SHADOW OF THE CAT (1961)
Article #958 by Dave Sindelar
Viewing Date: 10-29-2003
Posting Date: 3-27-2004
Directed by John Gilling
Featuring Conrad Phillips, Barbara Shelley, Andre Morell

When an old woman is murdered for her fortune, her cat witnesses the event and exacts vengeance on the murderers.

It’s easy to understand why cats figure prominently in horror movies; there is something a little unnerving about their display of fierce independence in the face of their much larger owners. Nonetheless, the idea that people might be frightened at the thought of vengeance from a cat is a little silly, and even though there are moments here that play up the humor of the situation, there are other moments that are unintentionally funny. Nonetheless, there are enough interesting touches here that it makes for a decent watch; in particular, I like the fact that the floor of the attic is unstable, as it makes for an interesting climax to the movie.