Based on a short story by Ruskin Bond, The Black Cat by Bhargav Saikia portrays an interesting turn of events starting from a day in Bond's life. Played by Tom Alter, Bond comes in possession of a broomstick which is soon accompanied by a black cat turning up at his doorstep. His misadventures with the kitty keep the audience involved, while also invoking a sense of sympathy for the harried writer. Soon after a Ms. Bellows follows, claiming the cat to be hers, and our protagonist is more than grateful to hand over the kitty to his unusual guest. The narrative offers interesting characters in the form of both Alter as Bond and Shernaz Patel as Ms. Bellows. The beautiful camera angles lend an otherworldly quality to the film, equally supported by an eerie soundtrack. Along with Anglican influences in the form of costumes, language and the general lifestyle, The Black Cat also possesses an element of the supernatural, characteristic of much of Bond's writing. This is achieved by elegant special effects which, when coupled with a seamless edit and sophisticated visuals, make the film a thrilling watch.

The Black Cat | Tom Alter | Short Film of the Day

It’s fifteen minutes to 31st October, a Halloween chill perhaps already making itself known, when two employees pull a late night shift at their workplace. 

As the night progresses some strange developments, that begin primarily with phone calls, await them. Each of the three characters that we are interacting with, Ajith, Renuka and Rakesh, gets a deeply disturbing phone call, all suggesting horrifying, supernatural occurrences. The plot continues to develop, and yet there are no overlaps to be found between the three characters, each of whom is now indeed headed towards the same fate. 

The various elements of the film take their time coming into their own, attempting to portray the many horrors that rest within the surface. Though few rough edges in the department of sound persist, the narrative strives to weave and share its story with the viewer.

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