Skip to main content
Crime Cult Classic

Egyptian relics, a cursed amulet, and a killer cat stalk Los Angeles in this 1973 crime-horror mystery.

THE CAT CREATURE

1973 · 1h 12m · NR · Crime / Horror / Mystery · IMDB TMDB

When a rich man dies, some items from a collection of his are stolen- an ancient Egyptian gold amulet and the mummy that was wearing it. The police consult scholars from the local University to help with the investigation, which is taking a more serious turn as people connected with the case are killed by wounds that seem to be from a housecat.

5,471 FilmsIn The Vault
Vault UpdatedDaily
Curated ByHumans
No AlgorithmBullsh*t
Quick Answer
What is The Cat Creature about?

The Cat Creature is a 1973 American crime, horror, and mystery film directed by Curtis Harrington about a cursed Egyptian amulet that unleashes a murderous feline upon those connected to a stolen artifact.

Synopsis

Late one evening, Frank Lucas, a licensed appraiser, goes to the home of a deceased client to finish taking inventory of the estate, including ancient artifacts. He discovers a sarcophagus in the basement that holds a mummy wearing a solid gold amulet displaying a cat's head with emerald eyes. Once Lucas removes the amulet from the mummy's corpse, he unleashes a curse imposed thousands of years ago by a cat goddess. He is prompty attacked and clawed to death by a mysterious black feline that howls like a jackal.

Later, Joe Sung, an Oriental thief, breaks into the deceased's mansion, stealing the amulet. Later, he tries to pawn it at The Sorcerer's Shop, an establishment that specializes in occult items. But the proprietress, Hester Black, throws him out.

Meanwhile, Lt. Marco of the local police department is investigating the murder of Mr. Lucas with the expert advice of Roger Edmonds, a professor who specializes in archeology. The theft of the amulet sets off a murderous chain of events involving Black, Lt. Marco, Edmonds, Sung, a salesgirl named Rena Carter, and a homicidal black cat with glowing green eyes.
Details & Specs
Director
Curtis Harrington
Writers
Wilford Lloyd Baumes, Robert Bloch, Douglas S. Cramer
Release
1973
Runtime
1h 12m
Country
United States of America
Language
English
Also Known As
Die Katzengöttin, O Amuleto Egípcio

Why Cult

Egyptian Relic Curse

An ancient sarcophagus and a gold cat-headed amulet let loose a curse straight from the tomb, giving the mystery a supernatural bite.

Cat Murder Mystery

Victims are left with fatal wounds that seem suspiciously feline, blurring the line between house pet and horror.

Cult Cast Retinue

Genre stalwarts like Gale Sondergaard and John Carradine add gravitas to this supernatural caper—plus, Meredith Baxter and Stuart Whitman round out the cast.

Questions from the Vault

What is The Cat Creature about? +

The Cat Creature centers on a cursed Egyptian amulet and mummy whose theft leads to a series of mysterious, cat-related murders investigated by the police and university scholars.

When was The Cat Creature released? +

The Cat Creature was released in 1973.

Who directed The Cat Creature? +

Curtis Harrington directed The Cat Creature.

How long is The Cat Creature? +

The Cat Creature has a runtime of 72 minutes.

What genre is The Cat Creature? +

The Cat Creature blends the crime, horror, and mystery genres.