REVIEW: ‘Cathy’s Curse’ is revamped for new Severin release
Photo: Cathy’s Curse stars Randi Allen as Cathy Gimble. Photo courtesy of Severin / Provided by Foundry Comm with permission.
Cathy’s Curse is an interesting oddball of a supernatural horror movie from the 1970s. The action kicks off almost immediately with a fiery car crash that leaves a father and his daughter dead, but perhaps the ghost of the young girl remains alive. Fast forward a few decades, and that girl’s brother returns to his childhood home with his young family. What this now-grownup man doesn’t know is that his dead sister is trying to possess his daughter, Cathy.
The premise to Cathy’s Curse, directed by Eddy Matalon and written by Matalon, Myra Clément and Alain Sens-Cazenave, is an original one, and that sets this 1977 feature apart from other horror fare from the time period. The performances by Alan Scarfe as the grownup father, George Gimble, and Randi Allen as Cathy, his daughter, are quite solid in the acting department. Perhaps the highlight of the cast is Beverly Murray, playing the role of Vivian Gimble, George’s wife. From her opening scene when she seems bemused at her husband’s desire to live in his childhood home to her anguish over being haunted by the spirit of this little girl, Murray is effective as an interpreter of fear and strength, laced with dread and uncertainty.
The entire film, as a moviegoing experience, doesn’t quite hold up nearly 50 years after its initial release. There are some issues on how to categorize this horror film into a particular subgenre, and that gives the movie an undefined identity. This is not quite a haunted house tale. This is not quite a ghost tale. This is not quite a scary-doll or scary-child feature. One can classify it under the general umbrella of supernatural, but there’s not much lore behind exactly how George’s sister is holding court over this house and this family. One can understand the motivation for the curse because that car crash in the beginning is horrific and seems to follow a parental fight involving the mother and father.
What elevates this film is Severin’s new 4K transfer. The package includes the director’s cut of Cathy’s Curse, plus the original R-rated American version. A host of extras answers key questions and provides behind-the-scenes stories. An audio commentary is included courtesy of Fangoria contributor Brian Collins and director Simon Barrett. There are also interviews with everyone from Matalon to Scarfe to add some context.
Cathy’s Curse is an interesting addition to a horror aficionado’s collection, especially for those who love 1970s cinema. Severin has done this lost gem a great service with an elaborate package for its UHD/Blu-ray release. There’s even a webstore exclusive slipcase featuring glowing LED eyes, this way Cathy can send her mysterious looks to viewers even before hitting play.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Cathy’s Curse (1977). Directed by Eddy Matalon. Written by Matalon, Myra Clément and Alain Sens-Cazenave. Starring Alan Scarfe, Beverly Murray and Randi Allen. Running time: 82 minutes. Click here for more information on the Severin release.
