Wicked Stepmother (1989)

Directed by: Larry Cohen

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

Synopsis: A witch named Miranda (Bette Davis) and her daughter Priscilla (Barbara Carrera) worm their way into an unsuspecting family in order to rob them blind.

Featured Feline: Married couple Jenny (Colleen Camp) and Steve (David Rasche) come home to find Jenny’s father Sam (Lionel Stander) has married Miranda in their absence. Jenny is particularly shocked at how quickly this invasive woman has altered their lives. While sitting outside with Sam and his dog Jermone, Miranda says she has a surprise for the dog. A black cat wearing a diamond collar suddenly materializes.

Miranda addresses the cat as Pericles. Sam tells Miranda that his daughter is allergic and she suggests they don’t tell her about the cat. The cat then jumps off the table and changes into a tiger and then a rabbit, frightening Jerome. We then hear them fighting off screen. This makes about as much sense as everything else in this film.

Wicked Stepmother - black cat Pericles with Miranda Bette Davis and Sam Lionel Stander

Jenny is miserable, sneezing and stuffy, and suspects a cat in the house. She peeks into Miranda’s room through a keyhole and then for some reason she climbs outside Miranda’s second story window. After seeing Miranda light a cigarette with her fingers, Pericles suddenly leaps at the window and causes Jenny to fall, adding to her miseries.

Wicked Stepmother - black cat Pericles scaring Jenny Colleen Camp at window with Miranda Bette Davis inside

Steve and Jenny are surprised by the arrival of Priscilla (as is the viewing audience. Apparently Bette Davis walked off the film). Priscilla lavishes affection on Pericles. As we later find out, the two witches share their embodiment and so one of them has to take the form of the cat. Since Miranda’s character does not come back, Pericles is now Miranda for the rest of the movie.

Wicked Stepmother - Priscilla walking up stairs towards black cat Pericles

Wicked Stepmother - Priscilla Barbara Carrera holding black cat Pericles

Pericles / Miranda is on hand as Priscilla finds a broom and thinks about taking off, but doesn’t.

Wicked Stepmother - Priscilla Barbara Carrera with broom by black cat Pericles

The cat sits by as Priscilla proceeds to trash the kitchen. The most hilarious moment of the film is when a puppet cat is used in place of the real cat to show Miranda smoking in cat form.

Wicked Stepmother - fake black cat Pericles smoking

Wicked Stepmother - fake black cat Pericles smoking animated gif

Priscilla tells Miranda that she doesn’t want to switch back bodies because she’s having too much fun.

Wicked Stepmother - Priscilla Barbara Carrera talking to black cat Pericles

A spiritualist explains to Jenny about Miranda and Priscilla co-habitating via Pericles. A bizarre scene in which Priscilla and Steve are having sex and Priscilla suddenly sprouts a giant black cat tail further convolutes the concept. Apparently Miranda is having fun with them but how she can do this is not made clear. Instead Priscilla curses Miranda, who is walking down the stair banister with a twinkle in her eye.

Wicked Stepmother - black cat Pericles on stair banister

Wicked Stepmother - black cat Pericles walking down stair banister animated gif

Jenny learns some spells and tries to oust the witches, but only manages to aggravate them. Priscilla is already mad at Miranda and plans to get her out of the way so she can have the men to herself.

Wicked Stepmother - black cat Pericles on table

To trick the witches, Jenny pretends she is going on a trip. Priscilla tries to foist Miranda off on her, even taking away her cat allergies.

Wicked Stepmother - Priscilla Barbara Carrera trying to give black cat Pericles to Jenny Colleen Camp

Setting Miranda aside and telling her she’ll deal with her later, Jenny gets into a witchcraft fight with Priscilla, bringing down much of the house.

Wicked Stepmother - black cat Pericles held by Jenny Colleen Camp

Wicked Stepmother - black cat Pericles hissing on suitcase

Wicked Stepmother - black cat Pericles hissing on suitcase with Priscilla Barbara Carrera animated gif

Out on the front lawn, Sam tells Jenny how to defeat the witches. Priscilla holds up Miranda and blames her for getting mixed up with this family.

Wicked Stepmother - Priscilla Barbara Carrera yelling at black cat Pericles

As Jenny says the words to vanquish the witches, Priscilla writhes around on the ground with Miranda, telling her she’s coming in. At this point both witches are inside the cat. Numerous Poor Cat Screeches accompany this and many other moments in the film.

Wicked Stepmother - Priscilla Barbara Carrera writhing on ground with black cat Pericles

Wicked Stepmother - Priscilla Barbara Carrera writhing on ground with black cat Pericles animated gif

Lt. MacIntosh (Tom Bosley), who has been trying to catch Miranda for past crimes, starts to read the cat her rights then sighs and says, “Sue me.” He places the cat in a cab (he has been posing as a cab driver in this last scene) and drives away.

Wicked Stepmother - black cat Pericles held by Lt. MacIntosh with Jenny Colleen Camp

Wicked Stepmother - black cat Pericles being arrested by Lt. MacIntosh Tom Bosley passing Steve David Rasche and Mike Shawn Donahue

The animal trainers on the film were Moe DiSesso, Pat Holland and Karl Mitchell. At least two cat actors played the part of Pericles (one with a little bit of white on the chest and at least one other without).