Italian Giallo/Horror specialist Lucio Fulci tackles Edgar Allan Poe (really just the title) in this modest gross-out thriller from his late international period. Here, with British locations and Italian interiors, Patrick Magee stars as our cranky psychic (vocal cadences courtesy of Boris Karloff) who’s either controlling our eponymous pussy (or is it pussies?) or is controlled by them in a series of murderous assaults. Fulci’s action chops pretty weak here, cat attacks mostly feline free-throws for minimal shock effect, and deadly paws more like paint brushes slathering on stage blood. Things turn dire as various characters start catching on to his act and the police investigate, but too late to save a randy fellow hoist on his own petard when his air-conditioned den of inequity is sabotaged to become a sweat-box of death for him and his unwilling nubile victim. All very 'meh.' What does hold your attention is an unusual score from Pino Donaggio along with dazzling production design from Franco Calabrese. Some scaffold-like staircases the most Poe-worthy element in here.
DOUBLE-BILL: Lucio Fulci has an expanding cult following, but we’ve yet to be convinced. Perhaps some Fulci fan has a suggestion. Click where it says 'Post a Comment' directly below.
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