Cathy’s Curse (1976) [Severin 4K UHD Review]

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If you’ve never heard of Cathy’s Curse, don’t feel bad—you’re not alone. This 1977 Canadian horror film has long lived in obscurity, surfacing mostly on late-night TV and bootleg VHS tapes. But thanks to Severin Films, Cathy’s Curse has crawled out of the shadows with a stunning 4K UHD release. Yes, you read that right—Cathy’s Curse in 4K. Whether you’ve got fond (or blurry) memories of this oddball possession flick or you’re encountering it for the first time, this new restoration makes the case that some films are too strange to stay buried.

So, what exactly is Cathy’s Curse? Think The Omen meets Carrie, with a heavy dose of Canadian weirdness, all served up in a low-budget ‘70s style. It’s a film that defies conventional horror expectations and instead revels in its own absurdity, with creepy dolls, terrible parenting, and a child actor hamming it up in ways that make you question every filmmaking decision that led to this moment. But that’s the beauty of Cathy’s Curse—it’s bizarre, unintentionally funny, and unlike anything else you’ve seen in the genre.

Severin Films saw the cult potential here, and their 4K UHD release polishes this forgotten gem into something that horror collectors can proudly put on their shelves. But does Cathy’s Curse deserve this kind of attention? Let’s dive into the madness and find out why this odd little film has stuck around, and how Severin’s restoration makes it worth revisiting.

The Curse of Cathy—or Maybe Just Really Bad Parenting

Let’s set the stage. The film opens with a prologue in 1947, where a young boy named George watches his sister, Laura, die in a car accident. It’s traumatic, sure, but instead of moving on like a normal person, George’s life (and his family’s) will be haunted by this event decades later. Fast forward to the ‘70s, and adult George (Alan Scarfe) returns to the family home with his wife, Vivian (Beverly Murray), and their daughter, Cathy (Randi Allen). Little Cathy quickly discovers an old doll and a painting of her dead aunt Laura. As you might expect, this doesn’t go well.

Turns out, Aunt Laura wasn’t exactly thrilled about dying, and she’s been holding a grudge from beyond the grave. Cathy, naturally, becomes possessed by Laura’s spirit and starts wreaking havoc on everyone around her. What follows is a series of increasingly bizarre and nonsensical events, as Cathy uses her newfound supernatural powers to terrorize her family and neighbors. We’re talking exploding windows, creepy telepathy, and Cathy delivering some of the most hilariously over-the-top lines in horror history. One of the film’s standout moments has Cathy taunting her governess with the classic line: “You and your dirty son of a bitch daughter!”

There’s really not much more to the plot than that—Cathy is possessed, weird things happen, and no one seems particularly concerned about it. Her parents are some of the most oblivious and incompetent horror movie parents you’ll ever see. Vivian, Cathy’s mother, spends most of the movie in a tranquilized haze, while George refuses to believe anything is wrong with his obviously evil daughter.

But it’s that very lack of coherence and logic that makes Cathy’s Curse so compelling in a “what were they thinking?” kind of way. It’s a possession movie that doesn’t play by any of the usual rules, and its nonsensical nature only adds to its charm.

Possessed Kids, Incompetent Parents, and One Very Angry Doll

Cathy’s Curse is packed with characters that would fit right into a “so bad it’s good” horror marathon. The performances range from wooden to outright bonkers, with young Randi Allen leading the charge as the possessed Cathy.

• Randi Allen as Cathy
  As Cathy, Allen delivers one of the most unintentionally hilarious child performances in horror history. Her wide-eyed glares and stiff line deliveries somehow make her both terrifying and laughable at the same time. Once possessed by Aunt Laura, Cathy turns into a foul-mouthed terror, delivering lines that no 10-year-old should be saying with the kind of conviction only a child actor can muster. She spends most of the movie tormenting adults with psychic powers and rage-filled outbursts, and honestly, it’s kind of awesome. Allen’s Cathy is what you get when a film takes The Exorcist but replaces the finesse with pure camp.
• Beverly Murray as Vivian
  Vivian, Cathy’s mother, spends most of the movie teetering on the edge of a breakdown, but it’s hard to tell if that’s due to her cursed daughter or just really bad writing. Murray does her best with what she’s given, but Vivian’s role is mostly to be freaked out and ignored by everyone around her. Despite her daughter’s increasingly bizarre behavior, Vivian is easily manipulated and seems more interested in drowning her sorrows in booze than figuring out why Cathy is suddenly acting like a psychopath.
• Alan Scarfe as George
  As Cathy’s oblivious father, George might just be the worst horror movie dad of all time. His inability to notice that something is seriously wrong with his daughter borders on comedic. He spends the film dismissing any suggestion that Cathy is possessed or dangerous, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Scarfe plays George with a kind of detached indifference that makes you wonder if he’s even aware he’s in a horror movie.
• The Doll
  A shoutout has to go to Cathy’s cursed doll, which is one of the creepiest and weirdest props in the film. The doll, which once belonged to Aunt Laura, seems to be the source of Cathy’s possession, and its wide-eyed, vacant stare adds an extra layer of creepiness to the proceedings. It doesn’t get a lot of screen time, but when it does, you know something strange is about to happen.

Revenge from Beyond the Grave, Possession, and Parental Neglect

Let’s not pretend that Cathy’s Curse is trying to tackle deep themes with subtlety. The plot is essentially a mash-up of possession and revenge tropes, with Cathy’s aunt Laura using her as a vessel to exact revenge on the family. There’s something to be said about generational trauma, but Cathy’s Curse is more interested in being a low-budget thrill ride than in exploring anything too profound.

That said, the film does play with some interesting ideas about possession and identity. Cathy is essentially a puppet for her aunt’s rage, and the way the film uses the doll as a symbol of that control is classic horror fare. But any attempt at deeper meaning is undercut by the sheer absurdity of the film’s events.

Still, there’s an underlying theme of parental neglect that runs through the movie. Cathy’s parents are almost comically oblivious to her growing malevolence, which adds a layer of dark humor to the whole thing. It’s hard not to laugh at how hands-off they are, even as their daughter becomes increasingly unhinged.

Severin’s 4K UHD: Polishing the Weirdness to a High Gloss

So, how does Severin’s 4K UHD release treat this forgotten oddity? For a film that spent most of its life as a grainy VHS memory, this restoration is nothing short of miraculous. Severin has done an incredible job of bringing Cathy’s Curse into the modern age, and the results are stunning—if not a little disorienting for those who are used to seeing it in less-than-stellar quality.

• Video Quality
  The 4K transfer brings a whole new level of clarity to Cathy’s Curse. The color palette, which veers between muted ‘70s browns and pops of garish reds, looks fantastic in this release. The details in the set design—whether it’s the creepy old house or Cathy’s bizarre doll—are sharper than ever. Of course, this also means that some of the low-budget special effects are more noticeable, but that’s all part of the charm. The film’s eerie atmosphere is heightened by the improved visuals, and even the strangest scenes benefit from the 4K treatment.
• Audio
  Severin didn’t skimp on the audio either. The film’s sound design, which includes everything from Cathy’s eerie whispers to glass-shattering psychic attacks, is clearer and more pronounced in this release. The dialogue—often delivered with a mix of deadpan seriousness and campy overacting—sounds better than ever, making Cathy’s weird threats all the more delightful. The audio upgrade does wonders for the overall immersion, pulling you deeper into the bizarre world of Cathy’s Curse.

The Cult Cinema Treatment You Didn’t Know You Needed

Severin is known for packing their releases with a wealth of extras, and Cathy’s Curse is no exception. For a film as niche as this, the special features are an absolute treasure for cult cinema fans.

• Interviews and Featurettes
  One of the highlights is a new interview with cast members who reflect on the chaotic production and their memories of filming. It’s fascinating to hear about how the movie came together and how they all felt about the film’s strange legacy. There’s also a featurette on the making of the film, which delves into the production’s history and how Cathy’s Curse became a cult favorite despite its initial obscurity.
• Audio Commentary
  The audio commentary from horror historians provides some much-needed context for Cathy’s Curse’s place in Canadian horror history. They break down the film’s quirks and examine why it’s become a midnight movie staple. It’s a great listen for anyone interested in how this low-budget oddity fits into the broader horror landscape.
• Ported material over from the Blu-ray
  A lot of the remaining special features will be things you saw on the Blu-ray. That’s cool, as it is better to keep supplementals rather than losing them to format upgrades.

Cathy’s Curse Rises Again in 4K UHD Glory

Cathy’s Curse isn’t a masterpiece, and it was never meant to be. It’s a bizarre, low-budget possession film that revels in its absurdity, and that’s exactly why it’s so much fun. Severin’s 4K UHD release breathes new life into this cult oddity, giving it the respect (and restoration) that few would have expected. The visuals are sharp, the sound is crisp, and the special features are packed with insights into one of the strangest horror films you’ll ever see.

Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering it for the first time, this release is the definitive way to experience Cathy’s Curse. So, sit back, grab some popcorn, and prepare to be possessed by one of the weirdest, wildest horror films of the ‘70s. Cathy’s back—and this time, she’s in 4K.

Cathy’s Curse is now available on 4K UHD from Severin

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