Cathy’s Curse - Cathy’s Curse( UHD & Blu Ray) [Severin - 2024]Cathy’s Curse is a 1977 horror movie directed by Eddy Matalon (Sweet Killing, Blackout and the Brigitte Bardot TV movie) and starring Alan Scarfe (Double Impact, Lethal Weapon 3 and Kingdom Hospital), Beverley Murray (East End Hustle, The Moderns and Street Smart), Randi Allen (in her only movie role), Dorothy Davis (Shivers, Night Fright and The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane) and Mary Morter (The Wicker Park, The Little Girl Who Loves Down the Lane and Dead End). This new 4k UHD release from Severin Films features two different versions of the movie both scanned in 4k from the recently rediscovered original negatives. We get both the American R-rated release and the director’s cut of the movie, and for the purpose of this review, I will be watching the longer 91-minute director’s cut of the movie.
The movie starts in 1947, the wife of Robert Grimble has fled the family home with her son George, leaving behind daughter Laura. Robert arrives home to find Laura alone, and in his rage he and Laura get in the car and head out into the night in an attempt to find them. After a rabbit runs in front of the car, Laura grabs the wheel, the car crashes into a snowbank and bursts into flames, burning the pair alive. We then jump forward 30 years in time, when George (Scarfe), his wife, Vivian (Murray) and their young daughter, Cathy (Allen) return to his family home while Vivian recovers from a breakdown she experienced after having a miscarriage. As with young children in a big old house, Cathy begins to explore her new surroundings and finds a doll in the attic alongside a portrait of her aunt Laura. Meanwhile, Vivian strikes up a friendship with two of her neighbours, one of whom is a psychic medium (Morter), who has a startling vision of Laura and her father’s death. At the same time Cathy attacks one of the neighbour’s children with a sliver of metal, however, this is merely the beginning of Cathy’s descent into vicious cruelty as she develops harmful telekinetic powers that she inflicts upon those around her. After Cathy’s nanny, Mary (Davis) falls from an open window, just as her mother arrives home from a shopping trip, her behaviour continues to worsen causing her mother to descend ever further into depression. Vivian fears that Cathy may be possessed by supernatural forces that have lain dormant in the house awaiting a host, however George fears that she is delusional and dismisses her fears. What really is going on with Cathy and how much does this have to do with her family past? Is Vivian genuinely delusional because of her depression or is there more going on?
Cathy’s Curse suffered a lot of negative criticism upon its release, being labelled as just another Exorcist or Omen clone, however, over the years, its reputation has grown, and it is now viewed as a much-loved supernatural horror movie in its own right. It doesn’t break any new ground, however it is an effective chiller with some solid performances from the cast, especially Randi Allen as Cathy, who never made another appearance on screen, she has since come out to state that she and her brother, Bryce only starred in Cathy’s Curse to help support their single mother. She never had any further desire to star in movies. If you check the reviews on IMDB, the movie could appear to be far weaker than it is, I’m not entirely sure why it has received so many awful reviews as, whilst it’s no Exorcist, it’s certainly got enough good stuff going on that it deserves a lot more credit.
This new UHD and Blu-ray set from Severin is a thing of great beauty, it features as already mentioned the two different cuts of the movie, both in 4k, as well as an audio commentary from Brian Collins and Simon Barrett that works with the theatrical cut. The second disc features a good selection of bonus material including interviews with director Matalon, Scarfe and Randi Allen and there is a lovely booklet with contributions from both Collins and Barrett.
Overall, Cathy’ Curse is an excellent release from probably the best company out there at the moment. If you love 70s supernatural horror and have a penchant specifically for films with creepy possessed children then this one is definitely for you. Darren Charles
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