Happy Halloween, Wicked Horror readers. Cat Horror remains one of my favorite sub-genres, and we don’t talk about it nearly enough. From the twitch of their tails to the beady, glowing eyes, cats are mysterious creatures by their very nature. In many cultures, cats possess great power–and the same can be said for cats in your favorite horror pictures. Many of my go-to cat-centric horror movies feature ferocious felines saving the day, planning world domination, or just being plain adorable.
From The Uncanny to Hocus Pocus, cats have staked their claim on the horror genre (and our hearts) throughout the decades. When they’re not coming in clutch to tip off police about a dead body (The Black Cat), they’re being cute companions for a little girl and serving as the connective tissue for a criminally underrated anthology (Cat’s Eye). Whatever the case might be, cats are as reliable a creature as you’d ever want.
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There’s no better time to celebrate our four-legged furry friends than during spooky season. Picking out just five cats was an arduous task, but I managed to select those felines I wish I could take home with me (although the four I already have might find something to hiss about). While I honor my top picks for cats in horror that save the day here, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention those movies and shows that feature cats that almost made the cut.
In addition to the media I’ve listed below, I’d recommend checking out The Uncanny, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Cat People (1982), Pet Sematary, Booger, and The Voices.
Binx in Hocus Pocus
No list is complete without Binx, the boy trapped in a cat’s body. Hocus Pocus is probably one of the most popular gateway horrors of all time, everyone knows the story. Binx attempts to save his younger sister, Emily, from the Sanderson Sisters, only to end up trapped in a furry body. 300 years later, the witchy sisters rise from their graves after a virgin lights the black flame candle. Hijinks ensue, and Binx is at the center of it all.
Equal parts cuddly and sassy, Binx is everything a cat should be. He offers sage advice along Max, Dani, and Allison’s scheme to end the Sanderson Sisters’ reign of terror. And he looks totally adorable while doing it. Binx is not afraid to smack your face when you don’t listen, and he has a knack for dark humor. What else could you want from a four-legged friend?
Satan in Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key
In 1972’s Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key, a black cat named Satan plays a key (haha) role in the murder mystery. The premise is quite simple: Drunken author Oliviero loves to host lavish parties at his expansive estate, and he’s no stranger to rollicking with his fair share of naked women. He abuses his wife and shows no remorse for his actions. Irina harbors a great fear of Satan, who, quite frankly, couldn’t care less. Satan hisses and strikes at her every chance he gets. You know, cats are great judges of character.
As a string of murders threaten to dismantle everything Oliviero has built, it’s a race against time to pinpoint the culprit and put a stop to their rampage. Taking cues from The Black Cat, Satan is integral to solving the crimes, eventually leading police down into the mansion’s cellar, where bodies are tucked away in the concrete walls. Such a good kitty!
Clovis in Sleepwalkers
Clovis from Sleepwalkers is a scrappy little one. If you ever need saving, you better have Clovis at your side. When a pair of sleepwalkers move to town, the residents have no idea what kind of sheer evil has settled in next door. Shapeshifting werecats, Charles and his mother, Mary, set their sights on Tanya, a local high school student. They feed on human flesh and have only one weakness: domesticated housecats.
That’s where Clovis comes pouncing into action. As Charles grows closer to Tanya, Clovis sees through the werecats’ illusionary capabilities and frequently goes on the offensive, becoming increasingly hostile to their natural-born enemies. In the film’s climax, Clovis rallies a clowder of cats and sets outposts outside Charles and Mary’s house. Clovis has struck Charles with fatal blows to his chest and face, and it’s only a matter of time before the police swarm the house. Despite valiant attempts to get the upper hand, Mary becomes prey to the horde awaiting her outside. Led by Clovis, the cats sneak attack and claw her to death. Tanya couldn’t have asked for a better protector, as she hugs her new furry friend in the film’s final moments.
General in Cat’s Eye
In “General,” the final segment of 1985’s Cat’s Eye, a very young Drew Barrymore plays Amanda, a young girl who adopts a stray cat and names him General. Throughout the film, General wanders through the city and serves as the throughline for the anthology. When General meets Amanda, she struggles to sleep at night because of an evil troll that lives in her bedroom walls. Her parents don’t believe her, naturally, and force Amanda to put General outside at night.
General defies this ill-advised rule and rightfully sneaks back into her room. After the troll kills the family’s parakeet, Polly, Amanda’s father slowly begins to believe that something else is amiss. The situation quickly escalates when the troll puts a wedge beneath Amanda’s bedroom door and attempts one last time to steal her breath. But General saves the day, of course. The family finally believes Amanda’s claims when they discover tiny troll body parts and its razor-sharp dagger. Much like Clovis, you can always depend on General to protect you from evil.
The Orange Cat in Eye of the Cat
While the central orange cat in Eye of the Cat doesn’t have a name, it steals the show in this 1969 film. When a wealthy woman’s nephew and his girlfriend plot to kill her and revise her will, the orange cat proves a hissing and clawing foil to their plans. You see, the nephew has a deadly fear of felines, frequently going into a catatonic state. At every turn, the orange cat keeps watch over the old woman and attacks anyone who gets close to her.
The orange cat (I’m gonna call him Freckles) proves integral when it all hits the fan in the third act. Despite the nephew electrocuting the cat early in the film, nothing will keep a good feline down. Twist after twist, the film gives Freckles the agency to expose the real culprit of the diabolical plot. No spoilers, but you may be shocked.
Whether it’s Freckles, Clovis, Binx, General, or Satan, cats are intensely loyal if you ever need someone to have your back. They might even kill for you. And I won’t argue with that… wink.
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