We think it is safe to say that over the next few years, we are going to see more and more characters from our childhood making the jump from beloved icons to public domain horror fodder. Mickey Mouse, Popeye, Betty Boop, Bambi, Pinocchio and Winnie the Pooh have all found themselves dragged into the world of horror, with filmmakers taking these familiar faces and giving them a considerably darker second act.
Now it looks like Dr. Seuss is getting in on the fun.
One of his most recognizable creations, The Cat in the Hat, is getting a horror makeover in the upcoming short The Cat and the Hatchet. And don’t worry, we don’t think this particular cat will be doing too much rhyming. Killing, on the other hand, well, you’ll just have to watch the teaser to see what Scratches the Cat has planned.
The horror short comes from writer and director Cameron Dodd and takes the basic idea of The Cat in the Hat and sends it somewhere considerably less appropriate for a children’s bookshelf. The story follows siblings Ellie and Connor, whose ordinary day takes a very disturbing turn when a strange visitor named Scratches the Cat arrives at their home.
What starts as an unexpected visit quickly becomes something much more sinister as Scratches reveals that his idea of fun is considerably different from what these two siblings were expecting.
WATCH THE TEASER FOR “THE CAT AND THE HATCHET” BELOW
Mark Ricci takes on the role of Scratches the Cat, with Kaleb Carmichael and Ricci producing alongside Dodd. The project comes from Six Side Studios and Prime Capitol, with Prime Capitol previously releasing the horror short Simon Says, which is currently available on Tubi.
We’ve already seen what happens when characters like Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse get dropped into slasher territory, and now apparently it’s time to see what happens when a certain striped-hat-wearing cat trades his fishbowl for something a little more dangerous.
The Cat and the Hatchet is an unauthorized, non-profit parody and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the official The Cat in the Hat property. (Ain’t nobody trying to get sued.)