Who Killed the Cat

The titular kitty does indeed come a cropper in this murder mystery (although cat lovers can rest assured that it happens off-screen). When her husband dies, leaving all his assets to his daughter (Natasha Pyne), Eleanor (a venomous Vanda Godsell) is furious. Taking out her frustrations on her three elderly boarders (Ellen Pollock, Mary Merrall and Amy Dalby), she raises their rent as well as stealing from them. After their beloved kitten is poisoned, the three women hatch a plan to get their revenge, but events spiral out of control. Adapted from a stage play, this is a curious mixture of quaint, 40s-era British film-making with an edge of modern 60s grit. It's quite jarring to hear younger characters swear when the three elderly ladies are so old-fashioned. A decent crime procedural with some unexpected twists, the film also feels padded, with repetitive exposition sucking the life out of several scenes. The best part is definitely the kitten while she lasts. RIP, little puss.