by Mark Murton

Original UK Title: The Corpse

Director: Viktors Ritelis

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

Synopsis: A mother and daughter, Edith and Jane Eastwood (Yvonne Mitchell and Sharon Gurney) hatch a plan to murder their domineering and sadistic patriarch, Walter (Michael Gough).

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Near the start of the film Jane is in her room pouring acid into a perfume spray bottle and hiding it in her drawer, intercut with close-ups of the grey shorthair family cat. While the cat appears throughout the film he or she doesn’t seem to have any specific bearing on the plot.

Jane then tries on a new outfit, enquiring of the cat “Do you like it?” The cat meows its approval.

Later, Jane is making a jigsaw with the cat lying with its head resting on the board.

Jane reaches out and strokes the kitty.

Next, the cat is seen crouched on the stairs as one of the women descends to collect one of Walter’s rifles to take to the remote cottage where they plan to kill him.

The deed having been done they return home and while Edith has strange dreams Jane sleeps soundly with the cat snuggled close to her.

Towards the end of the film the cat is again on the stairs.

And then in close-up as Edith has another disturbing dream.

Awakened by Edith’s screams Jane comforts her mother, while on the stairs something attracts the cat’s attention . . .

The cat goes to investigate . . .

. . . eventually climbing the stairs (shot from the cat’s POV), crying out as it does so. Hearing the cat’s cries, Edith also climbs the stairs to investigate and makes a final horrific discovery.

Final Mewsings: Cats may by incidental to the plot but are always intregral to the film.

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