Masters of Horror: The Black Cat
by Stuart Gordon
List Price:
Our Price: $2.80
You Save: $12.18 (81%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $1.21 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Aron Tager, Elyse Levesque, Eric Keenleyside, Jeffrey Combs, Patrick GallagherDirector: Stuart Gordon
Brand: STARZ/SPHE
Writer: Stuart Gordon
Producer: Adam Goldworm
Producer: Andrew Deane
Producer: Ben Browning
Producer: John W. Hyde
Producer: Keith Addis
Writer: Dennis Paoli
Writer: Edgar Allan Poe
Writer: Mick Garris
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 58 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-07-17
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
DVD Reviews of Masters of Horror: The Black Cat
DVD Review: A Dream Within a Dream
Summary: 5 Stars
Stuart Gordon is arguably one of the few masters at directing horror films who remains totally faithful to both the genre and his fans. That's not to say that Gordon hasn't had a few misses, but unlike many of his peers, he obviously tries to avoid pandering to the big-name studios, the MPAA, and conservative watch-dog groups, and even his lesser efforts are therefore often more appealing to genre fans than some of the best efforts of other directors. Gordon knows what makes a good horror film AND what makes it appealing to the hard-core fans, meaning that he doesn't shy away from controversial subjects or themes and he delivers the shocks and the gore without being gratuitous about it. And that is precisely why Gordon's THE BLACK CAT, his latest entry in Showtime's cable-TV series MASTERS OF HORROR, is probably the best episode of the series to date.
THE BLACK CAT is a fictional, but fact-based, account of how the great horror and mystery writer Edgar Allan Poe may have been inspired to write his short-story masterpiece "The Black Cat." Living in poverty and struggling to take care of his gravely ill wife, Poe falls into bouts with depression, alcoholism, and drug abuse. During these emotional and drug-laden episodes, he has delusions and hallucinations involving a badgering feline and the inadvertent murder of his beloved wife. Ultimately, he pulls himself out of his stupor and draws inspiration from his delusions the coalesce into the famous short story.
Jeffrey Combs, a longtime collaborator of Gordon's, is absolutely outstanding in the role of Poe. Not only is he dead-ringer (excuse the pun) for the famous American author, but Combs delivers a tour-de-force performance that makes the story both compelling and believable. And delivering excellent performances in supporting roles are Aron Tager, whom genre fans may recognize from his recurring role as Doctor Vink in Nickelodeon's delightful children's horror anthology ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?; attractive Elyse Levesque playing Poe's young wife; Eric Keenleyside as a police officer in one of Poe's delusions; and Ian Alexander Martin and Ken Kramer in small but important roles.
Although the account is fictional, Gordon and his co-writer Dennis Paoli did exceptional research to ensure that the details of Poe's life were factual, making the story seem all the more like something that could have indeed occurred and, in turn, inspired the great author and poet. Many of these factual details are pointed out by Gordon and actor Combs in their excellent feature commentary, and others are discussed in one of the exceptional documentaries offered on the disc. In addition to these, other special features include a documentary on the make-up and CGI FX, a biography of director Gordon, and the episode's screenplay.
In spite of its short run time (55 mins), small budget, and an excruciatingly short production schedule, "The Black Cat"--like Gordon's first-season MOH entry, "Dreams in the Witch House"--does not come across as a cheap, hastily executed made-for-cable film. Gordon's direction is tight and skillful, drawing upon his experience in both theater and film to create a perfectly dreary mood that, while intricate to the narrative, never upstages the actors or the action. The cinematography is also breathtaking, with camera angles and visuals that help to belie the film's meager budget, and Gordon's decision to use starkly monochromatic color scheme, punctuated only occasionally with elements of harsh color, adds to the realism of this period piece.
In short, "The Black Cat" is a highly entertaining and notable entry in the horror genre, and it is arguably the best entry hitherto in Showtime's MASTERS OF HORROR series. Indeed, in spite of its made-for-cable origins, Gordon's skill and faithfulness to the genre and genre fans serves to created a film that rivals many full-length horror films released in theaters these days, and all serious genre fans should consider adding the film to their growing collections.
Description of Masters of Horror: The Black Cat
LEGENDARY WRITER EDGAR ALLEN POE IS DRIVEN TO DEBT & DRUNKENFOLLY BY A WORLD CRUELLY INDIFFERENT TO HIS POETRY. BUT IS IT HIS BELOVED WIFE'S AGONIZING DEATH BY CONSUMPTION OR HERERANGED PET FELINE THAT WILL SOON TRIGGER THE SCRIBE'S GHASTLYACTS OF MADNESS?Bestsellers in DVD
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Masters of Horror: PeltsFox; Release date: 2007-02-13; DVD
Best price: $4.98
Price in other shops:
Masters of Horror: The WashingtoniansFox; Release date: 2007-09-18; DVD
Best price: $5.00
Price in other shops:
Masters of Horror - Stuart Gordon - Dreams in the Witch HouseSTARZ/SPHE; Release date: 2006-03-28; DVD
Best price: $1.49
Price in other shops:
Masters of Horror - Right to DieSTARZ/SPHE; Release date: 2007-05-15; DVD
Best price: $3.70
Price in other shops:
Masters of Horror - John Mcnaughton - Haeckel's TaleSTARZ/SPHE; Release date: 2006-11-14; DVD
Best price: $3.89
Price in other shops:
Masters of Horror: The Damned ThingFox; Release date: 2007-10-16; DVD
Best price: $4.99
Price in other shops:
Masters of Horror: Sounds LikeFox; Release date: 2007-09-18; DVD
Best price: $2.30
Price in other shops:
Masters of Horror: ImprintSTARZ/SPHE; Release date: 2006-09-26; DVD
Best price: $3.99
Price in other shops:
Edgar Allan Poe Classic Compilation: The Cask of Amontillado and the Tell Tale HeartTaleTube, LLC; Published: 2008; DVD
Best price: $14.95
Biography - Edgar Allan Poe: The Mystery of Edgar Allen Poe (A&E DVD Archives)Release date: 2004-08-10; DVD
Best price: $12.47
Price in other shops: