Hell's Kitty
2018
The Cast
After watching the dreadful Hellraiser films (the sequels after the original four movies), this little B-Movie Horror Comedy was a real breath of fresh air... and much needed.
This story centres around one cat (Angel) and her all-encompassing love for her owner, Nick (Tana)... Her affection knows no bounds so pitty any woman foolish enough to get close to him; Cat scratches and severed arterial veins go hand in hand in the Tana house. Then one night, Nick is awoken by loud metal music. Stumbling through his apartment half asleep in search of the commotion he comes across a mirror with a pentagram drawn in blood and his kitty eating her treats... also in the shape of a pentagram... Nick begins to question himself... Is Angel possessed?
This is a very witty comedy filled with well written comedic dialogue and situations. However, the best thing by far is the homage to '80's horror films. Nearly every actor in the film has been in a horror flick or two. I particularly liked seeing Isaiah (Franklin) and Mordicia (Gains) once again. For comedy writers, this is how you use the word "Pussy" in dialogue, in a humorous situation, and get the audience to laugh. I even liked the fact that there was corn, for them to run through, in the apartment too - brilliant. Was it also coincidence that I watched this film on the same night as the next chapter in the Children of the Corn flicks... or could it be I'm following him behind the rows...
So this is definitely a film for '80's horror fans. You should feel right at home, as I did (with a big stupid grin on my face), when Michael Berryman makes an appearance as Detective Pluto (yeah, Pluto).
However, it wasn't just the nod to the oldies but Tana is also quite a good director. He used colours and lighting perfectly as well as throwing in some interesting camera angles to create mood and tension. I was so into the film that I didn't notice he changed to black and white for the shower scene. Once I did I knew what was coming... can you screech, "Ree, Ree, Ree," I have to give respect to Tana at this point because, until this moment he'd only used know actors for the comedy and to create a sense of nostalgia, now he was going to use the most iconic scene in movie history for a laugh... but he doesn't. Sure there's comedy in the outcome of the scene but it actually adds relative elements to the story; it wasn't to get a cheap laugh.
As for the acting, it's hit and miss. This could be down to the direction, though I think it's more down to honed skills. The "Stella" cast is pretty much perfect whereas it's the newbies who seem a little off. Though I do have to give a round of applause to Adam Rucho, who plays Adam, as there are some very good dramatic sections in his portrayal making his character realistic and believable. And even though Lisa Young, comes across as a little hammy I have to say this lady really can stare... scary.
The thing which lets the film down the most is the special effects, especially the "Cat-Fights" which just look silly... especially the fight between Angel and the Killer Klown (...From Outer Space); but hey that film was silly so, what-the-hey! That said, when Rosemary Carrie (Midkiff) gets dragged to hell they don't look too bad.
All in all, this isn't a brilliant movie but it is funny, interesting, and a great tribute to a lot of the films of my youth and for that alone, I'd recommend all horror fans to check it out. I hope that Tana will keep on making movies and writing as this is what the horror genre needs at the moment. I can see from this film that he'd probably make a horror flick worth watching or a horror story worth reading.
I give this Possessed Pussy (had to do it) a Killer Love Scratch of 7 out of 10.
