The Black Cat

Original title: Il gatto nero

1989
R
1h 29m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

An actress starts seeing visions of a witch character called Levana, which she's supposed to play in an upcoming horror movie, and slowly begins to discover a supernatural plot against her l... Read allAn actress starts seeing visions of a witch character called Levana, which she's supposed to play in an upcoming horror movie, and slowly begins to discover a supernatural plot against her life.An actress starts seeing visions of a witch character called Levana, which she's supposed to play in an upcoming horror movie, and slowly begins to discover a supernatural plot against her life.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

4.9/10

834

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
Was originally proposed as an unofficial finale to Dario Argento's then-incomplete 'Three Mothers' trilogy. Originally a script draft was written by Dario Argento's ex-wife Daria Nicolodi, but producer Dino De Laurentiis (who she gave the script to) wasn't interested, and Argento (who originally was supposed to direct) moved away from the project and focused on his next movie 'Tenebrae'. A few years later, Nicolodi gave the script to her friend Luigi Cozzi, wanting him to turn it into a movie. Cozzi decided to do it but didn't want to make a straight sequel to Argento's 'Suspiria' and 'Inferno', so he re-wrote the script into something that is more of a tribute to the two Argento movies. Nicolodi (who originally was supposed to star in it) realized that Cozzi's version was not what she had in mind, and so she left the project.

Quotes
Dan Grudzinski: [translating "Mater Lacrimosa"] It's Latin: "Mother of Tears.
Anne Ravenna: That title rings a bell. Didn't someone already make this movie?
Dan Grudzinski: As a matter of fact, yes! It was a big hit when it came out, reviews, box office, everything!
Marc Ravenna: Dario Argento directed it, "Suspiria," and I must admit, it was very, very good.
Anne Ravenna: So why make it again?

Connections
Featured in FantastiCozzi (2016)

Soundtracks
Someone like you
Written by Leste, Ketler, Kyle & Stevens
Played by Bang Tango
Published by Bang Tango Music 1989
[plays over end credits]

User reviews22

Review

Featured review

6/10

Hexentanz

Il Gatto Nero aka The Black Cat does not belong to the best horror movies Italian style, but still - the atmosphere is dark and creepy, the visuals top notch for a B-movie of the early 80s, on top we get some hand-made gore (not that CGI-nonsense of modern days). The story is maybe a little too confusing and misses some momentum here and there, but anyway, The Black Cat is classic horror Italian style and beats most of today's Hollywood "horror" movies easy, and it got that shot of nightmare-like state that makes it rather special. Recommended if works of Mario Bava, Lucio Fulci, Umberto Lenzi and Dario Argento are regulars on your menu.