gridoon Review of A Cat in the Brain

A Cat in the Brain (1990)

Interesting implications, over-hyped gore. (MINOR SPOILERS)

[6/10 · 30 January 2002]

Lucio Fulci plays himself, a famous director of horror flicks who is haunted by nightmarish visions, partly because the brutal violence of his films is starting to get to him, and partly because his mad psychiatrist hypnotizes him into believing that he committed a series of bloody murders (for which the doctor is actually responsible). It's an interesting, thought-provoking idea, and Fulci proves to be a rather capable actor. But I have to warn everybody that the gore, although plentiful, has no impact most of the time (and this can be perceived as either good or bad, depending on you). Much of the gore exists in the movie-within-a-movie, so it's obviously meant to be fake, and much of it is in visions and hallucinations, and we know that it's not the real thing, as well. Anyway, there are some truly impressive effects (especially a throat-slashing near the end), but in several key scenes (like in some decapitations) the editing is botched. Still, horror fans will get their money's worth. (**)