Cat O'Nine Tails Details

A nudge is as good as a wink to a blind bat

When Argento started his journey into features he obviously had a strategic plan of action in mind. This, his second film, keeps to a similar 'who dunnit' structure as in 'The bird with the crystal plumage'. It obviously differs in plot but with music again from Ennio Morricone and Argento's distinctive photographic style, the feel is similar.

I have always been a huge fan of Argento. I first saw his work at 'The Scala' cinema (no longer in existence) in Kings Cross, London. They showed a selection of works by him and he was there at the end to answer questions. Not having ever heard of him prior to this I was amazed at the worldwide reach he has. His work is visionary and has influenced so many film makers.

I digress. The film follows Karl Malden's curiosity into a murder case close to his home. Malden is blind and teams up with a journalist to investigate various connections with different cases. There is a certain arthouse feel about the film. If you have ever seen Antonioni's 'Blow-up' then the feel similar but maybe less bitty.

A great night in (I would however watch 'The bird with the crystal plumage' first). Watch in the dark with a couple of lit candles, wearing a raincoat with nice italian leather driving gloves, a hat and cutthroat razor.

Dario Argento's second film follows the same basic template as Bird With the Crystal Pluamge, but has none of the style of the original. The story concerns a journalist probing a spate of murders based around a group of scientists working to isolate the genetic tendency towards violence, and the title refers to the thrillers 9 'leads'. Cat O Nine Tails never sinks into the depths, but niether does it rise to any hights - it's just a very average thriller - watchable, but with no spectacular twists, and barring one spectacular moment when a man is pushed in front of a train none of the murders have much impact either. The addition of a blind amateur slueth as one of the two leads should lead to some ripe territory for scare, but no real scares develop. On the plus side theres some nice subtle humour, and some Argento trademark point of view shots for his killer, but all in all this comes over as a very workmanlike attempt to replicate the success of Bird With a Crystal Plumage. Worth watching once for Argento fans, but unlike Argentos best films I cant see anyone wanting to watch this again and again.