Next of Kin (1982)

by Mark Murton

Directed by: Tony Williams

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

Synopsis: After her estranged mother’s death, Linda Stevens (Jackie Kerin) inherits a large rural Gothic manison which her mother and aunt converted into the Montclare Retirement Home. Linda finds her mother’s diaries in which she describes being increasingly unsettled in the home as well as her belief that someone was watching her. Soon Linda starts to feel the same sense of creeping unease.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): We’re first aware of the presence of a cat soon after Linda arrives at the house and is carrying a tray up the spiral staircase as a storm rages outside. Hearing noises from the attic, which clearly include a cat’s crying, she goes to investigate, but the expected cat jump scare doesn’t materialise and no cat is seen. The fact that Linda wasn’t phased by the sound of a cat suggests one does reside in the house but it’s not until some time later that we finally see there really is a cat living there when Linda nods off while looking through the accounts and is startled awake by the seal point Himalayan jumping up beside her.

Next of Kin - Linda Jackie Kerin sleeping on desk as Himalayan cat jumps up beside her animated gif

She gently picks the cat up, asking what he or she wants.

Next of Kin - Linda Jackie Kerin holding Himalayan cat

She holds the purring kitty on her shoulder for a moment.

Next of Kin - Linda Jackie Kerin picking up and holding Himalayan cat on her shoulder animated gif

Next of Kin - close up of Himalayan cat on shoulder

But a shadow passing outside the door draws the cat’s attention and it jumps down and runs towards the door.

Next of Kin - Himalayan cat jumping down from Linda's shoulder

Next of Kin - Himalayan cat running across floor

Emerging into the corridor, the cat runs down to a door at the far end.

Next of Kin - Himalayan cat running down corridor

It enters a room where the body of a recently deceased resident is being stored and jumps up onto the sheet-covered corpse.

Next of Kin - Himalayan cat climbing onto sheet covered body

Next of Kin - Himalayan cat hiding behind sheet covered body

The cat is heard crying off screen several more times before its final appearance when Linda is again investigating night-time noises in the house and comes into the records office to find the cat perched on an armchair.