Review

by Sam S

No-budget Corman schlocker

Darkly comic film from Roger Corman, who would go on to direct The Little Shop of Horrors the following year, and while he would become better known for that movie, this is every bit its equal. Dick Miller plays Walter Paisley, busboy at a café but jealous of the artists who hang out there. A series of events lead to Paisley accidently killing his landlady's cat, and to cover up his crime the poor animal is encased in clay. Presenting his 'piece' as an art work, Walter finds himself celebrated by the artists he previously had to serve. However, he must keep producing his 'art', and he doesn't stop at just a cat…Supposedly shot for just $25,000 in 5 days, the film has become something of a cult classic. A version was remade by Roger Corman in 1995 for TV, but fans of black comedy are advised to stick to the original.