An Egyptian mummy protected from reincarnating as a vampire with eternal life is set free. Mysterious deaths follow, with bodies drained of blood and claw marks on their throat. The police are mystified, but with the help of a professor, things begin to crystalize. The movie is extremely atmospheric, especially in regards to a mystic, Gale Sondergaard, who owns a magic shop. She absolutely is the best thing in "The Cat Creature" and steals every scene she is in. The story itself does hold a surprise, once the police figure out the significance of a solid gold amulet. Creepy in a way that doesn't rely on C.G.I. or jump scares, the movie can be enjoyed for it's mysterious storyline and the significant presence of a great actress from the past. - MERK
25 Reviews
Classy and fun if unremarkable TV horror feature
Bloodwank17 April 2012
The first made for television collaboration between Psycho scribe and all round pulp horror titan Robert Bloch with classy b-horror veteran Curtis Harrington, The Cat Creature is a charming if inconsequential affair that neither reaches the levels of its influences nor surpasses its status as a made for television production, but is still perfectly good stuff for a dull afternoon left sparing. The outlandish plot sees an antique theft from a deceased collector result in the release of a murderous acolyte of the Egyptian cat goddess Bast, and cop Lieutenant Marco teaming up with Professor Roger Edmonds to figure out what's going on. Then there's occult shop owner Hester Black and her assistant Rena Carter getting involved in things as well. The vibe hearkens back to horror and detection stories of yesteryear, particularly the 1940's and Cat People, with a measured pace and restrained action as well as certain pleasing subtleties. Director Harrington pulls off a few effectively creepy stalking sequences and deploys the titular beast in fun if slightly repetitive fashion. Fortunately the story has a few twists and turns so things never get dull, although they fail to get all that heated either. The cast is fairly well handled and thread things through nicely, Stuart Whitman is suitably gruff and no nonsense as Lt. Marco, Meredith Baxter paints Rena in sympathetic shades of confusion, fear and yearning, while David Hedison takes a while to warm up and loose his awkwardness but is still likable as Prof. Edmonds, a classic academic good guy figuring things out with open-mindedness and learning. Best though is Oscar winner Gale Sondergaard as Hester, crooked and controlling, time soured and radiating low key negativity yet at the same time open and helpful. She steals every one of her scenes and brings an unaffected old fashioned class to things that is perhaps the films greatest asset. It's just a shame that the film doesn't really have enough in the way of atmosphere or shocks (being rather tame even by made for television horror standards), so for all that it has in the way of style and vacant likability it just isn't all that compelling. Certainly watchable, but definitely a film for fans of television horror of the era rather than more casual fans, who may quite reasonably be bored and unimpressed. As a fan of such horror then I give The Cat Creature 6/10 and partially recommend it to other such fans, but it is far from essential.
Worth watching for the old-time actors.
patlange-413 February 1999
This is a very silly story, but I loved seeing a very young Meredith Baxter along with gothic/horror film regulars of the 30s and 40s such as John Carradine, Peter Lorre and Gale Sondergaard. Oh, and Charlie Chan's Number One Son Keye Luke.
Great Cast, Good Idea but Poor Execution
Michael_Elliott25 October 2012
The Cat Creature (1973)
** (out of 4)
An antique collector dies and soon afterwards a thief steals a gold amulet with the face of a cat on it. Soon several people who come in contact with it are murdered or commit suicide, which leads a detective and a college professor into the investigation. THE CAT CREAURE comes from director Curtis Harrington and writer Robert Bloch and it features an all-star cast but in the end you can't help but see this as being pretty minor. The biggest problem is the story, which has a few interesting ideas but nothing good is ever done with it. I thought the film got off to an extremely good start and the ending was good but everything in the middle was pretty much a bore. The entire investigation just seems so one note and there's never any energy behind it. Even with such a short running time the film really did drag badly in spots, which is a real shame because there are some good things here. One such thing is the alternate way of looking at the legend of a mummy and the curse that comes with it. The actual look of the mummy was good and I also thought the film did a good job with how the cats were used. I'm not going to spoil what happens at the end but it's actually a nice little twist. Another good thing is that the cast is great. We get Meredith Baxter doing a good job playing a woman who gets involved with the case and David Hedison is also good as the college professor. Gale Sondergaard (THE BLACK CAT '41), Keye Luke, Kent Smith, Stuart Whitman and Peter Lorre, Jr. are also in the cast and are fun to see. Then we have the great John Carradine in a quick minute role but he gets to act along side a prostitute midget so here's another weird one for the actor's filmmography. THE CAT CREATURE has a few bright ideas but sadly they never really materialize into anything watchable. Fans of the cast might want to check it out but others should stay clear.
** (out of 4)
An antique collector dies and soon afterwards a thief steals a gold amulet with the face of a cat on it. Soon several people who come in contact with it are murdered or commit suicide, which leads a detective and a college professor into the investigation. THE CAT CREAURE comes from director Curtis Harrington and writer Robert Bloch and it features an all-star cast but in the end you can't help but see this as being pretty minor. The biggest problem is the story, which has a few interesting ideas but nothing good is ever done with it. I thought the film got off to an extremely good start and the ending was good but everything in the middle was pretty much a bore. The entire investigation just seems so one note and there's never any energy behind it. Even with such a short running time the film really did drag badly in spots, which is a real shame because there are some good things here. One such thing is the alternate way of looking at the legend of a mummy and the curse that comes with it. The actual look of the mummy was good and I also thought the film did a good job with how the cats were used. I'm not going to spoil what happens at the end but it's actually a nice little twist. Another good thing is that the cast is great. We get Meredith Baxter doing a good job playing a woman who gets involved with the case and David Hedison is also good as the college professor. Gale Sondergaard (THE BLACK CAT '41), Keye Luke, Kent Smith, Stuart Whitman and Peter Lorre, Jr. are also in the cast and are fun to see. Then we have the great John Carradine in a quick minute role but he gets to act along side a prostitute midget so here's another weird one for the actor's filmmography. THE CAT CREATURE has a few bright ideas but sadly they never really materialize into anything watchable. Fans of the cast might want to check it out but others should stay clear.
The Cat Creature is an uneven horror film with a promising premise and circumstances but falls short in executing impactful kill scenes
kevin_robbins1 October 2023
I recently watched The Cat Creature (1973) on Tubi. The storyline revolves around a wealthy man's death, which is quickly followed by a series of murders committed by a mysterious, cat serial killer. What dark forces did the man's demise unleash into society, and can anyone put an end to the bloodshed?
Directed by Curtis Harrington (Ruby), the film features a cast including Meredith Baxter (All the President's Men), David Hedison (The Young and the Restless), Gale Sondergaard (The Mark of Zorro), John Carradine (The Grapes of Wrath) and Keye Luke (Alice).
The feline performer in this film delivers an outstanding performance. "The Cat Creature" boasts a unique storyline but offers limited horror effects. The horror scenes primarily consist of glimpses of the cat, quick flashes of shadows on the wall, and the suggestion of a cat figure killing a man. There are no graphic depictions of bodies, kill sequences, or actual blood splatter; everything is left to the viewer's imagination. However, it's worth noting that the film does deliver a compelling plot twist in the end, along with a memorable final scene.
In conclusion, The Cat Creature is an uneven horror film with a promising premise and circumstances but falls short in executing impactful kill scenes. I would give this a 4/10 and suggest considering other options for your horror movie night.
Directed by Curtis Harrington (Ruby), the film features a cast including Meredith Baxter (All the President's Men), David Hedison (The Young and the Restless), Gale Sondergaard (The Mark of Zorro), John Carradine (The Grapes of Wrath) and Keye Luke (Alice).
The feline performer in this film delivers an outstanding performance. "The Cat Creature" boasts a unique storyline but offers limited horror effects. The horror scenes primarily consist of glimpses of the cat, quick flashes of shadows on the wall, and the suggestion of a cat figure killing a man. There are no graphic depictions of bodies, kill sequences, or actual blood splatter; everything is left to the viewer's imagination. However, it's worth noting that the film does deliver a compelling plot twist in the end, along with a memorable final scene.
In conclusion, The Cat Creature is an uneven horror film with a promising premise and circumstances but falls short in executing impactful kill scenes. I would give this a 4/10 and suggest considering other options for your horror movie night.
I like the film, but I think cats were abused filming this.
Rich3598 December 2014
I haven't seen this movie since I was a kid in 1973,and have looked for it for years. Recently found it on You Tube. I remember being impressed with the eeriness film and the scary visuals of the ending, even though you know who the priestess is. However, what lessens the films enjoyment for me seeing it again is the appearance of abuse of cats, with an unnecessary plot device of alley cats surrounding and eventually attacking the priestess. It appears the cats were starved to congregate around the victims and thrown onto the victims, a lot like what was done with rats in Willard. I am glad we live in more animal conscience times. 2.5 out of 4 stars
Meredith Baxter and John Carradine
kevinolzak27 July 2017
Warning: Spoilers
1973's "The Cat Creature" marked the first of two collaborations between producer Douglas Cramer with director Curtis Harrington and screenwriter Robert Bloch, followed a year later by "The Dead Don't Die," each a rather obvious homage to old style Hollywood horror of the subtle kind, perfect TV fodder for the 70s. Generally regarded as the better of the pair, this item gathers together a fine cast of veterans, mostly in small roles, in an all too predictable mystery plot headlined by Stuart Whitman's lieutenant and David Hedison's archaeologist. We first encounter Kent Smith, from the 1942 "Cat People," as the appraiser who becomes the first victim of the Egyptian mummy, which assumes human form after draining the blood of its prey, a vampire that prowls the night as a black cat and not a bat. The list of casualties wipes out nearly the entire cast, each one in possession of the mysterious golden amulet that has kept the mummy's spirit from returning to life over the centuries. Keye Luke plays the thief who pawns off the amulet, Gale Sondergaard the curio dealer who dabbles in the occult when not fencing stolen goods, Milton Parsons the coroner who reveals how each corpse has been completely drained of blood, John Abbott (the title role in 1945's "The Vampire's Ghost") the scholar who discovers the translation on the coveted amulet. Peter Lorre Jr. was no relation to the late Peter Lorre, just a pretender named Eugene Weingand who fortunately went on to complete obscurity. In the central role, Meredith Baxter never seems totally comfortable, a replacement for both Diahann Carroll and Patty Duke. As the Hotel Clerk who is present for the death screams of the unfortunate thief, John Carradine is as always a delight, paired with a dwarf prostitute because the censors wouldn't allow Gale Sondergaard's character to be a lesbian!
Harrington goes old school for horror thrills
udar5524 April 2013
An old attorney is in charge of cataloging a wealthy estate and is later found murdered near a mummy sarcophagus. On the case is Lt. Marco (Stuart Whitman), who quickly finds out that an amulet of Baast, the Egyptian cat goddess, was stolen. He enlists the help of Prof. Roger Edmonds (David Hedison) and they soon find themselves centering on an occult shop run by Hester Black (Gale Sondergaard) and her new assistant Rena Carter (Meredith Baxter). She admits a thief (Keye Luke) came by to try and sell the amulet, but she turned him away as she is out of the fencing game. Meanwhile, folks all over L.A. are being murdered with cat-like scratches found on their bodies. This ABC Movie of the Week was a return to TV for director Curtis Harrington (after his theatrical features WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH HELEN?, WHOEVER SLEW AUNITE ROO? and THE KILLING KIND). He definitely was looking to get into the Val Lewton mold a la THE CAT PEOPLE and it is pretty successful. The script by Robert Bloch moves quickly and there are some great performances in here. The best is Sondergaard as Hester Black, which might be one of the greatest names ever. Another interesting thing is Harrington, who was gay, fills the film with subtle gay moments (like Hester always asking her younger co-workers out for dinner and getting rejected).
A Poorly Executed Film
Rainey-Dawn5 February 2017
Another "well it had potential" type of films. It's not all that watchable despite the big names, familiar faces that appear in it. I love the idea behind the film: A mummy, the Egyptian goddess Bastet and cats getting revenge. But the way it was written and filmed really sucked more than any vampire. I'm sorry but the film is barely watchable.
Meredith Baxter and John Carradine are the real reasons to watch out side of the cats, some Egyptian looking art and briefly a mummy. It's a film I should like but I don't - and I love a lot of "B" to "Z" grade films.
Not a recommended horror film from me. But if you happen to catch it on one night and there's nothing else to watch then I would tell you well it's better than nothing if you're a horror fan.
3.5/10
Meredith Baxter and John Carradine are the real reasons to watch out side of the cats, some Egyptian looking art and briefly a mummy. It's a film I should like but I don't - and I love a lot of "B" to "Z" grade films.
Not a recommended horror film from me. But if you happen to catch it on one night and there's nothing else to watch then I would tell you well it's better than nothing if you're a horror fan.
3.5/10
Ghastly and spooky film about an Egyptian curse terrorizing city of Los Angeles
ma-cortes25 February 2022
A routine but passable horror movie about Egyptian possession with a surprising final twist , including chills , thrills , turns and eerie events . When a rich man dies , some items from a collection are robbed , as an ancient Egyptian gold amulet and the mummy that was wearing it. The police Inspector Marco (Stuart Whitman) is investigating the weird deeds , attemting to solve a string of killing committed by a mysterious black cat . As the detective consults an University professor , Roger Eddmonds (David Hedison) , to help with the investigation, which is taking a more serious turn as more and more people are murdered by wounds that seem to be from a housecat . Along the way , the professor falls for a young woman named Rena Carter (Meredith Baxter) , who just starts working at the antiques shop run by the suspicious elderly Hester Black (Gale Sondergaard).
Suspenseful and interesting horror thriller with intriguing events , twists and turns . Acceptable frightening movie , concerning a Detective and an Egyptology Professorinvestigating a series of murders committed by a mysterious black cat that may connect to a deceased collector's Egyptian mummy . A Fairly TV Horror-Mystery-Thriller with several eerie events and plot twists . It turs out to be a decent shocker movie , belonging to sub-genre of Egyptian curses whose main representation was ¨The Mummy¨ followed by several sequels . Frightening film in which terror has four cat paws with plenty of thrills , chills , scary scenes and astonishing attacks , as well as various red herrings and tracks that may not be what they seem . Horror tale with usual ingredients as possession , violent events , grisly crimes and fantastic elements . The plot is plain and simple, an Egyptian medaillon is robbed resulting in fateful and disastrous effects by packing a terrible and malicious curse . This film is played absolutely straight , making it one of the most ill-conceived attempts at a scary movie I have ever seen on TV . The problem I have with this movie was just the ridiculously dumb and absurd premise . Not a very notoable film, but acceptable and passable it would have been a better conclusion . Along with starring trio giving nice acting : David Hedison , Meredith Baxter , Stuart Whitman , appearing a lot of familar faces , such as : Gale Sondergaard , John Carradine , Renne Jarrett , Keye Luke , Kent Smith , Milton Parsons , Peter Lorre Jr. , Virgil Frye , John Abbott .
It displays a thrilling and suspenseful musical score Leonard Rosenman , as well as appropriate and atmospheric cinematography by Charles Rosher in television style . The motion picture was professionally directed by Curtis Harrington , though it has some flaws , shortfalls , and failures . Curtis was a craftman who made films in all kinds of genres . And in Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell (1978) Curtis Harrington providing tension and suspense enough . Curtis Harrington was a good artisan in B-territory . In 1961 he made a strong and impressive feature-film debut with the nicely moody and quirky Night tide (1961) with Dennis Hooper. His follow-up features were a pleasingly diverse , idiosyncratic and often entertaining bunch , and included the delightfully campy Shelley Winters vehicles as Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? (1972) , What's the Matter with Helen? (1971) ,the perverse The Killing Kind (1973) and the immensely fun Ruby (1977). Moreover , Harrington directed a handful of solid and satisfying made-for-TV offerings: The cat (1973), Killer bees (1974), The Dead Don't Die (1975) and the terror animal Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell (1978) , as well as TV episodes from The Twilight Zone, The Colby , Dynasty , Wonder woman , Hotel , among others . Rating : 5.5/10. Decent and acceptable horror picture in spite its shortcomings and gaps.
Suspenseful and interesting horror thriller with intriguing events , twists and turns . Acceptable frightening movie , concerning a Detective and an Egyptology Professorinvestigating a series of murders committed by a mysterious black cat that may connect to a deceased collector's Egyptian mummy . A Fairly TV Horror-Mystery-Thriller with several eerie events and plot twists . It turs out to be a decent shocker movie , belonging to sub-genre of Egyptian curses whose main representation was ¨The Mummy¨ followed by several sequels . Frightening film in which terror has four cat paws with plenty of thrills , chills , scary scenes and astonishing attacks , as well as various red herrings and tracks that may not be what they seem . Horror tale with usual ingredients as possession , violent events , grisly crimes and fantastic elements . The plot is plain and simple, an Egyptian medaillon is robbed resulting in fateful and disastrous effects by packing a terrible and malicious curse . This film is played absolutely straight , making it one of the most ill-conceived attempts at a scary movie I have ever seen on TV . The problem I have with this movie was just the ridiculously dumb and absurd premise . Not a very notoable film, but acceptable and passable it would have been a better conclusion . Along with starring trio giving nice acting : David Hedison , Meredith Baxter , Stuart Whitman , appearing a lot of familar faces , such as : Gale Sondergaard , John Carradine , Renne Jarrett , Keye Luke , Kent Smith , Milton Parsons , Peter Lorre Jr. , Virgil Frye , John Abbott .
It displays a thrilling and suspenseful musical score Leonard Rosenman , as well as appropriate and atmospheric cinematography by Charles Rosher in television style . The motion picture was professionally directed by Curtis Harrington , though it has some flaws , shortfalls , and failures . Curtis was a craftman who made films in all kinds of genres . And in Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell (1978) Curtis Harrington providing tension and suspense enough . Curtis Harrington was a good artisan in B-territory . In 1961 he made a strong and impressive feature-film debut with the nicely moody and quirky Night tide (1961) with Dennis Hooper. His follow-up features were a pleasingly diverse , idiosyncratic and often entertaining bunch , and included the delightfully campy Shelley Winters vehicles as Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? (1972) , What's the Matter with Helen? (1971) ,the perverse The Killing Kind (1973) and the immensely fun Ruby (1977). Moreover , Harrington directed a handful of solid and satisfying made-for-TV offerings: The cat (1973), Killer bees (1974), The Dead Don't Die (1975) and the terror animal Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell (1978) , as well as TV episodes from The Twilight Zone, The Colby , Dynasty , Wonder woman , Hotel , among others . Rating : 5.5/10. Decent and acceptable horror picture in spite its shortcomings and gaps.
Kinda stupid...but fun!
planktonrules9 March 2017
When the film begins, Frank Lucas (Kent Smith) opens up a mummy case and finds a VERY strange mummy. Its body is human but the head looks like a cat...much like the ancient Egyptian god, Bastet. Soon, the creature comes to life and kills him! Surely this is a tad unusual!
Soon a nice young woman leaves work and on her way home, sees a nice black kitty and takes it home. Little does she know but it's the cat form of that mummy from the beginning of the picture and it soon hypnotizes her and makes her off herself!! This cat is one ungrateful creature, as the woman was trying her best to be kind to the creature...BAD KITTY!!!
You soon learn that the dead woman worked at an occult bookstore run by Hester Black (Gale Sondergaard)...a most unusual old lady! She has just hired a woman (Meredith Baxter with dark hair--according to IMDb, it was a wig) to replace the one who just jumped to her death.
Next, the detective investigating the case (Stuart Whitman) invites an archaeologist (David Hedison) to help him with the first murder. After all, the empty mummy case was there and Lucas was killed while examining the mummy inside. But the archaeologist notices that the mummy is gone and didn't disintegrate...there was no dust nor bandages. Instead, he tells the detective a goofy story about a cat cult that existed up until the 4th century BC and how its followers had the power to turn into cats at will!!! Yeah...okay....the cat cult.
The trail leads the two to Hester's weird occult shop. There they put 2 and 2 together...and realize the dead woman used to work in that shop! So what's next and how will this new shop employee figure into all this? See the film.
There is a lot of dopey religious mumbo-jumbo and the plot is silly when you learn the whole story. HOWEVER, at the same time, it's also highly entertaining...in a kitschy sort of way. So although stupid, some folks enjoy a silly horror film and this one certainly IS silly! Enjoyable and outrageous! The ending had me in stitches!!!!!!! Clearly a case where it's so bad, it's good!
A WORD OF NOTE: In the film is a tiny part played by Peter Lorre Jr. (the pawnbroker). It is important to point out that he is NOT related in any way to Peter Lorre and Lorre in fact sued to force him to stop using this fictitious name. I have no idea what happened to this jerk....but I am glad he apparently just disappeared from films.
Soon a nice young woman leaves work and on her way home, sees a nice black kitty and takes it home. Little does she know but it's the cat form of that mummy from the beginning of the picture and it soon hypnotizes her and makes her off herself!! This cat is one ungrateful creature, as the woman was trying her best to be kind to the creature...BAD KITTY!!!
You soon learn that the dead woman worked at an occult bookstore run by Hester Black (Gale Sondergaard)...a most unusual old lady! She has just hired a woman (Meredith Baxter with dark hair--according to IMDb, it was a wig) to replace the one who just jumped to her death.
Next, the detective investigating the case (Stuart Whitman) invites an archaeologist (David Hedison) to help him with the first murder. After all, the empty mummy case was there and Lucas was killed while examining the mummy inside. But the archaeologist notices that the mummy is gone and didn't disintegrate...there was no dust nor bandages. Instead, he tells the detective a goofy story about a cat cult that existed up until the 4th century BC and how its followers had the power to turn into cats at will!!! Yeah...okay....the cat cult.
The trail leads the two to Hester's weird occult shop. There they put 2 and 2 together...and realize the dead woman used to work in that shop! So what's next and how will this new shop employee figure into all this? See the film.
There is a lot of dopey religious mumbo-jumbo and the plot is silly when you learn the whole story. HOWEVER, at the same time, it's also highly entertaining...in a kitschy sort of way. So although stupid, some folks enjoy a silly horror film and this one certainly IS silly! Enjoyable and outrageous! The ending had me in stitches!!!!!!! Clearly a case where it's so bad, it's good!
A WORD OF NOTE: In the film is a tiny part played by Peter Lorre Jr. (the pawnbroker). It is important to point out that he is NOT related in any way to Peter Lorre and Lorre in fact sued to force him to stop using this fictitious name. I have no idea what happened to this jerk....but I am glad he apparently just disappeared from films.
Great Story!....(Despite Any Inconsistencies)
riverheadestelle17 October 2005
This was another ABC television movie. Great modern take on the old Egyptian mummy curse idea. When the movie opens, the appraiser is going through the late millionaire's collection of Egyptian artefacts, some of which might have been smuggled. We are left to assume that the collector simply died from natural causes. We don't see the collector in the movie at all. We're given a quick overview of why the appraiser is there and that's it.
The murders don't start until a thief steals the heavy gold amulet from around the mummy's neck, if you remember. Said mummy was a priestess from the cult of Bast, the cat goddess, and the amulet was meant to imprison the spirit of the priestess.
Elements of the old detective story are blended with the supernatural in this tale. We are kept guessing until the very end as to the identity of the mysterious killer.
Great special effects in the scene when David Hedison finally has the showdown with the cat creature!
The murders don't start until a thief steals the heavy gold amulet from around the mummy's neck, if you remember. Said mummy was a priestess from the cult of Bast, the cat goddess, and the amulet was meant to imprison the spirit of the priestess.
Elements of the old detective story are blended with the supernatural in this tale. We are kept guessing until the very end as to the identity of the mysterious killer.
Great special effects in the scene when David Hedison finally has the showdown with the cat creature!
ABC Movie Of The Week: THE CAT CREATURE {TV} (Curtis Harrington, 1973) ***
Bunuel197612 October 2013
Several people, who have somehow come into contact with an amulet improperly elevated from the sarcophagus of an Egyptian mummy, are unaccountably but fatally assailed by a black cat. Not so much another CAT PEOPLE (1942) variation as a commendable addition to filmdom's mummy lore (courtesy of Robert Bloch); a cast of mostly old reliables helps add flavor to the familiar narrative. The film's leads are adequately filled with Meredith Baxter's deceptively innocent salesgirl and archaeologist David Hedison – who, naturally, fall for each other during the course of the narrative; sprucing up the rest of the 'dramatis personae' are world-weary cop Stuart Whitman, sinister proprietor of "The Sorceress" pawn shop Gale Sondergaard, solicitor Kent Smith (the male protagonist of the aforementioned Val Lewton/Jacques Tourneur classic), alcoholic thief Sen Yung and even hotel clerk(!) John Carradine (although already pushing 70 by this time). I have a handful of unwatched made-for-TV genre efforts from director Harrington and I might get to include them in this year's Halloween marathon.
The ultimate chick flick horror
drystyx11 November 2009
Warning: Spoilers
This was a silly story to begin with, which is bad considering all the big name stars involved.
It is horror for chicks, the ultimate chick flick horror film, because all the gorgeous young women are killed, and only old ladies live, and all the older guys are killed, and none of the young guys.
In other words, it's the fantasy for women, and the ultimate turn off film for heterosexual guys.
There really isn't any more this film is about. Hedison is a well meaning hero, who stumbles upon an evil beautiful woman.
Most of the roles aside from Whitman and Hedison are little more than cameos. There isn't anything developed. It puts new meaning to the word "lame".
It is horror for chicks, the ultimate chick flick horror film, because all the gorgeous young women are killed, and only old ladies live, and all the older guys are killed, and none of the young guys.
In other words, it's the fantasy for women, and the ultimate turn off film for heterosexual guys.
There really isn't any more this film is about. Hedison is a well meaning hero, who stumbles upon an evil beautiful woman.
Most of the roles aside from Whitman and Hedison are little more than cameos. There isn't anything developed. It puts new meaning to the word "lame".
Cats!!!
BandSAboutMovies24 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Originally airing December 11, 1973 on ABC, this Curtis Harrington-directed, Robert Bloch-written take on Cat People was originally planned as a starring vehicle for Diahann Carroll. However, her ABC contract ended and the film needed to be rewritten.
It's such a tribute to Cat People that Kent Smith, who starred in that film and its sequel, The Curse of the Cat People, appears.
Smith plays an appraiser who finds a sarcophagus in a house that he is surveying. Inside is a mummy wearing a solid gold cat's head amulet that has a curse attached to it. Just then, he's killed by a cat creature and a thief played by Keye Luke steals the amulet.
David Hedison - who played Felix Leiter to two different James Bonds - is a cop on his trail. Showing up for support are Meredith Baxter as a salesgirl, John Carradine as a hotel clerk and Stuart Whitman as a police lieutenant.
Gale Sondergaard, who played Universal's Spider Woman in two films, is also here as an occult bookstore owner named Hester Black. It was one of the first movies that she had made since 1949, thanks to the blacklist and her support of husband Herbert Biberman.
The day after shooting wrapped, she was called back for some closeups. It was all a ruse When she arrived on the set in makeup and costume, Charlton Heston presented her with an Academy gold statuette to replace one that she had won for 1936's Anthony Adverse.
It's such a tribute to Cat People that Kent Smith, who starred in that film and its sequel, The Curse of the Cat People, appears.
Smith plays an appraiser who finds a sarcophagus in a house that he is surveying. Inside is a mummy wearing a solid gold cat's head amulet that has a curse attached to it. Just then, he's killed by a cat creature and a thief played by Keye Luke steals the amulet.
David Hedison - who played Felix Leiter to two different James Bonds - is a cop on his trail. Showing up for support are Meredith Baxter as a salesgirl, John Carradine as a hotel clerk and Stuart Whitman as a police lieutenant.
Gale Sondergaard, who played Universal's Spider Woman in two films, is also here as an occult bookstore owner named Hester Black. It was one of the first movies that she had made since 1949, thanks to the blacklist and her support of husband Herbert Biberman.
The day after shooting wrapped, she was called back for some closeups. It was all a ruse When she arrived on the set in makeup and costume, Charlton Heston presented her with an Academy gold statuette to replace one that she had won for 1936's Anthony Adverse.
A Terrific, Bad Movie (and I don't mean terrifically bad)
JKearse2 April 2011
This is one of those movies that you really enjoy when you watch it, but you have to say it is quite bad. Meredith Baxter is certainly a huge reason why this thing works; she takes her part so seriously. And good for her, because other actors might not shine so much in such a campy film. This is was one of those typical seventies TV movies found on ABC in the seventies. It was shot on a small budget, and it shows a little. It really is amazing that these old ABC TV movies were so effective, given their small budgets. It also stars Gale Sondergaard, Hester Black, John Carradine, and Keye Luke. But it's Meredith Baxter that is most memorable. If you like this one try "Bad Ronald."
One of the Less Entertaining Cat Movies
thalassafischer20 December 2023
While I give fairly high ratings to flicks like The Uncanny (1977), The Cat Creature has to be one of the worst. The story isn't just silly, it's not executed very well, and the "gritty urban" look of a row of pawn shops in what I believe to be Van Nuys (it still looks about the same fifty years later, pawn shop row and other assorted trash) does not improve this 70s PG horror movie in my opinion. One of the main reasons I love horror from the 1970s are the old mansions, Hammer or Amicus sets, historical references, and antiques; and while an urban setting works for The Tenant (1976) or The Sentinel (1977) it just drags the aesthetic down here.
The main reason I'm giving this mediocre film five stars is for the scenes of the sorcery shop with Gale Sondergaard. I think they should have leaned a little more heavily on that atmosphere. YMMV.
The main reason I'm giving this mediocre film five stars is for the scenes of the sorcery shop with Gale Sondergaard. I think they should have leaned a little more heavily on that atmosphere. YMMV.
An irresistible piece of sorcery, purrfectly macabre...
mark.waltz19 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This is all about Gale Sondergaard, the veteran Oscar winning actress, blacklist survivor and brilliant portrayer of sadistic villainy. Back on the screen after 20 years of obscurity thanks to the McCarthy era, she's continuing where she left off in "Anthony Adverse", "Maid of Salem", " The Letter", "The Blue Bird", "The Black Cat", "The Spider Woman", "Road to Rio" and the many other classics where she was the screen's perfect "dark lady". There's something delightfully nefarious about her character of Hester Black who runs a specialty store for the dark arts, hiring Meredith Baxter after her previous clerk commits suicide. With the police on her trail, she seems calmly involved in murder, putting the naive Baxter in danger. David Hedison, as a professor of the supernatural, gets involved as he makes an obsession over solving this mystery.
Pretty silly and melodramatic, this is raised a notch by that sweet disposition which is obviously hiding years of secrets and agendas. Stuart Whitman is the determined police investigator who won't stop, even under the threat of tarot card death. This really keeps you glued, thanks to a sinister looking black cat who yowls like a plaster statue moving its snarling mouth open and closed. Sondergaard is basically playing an older version of the character she played in all those spooky comedy's of the 1930's and 40's. John Carradine has a rather pointless cameo. Other veteran actors (Keye Luke and John Abbott) are wasted as well. Sondergaard ends up being the entire show, looking like she's having a ball.
Pretty silly and melodramatic, this is raised a notch by that sweet disposition which is obviously hiding years of secrets and agendas. Stuart Whitman is the determined police investigator who won't stop, even under the threat of tarot card death. This really keeps you glued, thanks to a sinister looking black cat who yowls like a plaster statue moving its snarling mouth open and closed. Sondergaard is basically playing an older version of the character she played in all those spooky comedy's of the 1930's and 40's. John Carradine has a rather pointless cameo. Other veteran actors (Keye Luke and John Abbott) are wasted as well. Sondergaard ends up being the entire show, looking like she's having a ball.
Sufficient strength makes this pretty enjoyable even without utmost horror intensity
I_Ailurophile12 September 2023
It's convenient that this was intended as an homage to the 'Cat people' films of the 40s, because as a TV movie, it rather carries itself with much the same sensibilities. The writing and direction are characterized by a bit of ham-handedness, a softer tone than the average horror flick, and a focus on drama and investigation over discrete violent events. 'The cat creature' does perhaps show a little more than its kin of a few decades' past, which got by mostly on suggestion alone; the trade-off is that like some other made-for-TV horror, part of the gist here is simply demonization of cats. Suffice to say that this isn't necessarily the most robust and invigorating of genre fare, but if you're open to the lighter side that is sometimes represented, it's quite well made and enjoyable on its own merits.
Though constrained by the tenor of the production, the cast give capable, earnest performances to bring their characters and the story to life. Among others, Meredith Baxter illustrates admirable nuance, David Hedison is a fine anchor, and I appreciate the knowing smarm Gale Sondergaard brings to Hester. Even in small supporting parts it's always a pleasure to see Keye Luke and John Carradine. This is well made generally, including Leonard Rosenman's score that lends a tinge of atmosphere; Charles Rosher's cinematography is as solid as Curtis Harrington's direction. The sound effects, special makeup, and art direction are all swell. And credit where it's due - Douglas S. Cramer, Wilfred Lloyd Baumes, and screenwriter Robert Bloch penned an interesting, compelling story. The picture boasts an admirable sense of mystery on top of the genre elements portending murder, mythology, and supernatural goings-on, and while the telling in this instance falls on the gentler side of things, ultimately 'The cat creature' really is an entertaining, satisfying piece of horror.
Why, even without the utmost intensity to the proceedings, I dare say this stands considerably taller than many other flicks that fall under the horror umbrella, and it does so just on the strength of its writing, acting, and direction, with no more than a modest air of sensationalism. Where feline-centric features are concerned, I'd say it fits neatly between 1942's 'Cat people' and its 1982 remake in terms of how dark its vibes are; in terms of overall quality I favor the latter two, yet there's no significant difference when you get down to it. This certainly is a major improvement over the milquetoast 1944 curiosity 'The curse of the cat people.' And comparisons aside, I truly believe this title to be strong enough to provide the horror flavors we crave: it's not a visceral thrill ride, no, but it's smartly made with just enough of a devious undercurrent to sate any but the most hard-nosed of purists.
I had mixed expectations when I sat to watch, but for my part I'm pleased with how good 'The cat creature' is, and I'd have no qualms about recommending it to just about anyone. It may not be something that wholly demands viewership, but if you're receptive to the horror sensibilities that television and older cinema have to offer, I think this is well worth checking out!
Though constrained by the tenor of the production, the cast give capable, earnest performances to bring their characters and the story to life. Among others, Meredith Baxter illustrates admirable nuance, David Hedison is a fine anchor, and I appreciate the knowing smarm Gale Sondergaard brings to Hester. Even in small supporting parts it's always a pleasure to see Keye Luke and John Carradine. This is well made generally, including Leonard Rosenman's score that lends a tinge of atmosphere; Charles Rosher's cinematography is as solid as Curtis Harrington's direction. The sound effects, special makeup, and art direction are all swell. And credit where it's due - Douglas S. Cramer, Wilfred Lloyd Baumes, and screenwriter Robert Bloch penned an interesting, compelling story. The picture boasts an admirable sense of mystery on top of the genre elements portending murder, mythology, and supernatural goings-on, and while the telling in this instance falls on the gentler side of things, ultimately 'The cat creature' really is an entertaining, satisfying piece of horror.
Why, even without the utmost intensity to the proceedings, I dare say this stands considerably taller than many other flicks that fall under the horror umbrella, and it does so just on the strength of its writing, acting, and direction, with no more than a modest air of sensationalism. Where feline-centric features are concerned, I'd say it fits neatly between 1942's 'Cat people' and its 1982 remake in terms of how dark its vibes are; in terms of overall quality I favor the latter two, yet there's no significant difference when you get down to it. This certainly is a major improvement over the milquetoast 1944 curiosity 'The curse of the cat people.' And comparisons aside, I truly believe this title to be strong enough to provide the horror flavors we crave: it's not a visceral thrill ride, no, but it's smartly made with just enough of a devious undercurrent to sate any but the most hard-nosed of purists.
I had mixed expectations when I sat to watch, but for my part I'm pleased with how good 'The cat creature' is, and I'd have no qualms about recommending it to just about anyone. It may not be something that wholly demands viewership, but if you're receptive to the horror sensibilities that television and older cinema have to offer, I think this is well worth checking out!
What is that on your fur? Blood!
bernie-5010 February 2005
A mysterious collector has died. It is up to the appraiser to go into the old dark house with only a flashlight and a fountain pin. He finds a mysterious mummy with a unique amulet of solid gold that has the head of a cat with emerald green eyes on it.
While the appraiser goes for his tape recorder a sneak thief (Keye Luke) pilfers the amulet. In the morning the mummy is gone, the amulet is gone, and the appraiser looks like he was attacked by a common house cat.
The Police Lt. Marco (Stuart Whitman) recruits the assistance of Prof. Roger Edmonds (David Hedison) from the local collage to help make heads or tails of the situation.
While the appraiser goes for his tape recorder a sneak thief (Keye Luke) pilfers the amulet. In the morning the mummy is gone, the amulet is gone, and the appraiser looks like he was attacked by a common house cat.
The Police Lt. Marco (Stuart Whitman) recruits the assistance of Prof. Roger Edmonds (David Hedison) from the local collage to help make heads or tails of the situation.
Fun Creature Feature
ladymidath12 November 2023
This is one of the more entertaining made for tv movies. It sports a good cast and the story, that was inspired by Cat People, an excellent film in its own right, It has enough creepy moments to keep the viewer invested. The more violent parts were toned down for television audiences. That does not hurt the movie in any way though.
Meredith Baxter and John Carradine do a good job here but it is .Gale Sondergaard that really makes this movie as memorable as it is. David Hedison and Stuart Whitman do a good job with what they are given but they don't really stand out.
It is a fun horror with some good moments but limited by the made for tv format, Still it is wirth watching.
Meredith Baxter and John Carradine do a good job here but it is .Gale Sondergaard that really makes this movie as memorable as it is. David Hedison and Stuart Whitman do a good job with what they are given but they don't really stand out.
It is a fun horror with some good moments but limited by the made for tv format, Still it is wirth watching.
A story Carl Kolchak could appreciate!
hgmickey10 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This weird, terrifying turn of events begins with Frank Lucas taking the inventory of a somewhat eccentric collector, recently deceased. Upon the collector's items, is an Egyptian mummy with a large amulet around its neck. When Lucas leaves the room for a few minutes, a thief breaks into the house and steals the amulet. A short time later, Lucas sees that the mummy's coffin is now empty and is then attacked and killed by a growling, snarling...yet ordinary sized...cat.
Lieutenant Marco arrives on the scene to investigate the crime. Marco is accompanied by Roger Edmonds, a professor and archaeologist at the local university. Roger notices that there are some sort of claw marks on the mummy's coffin, but neither has an explanation for why the coffin is empty.
At an occult curio shop run by Hester Black, the thief, Joe Sung, attempts to sell Hester the amulet, but she throws him out. After closing, Hester's employee, Sherrie Hastings is on her way home when she comes across a stray black cat. She takes the cat home to feed it, but the cat's eyes suddenly glow, putting Sherrie into a trance. Seconds later, Sherrie jumps off her terrace to her death.
A short time later, Hester offers a young girl, Rena Carter, new in town, Sherrie's old job. Seemingly unaware of Sherrie's apparent suicide, Rena accepts Hester's offer. Roger and Lt. Marco stop at Hester's shop. Hester and Marco know each other as Hester used to fence stolen goods years ago. Marco asks if anyone tried to sell her an amulet, and Hester replies that an older Oriental gentlemen tried to sell her one only a few days ago, but she refused to buy. When Marco asks if anyone else was in the store, Hester tells him that Sherrie Hastings was the only other person in the store. Marco remembers the name Sherrie Hastings from a recent suicide, and Rena is so rattled that her predecessor is the same girl, she drops a statue on the floor.
After closing time, Roger returns to Hester's store and asks Rena to go to dinner with him, and Rena accepts. On the date, Rena only tells Roger that she's from back east and new in town, but the two develop a mutual attraction. After the date, the couple passes a pet shop and when a group of cats rush the store window, Rena is simply panic stricken. Roger calms her down and they continue walking. A few days later, when Roger is visiting Rena at her home, a cat rushes to Rina's patio door, causing Rena to panic yet again. Obviously, Rena is deathly afraid of cats, and Roger can't figure out why.
Lt. Marco learns Joe Sung lives at a local flop house in town. While Marco is interviewing some people at the flop house, they all hear blood curdling screams coming from an upstairs room. Marco rushes in and finds Sung dead in his bed, with claw marks on his throat.
Roger and Lt. Marco next visit the coroner, who tells them that the cause of death of Lucas and Sung were claw marks on each victim's throat, and the bodies were drained of blood. Later, Marco discovers that Sung sold the amulet dirt cheap to a local pawn shop. He and Roger visit the shop, only to find the pawnbroker with a knife sticking out of his back. Neither man notices that a black cat is lurking in the store.
As Lt. Marco called Roger from Hester's store telling him about a $50,000 reward for the safe return of the amulet, Marco assumes that Hester, who has disappeared, may be responsible for the pawnbroker's murder. He convinces Rena to keep the store open late, under police guard, thinking that Hester will return to her store to pick up some getaway money. Later that night, the cat appears and hypnotizes the police guard to sleep. He's awakened by a scream from the back room. Rena and the officer rush in to find Hester on the floor mortally wounded, with claw marks on her throat. Hester is able to say only one word...cat...and then she dies.
Lt. Marco tells Roger that the amulet was hidden in the lining of Hester's coat, and lets Roger take the amulet to the university to try to translate the inscription. Back in his office, Roger has a discussion of the amulet with the University Librarian about the Egyptian cat-god Bast, and how the Bast cult members could transform into cats, similar to how vampires transform into bats in search of blood. The librarian theorizes that the heavy chain might be used to keep a spirit imprisoned after death.
A short time later, the University Librarian returns to Roger with the complete translation on the amulet, which confirms that the amulet was originally put around the mummy's neck to keep it from returning to life...and subsequently killing for blood. A few minutes later, Lt. Marco calls Roger and tells him that a background check on Rena shows no prior history, her showing up out of nowhere...and suggests that Rena knows more than she's let on about the chain of murders, making Rena his top suspect. Lt. Marco also tells Roger that the only two people who knew of their recent activities in their investigation were the now-dead Hester...and Rena. Roger replays everything in his mind and decides to pay Rena a visit.
At Rena's darkened house, there are cats roaming all over the patio outside, and Rena has a packed suitcase and is about to make a run for it when Roger intercepts her at the front door. Roger tells Rena that Lt. Marco is about to arrest her. Roger also explains how the amulet around the mummy's neck serves the same purpose as driving a stake through a vampire's heart, to stop the mummy from continuing a murderous search for blood. He goes on to tell Rena that the translation refers to the high priestess of the Egyptian cat-god Bast, and his belief that Rena eliminated anyone between her and the amulet in the hope that she would destroy it and guarantee her immortality.
Rena finally confesses the truth about the situation but tries to justify her actions as self-preservation after coming back to life after centuries of post-death nothingness. Roger reminds Rena that her victims are still dead and that he knows that she's deathly afraid of cats because they recognize Rena for what she is, the evil high priestess of Bast. Rena passionately kisses Roger with a promise of eternal life if he joins up with her, but Roger refuses and pushes her off. A few seconds later, the black cat appears with glowing eyes and hypnotizes Roger. The cat then pounces on Roger, intent on killing him, as it killed the other victims, but Roger is able to wrap the amulet around the murderous cat and throws it off. Instantaneously, Rena materializes in full Egyptian priestess attire, growling and snarling at Roger but she can't do anything further with the amulet around her neck. Priestess Rena then goes out to the patio, turns back into the mummy...and the neighborhood cats swarm the mummy and rip it to shreds. When Lt. Marco arrives, all that's left of Rena is a pile of dust, a skull, and the amulet wrapped around the skull.
I enjoyed the acting performances all around. A very young Meredith Baxter really shines as the deceptively introverted Rena, David Hedison is excellent as (the Carl Kolchak-esque) Roger, and the always dependable Stuart Whitman as the dogged Lt. Marco. Finally, Gale Sondergaard really stole every scene she was in as Hester. This is an underrated 1973 gem.
The Cat Creature (1973 made-for-TV film) DVD-R
trimbolicelia1 April 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I love this early 70's made-for-TV horror film. Chock full of B-movie stars from the 40's in most secondary roles. A lawyer is doing inventory on a deceased millionaire's property in a closed-up mansion. If I had to do that chore I would insist that the facilities be turned on and have a couple of assistants. No way would I be alone in a dark creepy gigantic house at night. I've seen enough B-grade mystery and horror films to know that. Anyway the lawyer finds some illegally obtained Ancient Egyptian artifacts, inadvertently awakens a cursed mummy, and is promptly killed. See what I mean about being alone. Now the mummy takes on human form and is hot to retrieve an amulet stolen from the artifacts that can destroy it. At times spooky but entertaining. Little in the way of seen monsters. In fact more is implied than seen. Nice to see the great Gale Sondergaard as a proprietor of a store selling items of the occult. This film is unavailable on DVD but I was able to obtain a fair quality DVD-R. I hope this film is released re-mastered to DVD VERY SOON. A lot of these made-for-TV films were very watchable and worthwhile. Highly recommended.
What is that on your fur? Blood!
Bernie444426 February 2024
A mysterious collector has died. It is up to the appraiser to go into the old dark house with only a flashlight and a fountain pen. He finds a mysterious mummy with a unique amulet of solid gold that has the head of a cat with emerald green eyes on it.
While the appraiser goes for his tape recorder a sneak thief (Keye Luke) pilfers the amulet. In the morning the mummy is gone, the amulet is gone, and the appraiser looks like he was attacked by a common house cat.
The Police Lt. Marco (Stuart Whitman) recruits the assistance of Prof. Roger Edmonds (David Hedison) from the local college to help make heads or tails of the situation.
They could not have picked a better cat person than Meredith Baxter as she looks like she can throw a hissy fit.
While the appraiser goes for his tape recorder a sneak thief (Keye Luke) pilfers the amulet. In the morning the mummy is gone, the amulet is gone, and the appraiser looks like he was attacked by a common house cat.
The Police Lt. Marco (Stuart Whitman) recruits the assistance of Prof. Roger Edmonds (David Hedison) from the local college to help make heads or tails of the situation.
They could not have picked a better cat person than Meredith Baxter as she looks like she can throw a hissy fit.
"Okay Kitty, Welcome To Shangri-La!"...
azathothpwiggins9 September 2018
Warning: Spoilers
THE CAT CREATURE starts right off with a tour of the world's coolest house, complete with a basement full of Egyptian artifacts! Of course, there's a mummy wearing a strange, feline amulet, and a burglar (Keye Luke) steals it. Bad idea, since amulets in movies such as this ALWAYS come with curses attached!
Sure enough, the thief tries to fence his ill-gotten gains, and death-by-cat befalls him! Even the clerk at the shop isn't spared. Enter Rena Carter (Meredith Baxter), who conveniently shows up at the shop just when the clerk has gone missing. The very same shop run by the mysterious Hester Black (Gale Sondergaard), who appears to know that something spooky is going on.
Meanwhile, police Lt. Marco (Stuart Whitman) teams up with archaeologist Roger Edmonds (David Hedison), to figure out how the amulet ties in with the killings. As the deaths continue, Marco and Edmonds begin to wonder what they're really up against. Could supernatural mumbo jumbo be afoot? Annnd, what about Rena? Why is she so terrified of cats, yet seems to attract them like she's made of kippers? Hmmm.
Another crackerjack, made-for-TV horror movie from Director Curtis Harrington. Don't blink, and you might see John Carradine as the hotel manager and Peter Lorre Jr. as a doomed pawnbroker!...
Sure enough, the thief tries to fence his ill-gotten gains, and death-by-cat befalls him! Even the clerk at the shop isn't spared. Enter Rena Carter (Meredith Baxter), who conveniently shows up at the shop just when the clerk has gone missing. The very same shop run by the mysterious Hester Black (Gale Sondergaard), who appears to know that something spooky is going on.
Meanwhile, police Lt. Marco (Stuart Whitman) teams up with archaeologist Roger Edmonds (David Hedison), to figure out how the amulet ties in with the killings. As the deaths continue, Marco and Edmonds begin to wonder what they're really up against. Could supernatural mumbo jumbo be afoot? Annnd, what about Rena? Why is she so terrified of cats, yet seems to attract them like she's made of kippers? Hmmm.
Another crackerjack, made-for-TV horror movie from Director Curtis Harrington. Don't blink, and you might see John Carradine as the hotel manager and Peter Lorre Jr. as a doomed pawnbroker!...
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