Event

The Cat O' Nine Tails

This second entry in Dario Argentos Animal Trilogy found the young talent further refining his distinctive style and cementing his reputation as master of the giallo. Featuring another nerve-jangling score by the great Ennio Morricone, THE CAT O NINE TAILS remains one of Argentos most suspenseful and underrated films.

When a break-in occurs at a secretive genetics institute, a blind puzzle-maker (Karl Malden, ON THE WATERFRONT) overhears an attempt to blackmail an institute scientist shortly before the robbery, and teams up with intrepid reporter Carlo (James Franciscus, BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES) to crack the case. Soon the bodies pile up, and the two amateur sleuths find their own lives imperilled in their search for the truth. Worse still, the puzzle-makers niece (Cinzia De Carolis, CANNIBAL APOCALYPSE) is in the killers sights...

"Early Argento is utterly sublime. He is formally far more gnarled and unkempt that Hitchcock, but the integrated components of design facilitate the formation of an immersive aesthetic domain equal parts tacky and elegant. In some ways he is like a Visconti of fun (and funny!) trash. I find it positively inspirational to see Karl Malden so game for this madness, and it features one of Morricone's very finest scores." Jason, MUBI

"Uncanny." Cinepassion