Cathy’s Curse (1977) Review

 

Cathy’s Curse (1977) Review

From French director Eddy Matalon Cathy’s Curse is a late-’70s paranormal horror that walks a fine line between creepy charm and TV-style pacing. Alan Scarfe is the father, George Gimble, delivering steady work as the male lead trying to save his family from inexplicable evil. Randi Allen, as Cathy, is the menacing young girl at the heart of the film; she’s quietly unsettling and gives the role far more menacing weight than the script strictly merits.

There is a Lieutenant Inspector played by Sonny Forbes but sadly role is brief and under-developed, he appears, asks questions about the dog Sneaker’s odd behaviour, but never really drives the story forward.  

What works best is the atmosphere. Creepy ‘Lalalala’ vocals and Didier Vasseur’s music. Reflection in the mirrors, The doll, the ragged toy in the attic, the creeping telekinetic moments, paranormal shenanigans.  It isn’t heavy on scares, but the uncanny visuals and the simply odd mother’s accent linger long after the credits. Beverly Murray (as the mother, Vivian) is memorable, not for scream moments, but for how off-kilter and persistent her presence is.

The film channels elements of Full Circle (1977), a grounded story, supernatural edge rather than outright monsters, a slow accrual of dread rather than sudden shocks. It borrows a little of The Exorcist (1973), The Omen (1976), Carrie (1976) to name a few. It has typical ’70s doll horror tropes, the haunted house, bugs, snakes, rats, telekinesis, and children behaving malevolently. The nanny’s (Dorothy Davis) fall from a window and the gruesome death of the elderly neighbor Paul (Roy Witham) are some of its more vivid violent beats.

It’s not flawless—pacing lags; some roles like the detective feel like placeholders; special effects sometimes underlit or under-polished. But as an off beat TV piece, it delivers more in unsettling tone than in polished terror.