Distributor Well Go USA continuing in their efforts to bring out of print and hard to find titles back to Blu-ray with Legend of the Demon Cat, a tale of intrigue, betrayal, and supernatural phenomena at the royal court at Chang’an, the seat of the Tang Empire.
Puzzled by the ominous mystery of a black cat that was present at the emperor’s disturbingly freakish death, Kūkai, a Japanese monk, and scribe Bai Letian, the emperor’s (now unemployed) personal documentarian, team up to look into what they realize may be a supernatural mystery. Not long after, the black cat manifests once again, this time in a much more public and violent fashion.
What the pair discover in their investigation is a decades old mystery of murder and betrayal – and the cat’s reign of terror not sourced from spite, but an anguished and vengeful wrath.
The hang-out between these two characters is where I found the film most enjoyable, as they enjoy an easy chemistry and different personalities – the wise and soft-spoken monk and the excitable scribe who spires to be a great poet.
The pairing of a Japanese monk with a Chinese hero in a supernatural narrative immediately reminded of of the Peacock King films, and Japanese actor Hiroshi Abe, who played the monk in that series, even features in a small role (which, unfortunately, doesn’t really go anywhere).
While the film is at times quite visually arresting, and strikes an undeniably melancholic tone, it ultimately didn’t land for me.
Certainly part of this is because I came in with misplaced expectations of a cool action-horror movie or supernatural spookshow, and it’s it not really about that. The black cat isn’t so much a monster as an avatar for pain and vengeance for an unrighted wrong.
Overall I found it a little wearisome, with the significant flashbacks (which fill in the originating mystery) becoming kind of tedious – although it does ultimately wind its way to a quite poignant and effecting conclusion.
The Package
Legend of the Demon Cat is released in Well Go USA’s new MOD (burned) format, packed in a standard blue Elite case.
The disc’s MOD format may limit its compatibility. It worked for me in my computer, but another player I tested was unable to read it.
Special Features & Extras
The disc’s only extras are trailers for both Legend of the Demon Cat and other Well Go USA titles.
- Legend of the Demon Cat Trailer in Mandarin with English Subtitles (2:05)
- Legend of the Demon Cat Trailer in English (2:06)
Promotional Trailers (3:59)
- The Divine Fury (1:42)
- Freaks (1:58)
- Kung Fu Monster (1:11)
A/V Out.
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Legend of the Demon Cat Blu-ray – Buy Direct at Movie Zyng | Get it at Amazon
