by Mark Murton

Directed by: Kevin Connor

Synopsis: In 1840, a samurai returns to his rural home near Kyoto to find his wife Otami (Mako Hattori) in bed with another man. He kills them both and then commits hara-kiri. In the present day, an American family, Ted and Laura Fletcher (Edward Albert and Susan George) and their daughter Amy (Amy Barrett), move into the house and start to experience incidents of haunting and possession.

Kitty Cameo: As the incidents of ghostly harassment and mischief become more frequent and serious a Zen monk approaches Ted and tells him the story of the murders and urges him to leave the house. As the monk tells the story there is a flashback to when the samurai’s wife Otami visited a witch (Tsuyako Okajima) seeking a charm that will give her power over the man who will become her lover. Otami enters the house and approaches the witch who is huddled on the floor. In her arms she holds a black cat (naturally).

The flashback ends along with the cat’s contribution to the film.

Final Mewsings: We’d rather live in a house where a cat dwells.

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