'The Black Cat' is a psychological horror created during Pre-code Hollywood (era of films that were not severely censored after the guidelines were introduced with the creation of "talkies") and was part of the boom in horror "talkies" following the release of 'Frankenstein' and 'Dracula' in 1931; well known for being one of the first films with an almost continuous musical score, it became Universal Pictures' biggest box office hit of the year, still standing out today through Ulmers' use of Bauhaus-style furniture and art deco sets. The film exploiting the popularity of Edgar Allen Poe and the horror genre, as well as a sudden public interest in psychiatry creating an avid fan-base.
Contrasting greatly against the 19th century Germanic-Gothic sets and designs typical of Universal fright flicks, Edgar G. Ulmers' 'The Black Cat' (1934) uses a vast amount of intense neon colours throughout the film. The mixture of blues and greens adding a paranormal element as the sets are portrayed as ethereal, addition of deep reds connoting an ever looming danger as it signifies blood, while inclusion of purple prefigures the possibility of death in some shape or form.
However, besides Ulmers' colour manipulation evoking specific emotions from the audience, his further incorporation of continuous frame within a frame shots convey the characters feeling trapped or knowing no way of escaping highlights the tense atmosphere throughout the film while also playing into the psychological element of 'The Black Cat' being a part of the psychological horror genre.
Also, the films use of low-key lighting, especially during the highly celebrated "skinning" scene--voted #68 on Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments--the character of Karloff being skinned alive at the film's end represented only through a shadow on the wall and an extreme close up of Karloff's twitching and struggling hand emphasising the scenes eerie and gruesome atmosphere. This single scene a great representation of the entire films desired effect to shock the audience through its exploration or necrophilia, torture, human sacrifice, etc...
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