Entertainment Earth

3/19/2018

CATHY'S CURSE (Review)

Title: Cathy's Curse
Diretor: Eddy Matalon
Writers: Myra Clement, Eddy Matalon, Alain Sens-Cazenave
Cast: Alan Scarfe, Beverly Murray, Randi Allen, Dorothy Davis, Mary Morter, Roy Witham
Min: 82
Year: 1977

Several years ago, a dad comes home from work and finds out that his wife has left with his son, leaving their daughter behind. Pissed off, and cursing, he gets in his car with her. But, when a bunny crosses in front of them, she makes them serve the car, causing it to crash. In the fiery aftermath, they both die. Cut to the present, or 1977, in this case. the earlier mentioned son, George Gimble (Alan Scarfe), is now a grown family man. He moves in to that very same house with his beautiful wife, Vivian (Beverly Murray) and their daughter Cathy (Randi Allen).
Soon, Cathy finds a creepy, old doll with its eyes shut. which belonged to the aforementioned dead girl (her aunt). Shortly after, dead auntie possess Cathy who turns into an evil and hilariously foul mouthed little bitch. Using her new telekinetic powers, she causes her nanny to fly out the window, drives mommy crazy, creeps out the dog, hangs around the old groundskeeper as he gets drunk, plus other admit ably anitsocial behavior. Vivian knows there is something wrong with not very sweet daughter, but George doesn't believe, cause well do they ever in these fucking movies?! Will, he finally get his head out of his ass in time to save his wife and stop/ help Cathy be free of the evil inside her?
Cathy's Curse is a Canadian production that manages to rip-off seminal 70's horror films The Exorcist, The Omen, and Carrie. To say that this movie is not even a half as good as those films is an understatement. However, in its unquestionable shittiness, it is something else, indeed.

The acting is atrocious. Alan Scarfe, as the not very smart husband and dad, overacts terribly. Meanwhile, Beverly Murray, as the wife and mom with the stunningly beautiful eyes, clearly has gone to the William Shatner school of acting and graduated with honors! Little Randi Allen isn't any better, what her wild eyes and flat delivery, but it works, well for this movie, anyhow. Everyone else is just as bad. On top of terrible acting there is some truly godawful dialogue delivered with a lack of commendable talent that makes for an uproarious good time!
The directing by Eddy Matalon is equally as bad. There is no tension or scares to be said of, though the climax does actually finally gets some moments of suspense. Which is all offset, by a truly hilarious ending, though, I am one-hundred percent sure, that was not the intention. Scenes jump from one moment to the next with no little to no seniscal reasoning, sometimes leaving a scene feeling incomplete. But, being that I saw the uncut version from Severin Films, we can assume that there is nothing more that is actually missing!

There is some gore, but not a whole lot, which is fine because none of it is very convincing. When Cathy's face goes all pre-Freddy burnt up, it looks mostly like someone throw some totatoe sauce on her face, as opposed to something truly terrifying.
If it sounds like I am taking proverbial dump on this movie, I really am not. You see for all these terrible reasons is why I enjoyed it so much! I had a blast watching it, as I laughed, a lot, sometimes loudly. The hokey ending in particular and Murray's seeming speech impediment being personal favorites of crappidom. Some may be snobby and look down at this movie as being total garbage (most critics do). But, those people are fools and need to stop taking shit so seriously. My only real complaint is that the pacing isn't always the best, and the movie flatters in a few of the slower moments.
This isn't one of the better known Canadian horror flicks, but its reputation, I think (hope?) is growing. Especially in light of last year's Blu-ray release by Severin. They put out a gorgeous looking disc of the never before seen uncut version. This is the version I saw on Shudder. I cannot compare to the earlier release, as this was my first time watching it.
Cathy's Curse is, for accounts and purposes a terrible movie. The acting, dialogue, directing, and editing are as far from good as humanly possible. It shamelessly lifts from better and more successful supernatural horror movies. Yet, for all these very reasons, it is comedic gold. A must for bad movie aficionados, this flick might just be your new favorite, it's so bad, so good movie!


2.5 out of 4 

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