In between all his gory highlights of that period ("The Zombie Flesh Eaters", "The Beyond", "City of the Living Dead"...), the masterful Lucio Fulci this man is a God in my book took the time to direct this stylish, Poe-inspired thriller, supposedly as a routine mandate he didn't really care for. Devoted or not, Fulci delivers another fascinating gem of Italian horror cinema, mean and bloody but mostly emphasizing on suspense and morbid atmosphere. The titular black cat is presented as a full cast member (I'm surprised she's not credited on the DVD-cover!), terrorizing the inhabitants of a small English town. The animal's owner, a tormented spiritual medium, is suspected of committing the strange murders in town but it looks like the cat is primarily HIS nemesis and he can't get rid of the devilish no matter what he tries. "The Black Cat" is a compelling film despite the silly premise and many plot holes and it's the only Fulci film in which you pray for a little less gore so that you can focus on the substance more! The gore still can't be ignored, though, as we're treated to impalement, skin-melting fires, a nasty car accident and multiple virulent cat-attacks! The sequence in which the feline stalks (and kills) a drunk villager who saw too much is almost like a lesson in genuine tension. Bravo Lucio! Patrick Magee ("A Clockwork Orange" and multiple B-horror classics) looks familiar with his role of crazy cat owner and Mimsy Farmer ("Autopsy") is very good as the American photographer unraveling the supernatural mystery. To finish up, there are some neat and unexpected plot twists, a moody score and some very imaginative camera-work. Although visually less overpowering than Fulci's other contemporary achievements, "the Black Cat" surely ranks amongst his best work. The ending remains fantastic, no matter how many times I've seen it already in other Gothic horror movies. Recommended bigtime!
Review of The Black Cat
