This week on Friday Night Frightfest, we are diving into the twisted world of Edgar Allan Poe adaptations filtered through the lens of Italian horror masters! We’re comparing two distinctly different takes on Poe’s works, both featuring the iconic killer feline: the atmospheric Giallo-tinged film The Black Cat (1981) from Lucio Fulci, and he anthology film Two Evil Eyes (1990), directed by Dario Argento and George A. Romero.
The Black Cat (1981)
Directed by the "Godfather of Gore," Lucio Fulci, this film is a loose, Gothic interpretation of Poe's famous short story. Set in a small English village, a psychic professor (Patrick Magee) with a penchant for recording the voices of the dead seems to share a malevolent connection with his black cat. As a series of gruesome, seemingly unrelated deaths plague the community, an American photographer (Mimsy Farmer) and a detective (David Warbeck) race to determine if the feline is truly a supernatural killer, or merely a vessel for the professor's madness. The film is known for its moody atmosphere and surreal Fulci-esque touches.
Two Evil Eyes (1990)
This anthology film is a collaborative effort between two horror giants, George A. Romero and Dario Argento, with each directing a story based on Poe.
Romero's Segment ("The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar"): This segment stars Adrienne Barbeau and E.G. Marshall and focuses on a dying, wealthy man who is hypnotized just before death so his consciousness can be preserved. However, the plan goes horribly wrong when his spirit remains trapped between worlds, leading to a chilling reanimation and the terrifying consequences of cheating death.
Argento's Segment ("The Black Cat"): Starring Harvey Keitel, this segment is a stylized adaptation of "The Black Cat." Keitel plays a crime scene photographer who descends into madness and violence after he resents and tortures his girlfriend's pet feline. Argento uses hyper-stylized gore and nightmarish visuals to explore themes of perversity and artistic decay.
Join us as we dissect these two distinct adaptations. Tune in for a double dose of Poe and Italian horror masters!
Spoilers start around 7:30-ish.
