‘Don’t Let the Cat Out’ Claws into FrightFest

When grief meets the grotesque, expect dark comedy and outright chaos. Don’t Let the Cat Out makes its UK premiere at FrightFest’s opening night on 21 August, promising a bizarre blend of feline fanaticism and body-hopping horror. Director Tim Cruz, whose atmospheric flair has previously surfaced in Ladybug and Secrets at the Lake, turns his lens to Louisville, where a soul-transfer ritual to save a dying cat descends into gleeful mayhem.

At the heart of this 95-minute tale is Evelyn, played by Cerina Vincent, known for her breakouts in Cabin Fever and Not Another Teen Movie. Unable to face her pet’s impending death, she kidnaps house-sitter Charlie and attempts to channel her cat’s spirit into his body. What begins as an absurd escape from sorrow spirals into a series of surreal, comedic horrors that explore how far we’ll go to postpone goodbye. Anthony Del Negro co-writes and stars as the unwitting vessel, joined by Jordan James Smith and Edy Ganem in supporting roles that ground the film’s wrecking-ball premise with genuine emotion.

Panic Fest audiences praised Don’t Let the Cat Out for its “off-kilter tone, cathartic humour, and a truly unhinged premise grounded in real emotion.” Dread Central dubbed it “a wickedly funny yet poignant horror comedy” while Bloody Disgusting noted Cruz’s deft balancing of comedy and terror. Those accolades set the stage for the film’s UK debut at FrightFest, where screenings at The Odeon Luxe Leicester Square will reveal every fur-flying twist.

Tim Cruz describes the film as a deeply personal journey emerging from his own struggle with loss. “Her refusal to mourn mirrors the way I came to terms with my father’s death,” he explains. Holland-style horror production collided with heartfelt storytelling as Cruz shot intense overnight scenes in just 16 nights, conjuring absurd scares and unexpected tenderness.

Produced by Shane and Zach O’Brien alongside Del Negro, the film brings festival-ready ambition to a micro scale. Film lovers can expect vivid practical effects, cat-shaped séances, and a finale that loops back to the human cost of denial. As Evelyn’s desperate quest unravels, the audience is left to wonder if any vessel can truly contain a soul – and whether any heart can withstand so much devotion and dread.