Cat Sick Blues Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Cat Sick Blues Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Justin Dekker December 3, 2025

Written and directed by Dave Jackson, his first feature film, 'Cat Sick Blues', arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Refuse Films. A twisted examination of loss and the implications of internet fame, the film stars Matthew C. Vaughan and Shian Denovan. As the two leads each struggle with the loss of their beloved pets, the production in enhanced by deliriously gooey practical effects, and disturbed and disturbing characters. In a manner that has become standard for Refuse Films releases, this Blu-ray of 'Cat Sick Blues' is loaded with supplemental material including multiple commentaries, making-of features, music videos, and more, providing hours of additional content. A booklet and a slipcover are also included. Region-free.

Ted (Matthew C. Vaughan) is a man whose world has been turned upside down by the loss of his cat, and his quest to bring it back to life, he puts the lives of the women around him in jeopardy. Clair (Shian Denovan), the owner of the internet cat sensation Imelda, soon finds herself dealing with loss herself. When the two meet in a support group, both of their lives will spiral further out of control as the bloody body count grows.

There's a saying that the internet exists solely for the purpose of sharing cat videos and complaining. For Cat Sick Blues's Claire Ellis, the first part is certainly true. The videos she creates and shares of her cat, Imelda, have granted her a certain amount of fame, with viewers watching the fluffy white cat chase a laser pointer, yawn, eat a doughnut, and the like. And in this increasingly digital age, she even receives a sizeable amount of physical fan mail sent to her apartment. It's here that the film brings toxic fandom into focus. Since Claire hasn't taken any steps to separate her internet life from her private life and safeguard her personal information, it's no surprise that an unstable fan shows up at her flat, demands to see the sick cat, and be in a video with it. The sense of fan entitlement, the feeling that they in some way "own" or are deeply connected to the object of their fandom, is brought to its most extreme conclusion in one of the film's most grueling and horrific scenes that catastrophically impacts both Claire and her beloved Imelda. That these events would cause Claire to detach from her world and those in it is understandable. That the events would only be compounded by her fans, their fickle and ghoulish behavior, and content posted online, speaks volumes about modern society. Claire's behavior before and after the events that would shape her character may not always truly be in her own best interests, but they are understandable. Through it all, Shian Denovan fills Claire with relatable humanity. As an internet star of sorts, she seems real, kind, and approachable. Her portrayal of a victim of sexual violence is raw and heartbreaking.

Ted is something else entirely. The viewer is informed of the relative normalcy of his life before his cat passed away. There are even a few brief clips to support the fact. But by the time the film opens, he's had his break. His largely silent performance as Catman, complete with a cat mask that covers his entire head, creates as much discomfort and unease as the the way he both shot and lit when the costume has been removed. For the murderer in a slasher film, motivation is always important. Ted's is simple enough; he hopes to bring his deceased pet back to life. The fact that there isn't any actual basis for his belief that taking taking nine human lives will restore his cat Patrick only helps to accentuate his break from reality. There's no ancient text he's unearthed which guides his actions; no charismatic leader of a cat cult to advise and instruct him. The same brain that motivates him to dress as Catman, complete with a massive strap-on cat penis, causes him to believe that the blood from nine humans can somehow restore one cat. The fact that his vicious actions are so irrational cement the notion that Ted is unwell and dangerous. For his actions to be logical or guided by some external object or force would rob him of some quantity of the fear and revulsion he generates.

The practical effects work on display throughout the film is impressive. While the prop cats may not be entirely convincing, the same criticism cannot be leveled at the effects related to the humans in the film. They routinely dazzle. Gallons of sticky blood cover characters, spill out onto floors, and fill jars and barrels. More interesting and impactful though, are the well rendered severed heads that bounce down stairs in traditional slasher fashion and are later carried around by Catman, seemingly to keep him company, as he seeks to restore life to his dearly departed pet. These are especially well-done, enhancing both the dread-soaked atmosphere and the sense of terror surrounding Catman. Later, diseased flesh, riddled with inflamed boils and seeping pustules, creates stomach-churning disgust. In the end, it's undeniably the work of Denovan, Vaughan, and the practical effects team that elevate the film well beyond its low-budget, crowdfunded roots.

Cat Sick Blues Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Sourced from a 2K digital master and given a solid AVC-encoded 1080p transfer, Cat Sick Blues looks quite pleasing on Blu-ray. Detail levels are high, as is apparent right from the start, with precise detail being visible in the numerous stickers on a laptop's cover, and the crisp linework on the dinosaur t-shirt of one of the characters in the opening scene. Detailed stitching is visible in her hat, and make-up and hair particulars are likewise observable. Blacks are deep and absorbing, allowing Catman to effectively hide when he needs to, but also making crush a concern. The slightly desaturated palette allows for healthy skin tones, but prohibit primaries from popping as one might expect. Catman's ill-fitting red shirt provides the best opportunity for the film to dazzle from a color perspective, and while, as in nature, it does signify danger, it doesn't quite rise to that "popping" level. Footage viewed through or recorded by the camcorder is displayed with a noticeable and purposeful step down in quality. The same is true for the clips and images seen on Claire and Ted's computer screens. Wood paneling displays observable grain, and Formica tabletops feature trademark speckling.

Cat Sick Blues Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track does a very solid job of conveying all of the nasty business Cat Sick Blues asks of it. Dialogue is clean and front and center focused. Throughout the course of the film, the most challenging aspect the track needs to handle is Matthew Revert's score. As Catman makes his first appearance, surrounds spring to live, enveloping the viewer in a cacophonous din, only to be replaced by a deep and ominous bass line before the aggressive score reasserts itself. After a brief moment of relative calm, the aggressive and pounding title theme blasts through the sound stage, effectively disorienting the viewer. Drums are crisp, screeching vocals display appropriate distortion, and guitars are muscular. For the duration, it's these moments when the music is allowed to dominate that make the greatest impact. More "traditional" score elements are also well- rendered, but are not allowed to spread out to the surrounds in such a powerful way, remaining more front-focused. Mundane sound effects such as ringing phones, closing doors, and the like sound realistic, and directionality is accurate. The track does a solid job of presenting the sounds of violence, with crushing blows and their squishy results helping to further craft and emphasise the threat posed by Catman.

Cat Sick Blues Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Refuse Films' release of Cat Sick Blues includes a massive amount of on-disc supplemental material as detailed below.

Audio Commentaries

• Director's Commentary - Joined by Guy, his co-host of the "Show Me Something Wrong" podcast, Dave Jackson discuss the film, beginning with a chat about the last time they saw the film, the apartment used for the opening scene, and the custom shirt the first victim wears. Make-Up Effects Artist Liz Jenkinson and her work on the film also receives a fair amount of focus before they discuss the cat mask that made by Ogawa Studios, which is now defunct. After discussing the unique challenges of shooting some scenes at his grandmothers house, and using his own cat, Smoky, as Imelda. Throughout the commentary, Jackson' nostalgia for various locations comes to the surface, as he shares memories and history. They discuss the varying reactions to the film, from those who connect with it due to the loss of their own pets, to those who perceive the film to be misogynistic. It's a very casual, informative, and entertaining track.

• Cast and Crew Commentary - Director Dave Jackson is joined by a roomful of participants that includes Jax McMullin Condo (key grip), Lucas Haynes (still photography), Mitch McTaggart (first assistant director), Bethany Young (assistant editor, continuity), James Birrell (sound recordist, assistant editor), Daniel Cowan (cinematographer), Matthew C. Vaughan (Ted Henson/Catman), and Harley "Taena" Hoshi (actor, production designer) for this commentary track. The group reacts audibly to assault of the opening credits, and discuss the last minute change of the song that accompanies them. The track can be a bit chaotic at times, but the assembled group is clearly having a great time, and for the most part, the participants are respectful of allowing space and time for others to take the spotlight and share critical stories or pieces of information. Given the nature of the film, it should be no surprise that the commentary veers into territory that may not be appropriate for younger viewers.

• Director and Producer Commentary - Dave Jackson (director, co-writer), Andrew Gallacher (co-writer), Matthew C. Vaughan (Ted/Catman, producer), and Harley "Taena" Hoshi (actor, producer, production designer) gather for this commentary track, which begins at the beginning, with Jackson and Gallacher talking about the origin of the script, the very different original idea for the story, and the need to craft a new opening scene. The group is never quiet, and the track is much more orderly than the previous commentary. Often times when there are multiple commentary tracks with overlapping participants there can be quite a bit of duplication or repetition, but that's not the case here. The arduous shooting schedule is discussed, as are the various props, the pet grief group led by actor Hwee Hall, and the "serial killer" jacket Matt Vaughan wears. The track is a great mix of information and entertaining asides.

Deleted Scenes

• 3 Deleted Scenes (12.57) - There isn't any descriptive text to name them or place them in specific moments in the film, but the footage included here is an interesting watch.

Documentaries

• Claws and Cat Cocks: Behind the Scenes (35:17) - This feature leverages a great deal of raw behind-the scenes footage that focuses on various aspects of production and the film's star Matt Vaughan, practical effects, one of the most memorable murder set pieces, and more. As varying degrees of spoilers are found herein, viewers should screen the film first.

• Catboy: Documentary (12:38) - Director Dave Jackson provides viewers with a quick tour of his apartment and neighborhood in Osaka, Japan, and a brief overview of his other work. From there, Jackson discusses the various cats he had as a child as home video footage of him and the his cats (and a dog) unspools. Eventually, the short turns to Cat Sick Blues.

Short Films

• Cat Sick Blues (10:07) - Starring Mahalia Brown, Michael De Robbio, and Matthew Vaughan, Ted's costume may look very similar, but virtually everything else about this short film differs from the feature film.

• Gacha Gacha (14:42) - The blind-buy capsule toy figures that line the shelves of Jacksons apartment and obsessive collectors are the focus of this short film. A behind-the-scenes feature and a director's commentary are also available.

• Kappa (5:16) - A small injured creature drives the action of this black-and-white feature.

TV Show

• Fever Dreams (36.18) - Created by D.A. Jackson and P. Lloga, the series of brief episodes feature a collection of seemingly independent shorts that are occasionally somewhat loosely interconnected. Content ranges from absurdist to horror, as well as a fractured look at Australia.

Music Videos

• Lady Flash: "Gundam Mitai Na Onnanoko" (3.23)

• Lady Flash: "Astrochic Alaska" (3.05)

• Tokiyo: "Maboroshi" (6.38)

• Last Chance: "Instant Junkie" (5.59)

Trailers

• 'Cat Sick Blues' Trailer (1.46)

• Refuse Films Trailer Reel (3.47) - Trailers for Rock 'N' Roll Frankenstein, Off Ramp, and Eating Miss Campbell are included.

A 23-page booklet with writing on the film penned by Dave Jackson, stills, promotional art, and notes on the release is also included.

Cat Sick Blues Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

One of the things I appreciate about Refuse Films is that they bring forward movies I'm glad to have seen but that I otherwise may have missed. Cat Sick Blues is one of those films. It had flown under my radar until it landed on my desk, and it wouldn't leave my head after I first screened it. Initially shocking, subsequent viewings enabled me to better appreciate the performances turned in by Shian Denovan and Matthew C. Vaughan. Technical merits are strong for those considering a purchase, and the supplemental features are highlighted by some interesting commentaries and entertaining music videos Jackson directed for three Japanese bands. For fans of bloody horror and excellent practical effects, Cat Sick Blues comes strongly recommended.