There was so much potential in a modern color remake of this old dark house mystery tale, but this one is just so average. The muted colors and static direction give it the look and feel of something filmed for British TV but shown theatrically. More spooky stuff with the escaped lunatic who rips his victims to shreds with his sharp nails would have been vastly appreciated without sacrificing the mystery element. The most striking scene has a woman walking behind a movie screen, appearing on the B&W film being projected and walking off the other side to appear from behind the screen. I wonder how many takes it took the bring this effect off so flawlessly.
Review of The Cat and the Canary
The Cat and the Canary
(1978)
Not much in this film for a cat to chew on but the canary.
12 October 2000