eyes (pause another 3-5 seconds) and repeat ad nauseum.

Arrrgh!!! But if you can put up with that here and there, you'll be pleased with Fulci's best offering (in my opinion).