There’s a running joke that cats seek world domination. Unlike their canine counterparts, furry felines possess unique personalities, both individual and independent. “Domestication has been a fantastically successful evolutionary strategy for cats,” wroteThe Atlanticin 2017. As such,cats have clawed their way into our lives and have all but taken over the world. InDenis Héroux’s anthology filmThe Uncanny, starringPeter CushingandDonald Pleasence, cats perch center stage in four separate tales about their eye-piercing plot to make us their loyal servants.
From a script written byMichel Parry, the film forces the viewer to question whether there’s any truth to the matter. The wraparound story, featuring Cushing as Wilbur Gray, a novelist who visits his publisher to discuss his book on cats, presents the central thesis: thatcats are inherently evil, and their impending world domination is only a scratch away. Through its dark humor, and often graphic imagery,The Uncannyserves as a prime example that Wilbur is right andcats deserve the globe-snatching domination they so richly desire.
What are the Four Stories in ‘The Uncanny’?
After Wilbur Gray makes outrageous claims to his publisher, Frank Richards (Ray Milland), he’s met with incredulity and ghastly hisses from Richards’ cat. Wilbur firmly believes cats to be evil and bloodthirsty for human flesh. His fear of cats fuels his paranoia, but is it really paranoia when cats attack him in the dead of night? He presents his writings (three real-life horrorstories about catsruling over their humans) as verifiable proof.
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The first tale (“London 1912”) follows Miss Malkin (Joan Greenwood), a wealthy socialite who amends her will, so her army of furry friends gets an inheritance instead of her nephew Michael (Simon Williams). Along with his mistress and Malkin’s maid Janet (Susan Penhaligon), Michael conspires to steal and destroy the will’s original copy. Malkin’s cats have another plan, however. In the film’s best segment, the cats simply exhibit undying loyalty to their human and unleash unholy, skin-tearing retribution. There’s no fault in that.Humans are terrible, after all.
In the second segment (“Quebec 1975”), an orphan named Lucy (Katrina Holden Bronson) goes to live with her aunt, Mrs. Blake (Alexandra Stewart), and her husband. The story regales a message about a cat’s dedication to humans, while also puncturing its sharp fangs into the heart of humanity. Then, with the third entry (“Hollywood 1936”), Donald Pleasence plays a man named Valentine De’ath, who is working on a movie. Drained from a lifeless marriage, he schemes to kill his wife by switching a fake pendulum blade with a real one on set. But the wife’scat has other ideas and exacts good old-fashioned revenge.
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What is the Message of ‘The Uncanny’?
Across such outlandish tales, the film suggests that cats are, indeed, slowly chipping away at civilization as we know it. In every case,cats are extremely loyal to their caretakersand will do whatever it takes tokeep a sense of morality. The felines frequently turn their attention to tricking the evil and wicked into believing they are not a real threat. Naturally, it’s all a ruse, andthe cats demonstrate great cunning and strength. Manyclassic horror movies, fromPet SemataryandRe-Animator, also confirm this, in addition to others, such asAlien, that feature cats as trustworthyand reliable creatures.
Their deadly plot to overtake humanity requires small increments, an insidious effort to lull mankind into a state of complacency. Our collective slumber positions us as weak, unconcerned, and delusional. As evidenced by “London 1912,” cats are most loyal to one another, forming clowders to best pounce and attack. In unlocking these sly maneuvers,cats can (and should) be able to one day conquer the globe as we know it.
The Uncannyquite uncannily depicts cats’ thirst for world domination. In four scenarios, the film perfectly captures the subtle reality in which we live. Cats are crafty, resolute, and domineering creatures that have us all frozen in a trance. With the film’s commitment to entertaining, it masks the deeper and darker cat initiative. And it’s up to us to peel back the layers to get a glimpse of what’s happening in the world. Many might be blind to the truth, but others see it for what it is. And still more cheer on our favorite furry felines for their unwavering devotion to such a dangerous and well-organized scheme.Cats do deserve the world, and we just have to accept it.
The Uncanny
