Like everyone else, I am spending more time at home watching movies (in between e-learning with my students). So over the weekend, my husband and I were looking at all the choices on Amazon Prime, and we found The Uncanny. I love a good anthology horror film, but when that anthology features Peter Cushing AND cats, it is even better.
Wilbur Gray (Peter Cushing) wants Frank Richards (Ray Milland) to believe that he has evidence that cats have control over humans, but I argue the evidence shows humans committing some of the seven deadly sins and paying the ultimate price via feline angels of death. After examining the evidence, I think you will agree the cats are completely justified in their actions.
Story one "London 1912" is about the backlash of unbridled greed.
Miss Malkin (Joan Greenwood) has cut her greedy nephew out of her will and replaced him with her clowder of cats. Unbeknownst to Miss Malkin, her maid, Janet (Susan Penhaligon), is in cahoots with her nefarious nephew, Michael (Simon Williams). Janet destroys the lawyer's copy of the new will and plots with Michael to nab Miss Malkin's copy in her bedroom safe. What Janet fails to realize is Miss Malkin's kitties are constantly watching her every move. When Janet suffocates Miss Malkin after she catches her red-handed raiding her safe, the cats take vengeful action.ÂÂ
Story two "Quebec Province 1975" is about the perilous path of envy.
Poor Lucy (Katrina Holden) has lost both parents and is forced to go live with her uncaring aunt and nasty, jealous cousin, Angela (Chloe Franks). Her one saving grace is her loyal cat, Wellington and some interesting books on witchcraft. Well, Angela is jealous that Wellington wants nothing to do with her and Angela's father (Donald Pilon) shows kindness to the orphaned child, so she starts blaming things on Wellington as well as Lucy in order to make her mother, who already hates the cat, take Wellington away. Her underhanded scheme works and Wellington is carted off. To make things even worse, Lucy's aunt (Alexandra Stewart) burns her books, except for one that Lucy saved. Too bad for Angela, the book Lucy saved is just the thing she needs, along with Wellington making his way back, to take revenge on her bratty cousin.
Story three "Hollywood 1936" is about the negative repercussions of lust.
The aptly named Valentine De'ath (Donald Pleasence) is tired of his actress wife and co-star, Madeleine (Catherine Begin), so he sets up an on the set "accident" which kills her quite gruesomely, think "The Pit and the Pendulum" style. He then has his mistress, Edina (Samantha Eggar), take his deceased wife's place in the film. When Valentine so rudely brings Edina home to fool around, Madeleine's cat is not happy. Even more horrifying, Valentine murders the cat's kittens by flushing them down the toilet (Um, that really pissed me off). Well, it turns out that hell hath no fury like a kitty scorned. Kitties can orchestrate "accidents" too!
As the film wraps up, Wilbur Gray leaves his evidence with Frank Richards before making his way home with numerous cats following closely behind. Now, I still assert the people in those stories got what was coming to them. The cats were completely justified in their actions. Let's just call it kitty karma.
I'm always cheering in favor of the cats (we have five of our own).
kathryngrace, you obviously have good taste! Give your kitties a cuddle for me!
Mickster, I like to think so. 🙂
Okay, Mickster. I will concede that a significant amount of karma was portioned out by the felines in this one, but I’ve go to side with my boy P-Cush. Cats definitely control humans. Especially the one in our house.
Um, yeah, Dylan, cats do control humans. My sweet kitties certainly had me wrapped around their little paws. However, P-Cush should have recognized those schmucks had it coming.
Dogs have owners, cats have staff.
bdwilcox, LOL! Truth! My cats even had their own bedroom dubbed The Cat Suite!