The Horror Show
Hell's Kitty
by Nicholas Tana
I'm a dog guy. That's me. I love our canine friends and still consider them to be one of our species’ greatest feats. I don't dislike cats, I have friends who have cats I like, but for the most part, they are just another element of the world that I spot on occasion. One thing, however, that I have always respected about cats is their connection to the other side. Even if it's fictional, I love the concept of the black cat that one doesn't want crossing their path at the wrong time of year. I love the idea of possessed cats or felines that can stare into a person's soul. These cat-based subjects have been around for quite some time, both historically and in the world of the arts, so there have been several movies dealing with the subject. A new film that I watched recently in this vein is Hell's Kitty. Describing itself as a horror/comedy and boasting a great cast, I was eager to check it out. Through further research I discovered that there is also a web-series by the same writer/director/star. I'm not so familiar with that so I'll strictly be speaking about the film itself and how it works on its own. So how did this feline flick fair?
I will start out by saying that Hell's Kitty falls into the “Wacky Comedy” category. It isn't the type of film in which things start off relatively normal and a particular situation is specifically what makes a wild ride appear. This is the type of movie in which things start right off the bat in an oddball fashion and the ways the characters respond to the happenings and events are far removed from how most normal people respond in real life. Beginning with a hilarious meow-laden song, the story centers around a young man named Nick (Nicholas Tana) who has the unfortunate circumstance of having an evil cat. His cat Angel may or not be a horrid being inherently, but the furry critter has been exhibiting some seriously murderous tendencies as of late.
The majority of the film focuses on Nick trying his best to rid whatever foul entity has taken over his cat. He tries pet therapists and priests as well as personal attempts, but Angel is the cat that keeps on scratching. The project serves as a series of hi-jinks and humor that comes from Nick trying at wits end to solve the whisker-sporting problem in his life. It's all very episodic and I can see how the pacing must have worked as a web series. That being said, I wouldn't have suspected it was at all attached to something else on my own and it very much works as a standalone film. The humor throughout Hell's Kitty is constant. Almost every line features some kind of comedic twist or pun. At first, I assumed these would grow tiresome after some time, but really these elements just ended up adding to the charm of the overall project. Not every turn of phrase or comment is especially milk-out-the-nose hilarious, but they help to build the unique world that the characters live in.
Although I was previously unfamiliar with him, I really liked Nick Tana in the lead role. A director casting themselves is always a risk but I'm glad he took it. I also appreciated Adam Rycho in his role as Nick's friend Adam. Despite the film's overall comedic nature, Adam serves as the primary “light” character and I mean that in a good way. When things are looking especially grim he's there to pop in on occasion and it's always fun to watch. I wouldn't really call him a “Comedic Relief” because of the funny nature of the rest of the film, but he serves the same purpose regardless.
As presented on the artwork, Hell's Kitty is also filled with some wonderful, familiar faces. These include the great Doug Jones as a priest, cult favorite Michael Berryman as a detective, Adrienne Barbeau as a mysterious woman with a link to Nick's past, and Children of the Corn's John Franklin and Courtney Gains, clearly referencing their famous roles. All of them bring the same level of commitment and enthusiasm as would be expected and I'm glad they all got on board.
To go too much into the ins and outs of the film would be a disservice. It's an erratic, wild movie that I'll admit at times is a bit unfocused and muddled, but I enjoyed the project in its entirety. Sure, I can see some people rolling their eyes through the cheesier humor and getting a bit confused, but if you're just looking for some silly entertainment, I say go for it. And I in no way mean the phrase “Silly Entertainment” in a belittling way. I love that the film had a great time with itself and wasn't afraid to wear its heart on its sleeve, and maybe you will too.
Hell’s Kitty is available on VOD and DVD on March 27th. HMS received an advanced screener of this film in exchange for review. Also, the actor Adam Rycho’s name may be misspelled due to him being uncredited on iMDB.
P.J. Griffin, HMS
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