Stewart Gordon is what I’ve always called the Lovecraft expert of film. In fact many people believe that, however this time he tackles the work of a another horror legend in Edgar Allen Poe. The Black Cat; one of Poe’s famous tales is the subject of this film, and Gordon tackles the story with such brilliance and style.
In this version of the story which is very well written and put together. Edgar Allen Poe (Jeffrey Combs) is living his life in a small home with his wife, while struggling with a drinking problem and his writing of poetry, Poe tries to make ends meet as his publisher offers him very little money for his poems but offers him more money if he writes more tales of murder and madness. Poe asks for an advance, which he simply gets and goes and blows it down at the local tavern. When he gets home he finds his wife sitting with a man in their home who wants to buy their piano from them. Drunk, Poe refuses to sell it, but asks his wife to play a song for the man. While she attempts to play she gets sick and coughs up a large amount of blood. She is dying and wishes for Poe to stop drinking a work more on his writing. He agrees but while he begins to write he notices that their cat Pluto (Their Black Cat) is up to no good. What transpires is a tale between Man vs. Cat with a supernatural twist to it.
Right off the bat, we’re thrown right into the time of Edgar Allen Poe, which is around the mid-late eighteen hundreds. Stewart Gordon uses a noir like feel with the look of the film, using a film stock that gives the movie a classic look, while the colors of significant objects such as blood, a glass of wine and the cats eyes. The overall look of the film looks like an updated version of a classic horror films from the nineteen fifties and sixties. Gordon style of direction and his script are what really helped make this production as good as it was. However I can’t give him all the credit as he had some great help as well.
Jeffery Combs deserves a Emmy or Golden globe for his role as Edgar Allen Poe in this movie. Combs and Gordon have always had a great working relationship with one another, so it’s not surprise that Combs is in this movie however he was the perfect fit for the part, not only does he look a little like Poe in real life, the make-up effects artist in this film gave him the feature of Poe in this movie to make his look just as perfect as Comb’s acting was in this film. Combs to his credit also had a great supporting cast backing him as well. The film has the perfect cast all around.
The overall production value and special effects were perfect in this film. While there is not really a lot of over the top gore in the, there is plenty of blood, an axed head, and a lot of effects involving the cat. (I won’t spoil those for you). The major thing that I pointed out above is the great make-up effects that were used to transform Jeffery Combs in Edgar Allen Poe, but other than that the overall effects were very good in this film. The set design is another thing that I need to point out. This is a movie that obviously takes place in a different time era, and the sets that were used added to the dark feel that this films gives off.
The Black Cat is possibility one of the best Masters of Horror episodes I’ve seen to date. While it may not be a show that everyone will enjoy, because of it’s dark gothic look and Poe content; I’m sure fans of classic horror films and Poe fans alike will really enjoy it.
– Horror Bob
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- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
