Black Cat DVD

Advantages: Nice clear print of a fulci classic
Disadvantages: Silly plot involving communication with the dead

...Lucio Fulci's 1981 movie The Black Cat, a slightly advanced variation of Edgar Allen Poe's novel of the same name starring horror legends Patrick Magee and David Warbeck. Made just after Fulci's four most successful movies (The Beyond, Zombie Flesh Eaters AKA Zombi, City Of The Living Dead, and House By The Cemetery) this was the last clearly legible movie of the talented directors history. Although I'm not stating the movie is 100% fluid, with ...
...clearly so without permission) The Black Cat follows events in a small village just off the River Thames. For many moons things have been going peacefully in this country idyll; but nutty professor Robert Miles (nothing to do with music) played by Patrick Magee has started trying to communicate with the recent dead, much to the distress of his little black cat. But this is no petty feline, it seems that this cat is playing an active part in the string ... Read review

Advantages: Entertaining, easy to watch
Disadvantages: Hard to take the plot too seriously

...film? I needn't have worried. Black Cat is not without sex and nudity, but it is a very small part of the film and the 'horror' elements are tame compared to, for example, some of the Korean horror films I have seen. Based on a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, the film is about killer cats. As such, it almost goes without saying that the plot is a bit daft. Perhaps because I love cats so much myself, I couldn't bring myself to believe what I was seeing ...
...is quite a lot of black humour in the film and this made it very easy to watch. Plus the Englishness of the setting is stressed throughout - I don't know where it was filmed, but it really is picture-perfect, particularly the house in which the Professor lives. Patrick Magee plays the Professor and I thought hammed the role up quite a bit. There were lots of looks of wide-eyed terror that told of the horrors yet to come. This was hardly the role ... Read review

Advantages: The Best Account of the FInal Available on DVD
Disadvantages: The sound and picture aren't great

...From a Die hard Sunderland fan undoubtedly the best day in Sunderland Association Football Club History, when they took on Leeds in the 1973 Fa Cup Final. After defeating Luton Town 2 - 0 in the quarter final and Arsenal 2 - 1 in the Semis, Sunderland's Cup Final Slot was secured. Leeds on the other hand defeated Derby County 1 - 0 in the Quarter Finals and beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 - 1 in the semis. On the 5th May 1973 the teams took the pitch in a hard fought encounter. Then in the 31st Minute up popped the late, great Ian Portefield to bag, what would turn out to be the winning goal in the Fa Cup Final, to bag it for the Black Cats. This DVD contains an account of this close caught epic thriller that was the 1973 FA Cup FInal.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: A Great Nights Horror Viewing
Disadvantages: One of those films you can only watch the once.

...The Black Cat is yet another great Lucio Fulci movie, filmed in both England and Italy it centres around, suprisingly enough a black cat. The film is a reworking of an Edgar Allen Poe story, moved forward to 1980 Middle England. The film is memorable to me for the opening five minutes, a man climbs into his Austin Maxi and heads of down the road, shortly after driving off he realises he is not alone, a homicidal black cat is sitting in the back of his car. Instead of pulling over and letting the cat out, he engages in a fight with the cat that brings around his rather quick exit from the movie. The black cat then heads off over walls and the roof's of several houses to some rather jolly music. The Cat belongs to a rather unpleasant chap who records the sounds of the dead with a special device attatched to an ordinary microphone which... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Great who-dunnit style movie
Disadvantages: Lacking in gore

...attachment. On the reverse is the less hostile cover used to promote the movie back in the day with the movies star George Hilton looking in a stern way to a woman sat opposite. The back of the case has the amusing "Sorry my digger slipped!" comment in reference to an incident that occurs prior to the movies opening titles. The DVD has trailers for the following Shameless releases: What Have They Done To Your Daughter, Night Train Murders, Torso, Baba Yaga, Ratman, and The Black Cat. As is usual the DVD also includes the trailer for the feature itself in this case My Dear Killer My Dear Killer is available from play.com for £9.99 or slightly higher from the likes of Amazon, or high street HMV's. Spencer Hawken 04/08... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful