The Killing Kind (1973)

Directed by: Curtis Harrington

This review contains a severe Kitty Carnage Warning!

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: Terry Lambert (Jon Savage) is released from prison after being convicted of taking part in a gang rape and returns home to his mother Thelma (Ann Sothern) filled with unexpressed rage.

Cat Cattle Call: Thelma owns several cats seen throughout the film. When Terry returns to his mother’s boarding house, a large orange and white shorthair is sitting on a chair next to an elderly woman. Terry stoops to pet the cat as the woman smiles at him. This cat is seen later in a chair as Terry and Thelma dance.

The Killing Kind - Terry Jon Savage petting ginger and white tabby cat

The Killing Kind - Terry Jon Savage petting orange and white ginger tabby cat with elderly woman smiling at him animated gif

The Killing Kind - Terry Jon Savage and Thelma Ann Sothern with ginger and white tabby cat in chair

Thelma comes to the door holding a white cat named Penny.

The Killing Kind - Terry Jon Savage petting ginger and white tabby cat outside with Thelma Ann Sothern at door with white cat Penny

The Killing Kind - Terry Jon Savage with Thelma Ann Sothern at door holding white cat Penny

Other cats seen around the house are a ginger tabby, a longhair blue tortoiseshell named Veronica and a calico which shows up late in the film. The cats are often present when Thelma is lying in bed or sitting on the couch.

The Killing Kind - Thelma Ann Sothern feeding ginger tabby cat

The Killing Kind - Thelma Ann Sothern sitting on couch with ginger tabby and longhair blue tortoiseshell cats

The Killing Kind - Thelma Ann Sothern sitting on couch with ginger tabby cat

The Killing Kind - Thelma Ann Sothern feeding calico cat

The Killing Kind - Thelma Ann Sothern lying on chaise lounge holding up longhair blue tortoiseshell cat

Featured Feline: Of all the cats, Penny is clearly one of Thelma’s favorites. She is not only present when Terry comes home but when a new border named Lori (Cindy Williams) moves in. Thelma is not happy with the way Lori and her son Terry look at each other.

The Killing Kind - Thelma Ann Sothern in bed with white cat Penny

The Killing Kind - Thelma Ann Sothern in bed petting white cat Penny animated gif

The Killing Kind - white cat Penny on desk

The Killing Kind - Thelma Ann Sothern at desk with white cat Penny

One night Terry takes Penny outside and sneaks up to Lori’s window where he watches her undressing.

The Killing Kind - Terry Jon Savage sneaking outside with white cat Penny

The Killing Kind - Terry Jon Savage looking in window with white cat Penny

Terry kisses the top of the cat’s head, obviously getting aroused.

The Killing Kind - Terry Jon Savage kissing top of white cat Penny's head

The Killing Kind - Terry Jon Savage kissing top of white cat Penny's head animated gif

Severe Kitty Carnage Warning! Unfortunately Penny meows and Lori hears, coming to the window to call for the cat. Terry chokes Penny in the very disturbing scene, keeping his hand around her throat until she is dead. Thelma later finds Penny’s decomposing body in a garbage can. According to IMDb, the chilling scene was achieved by having a vet sedate the cat actor so it would appear limp. But reportedly a real cat which had already been euthanized by the SPCA was used for the dead Penny.