If you’re looking for something a bit more quirky at Panic Fest 2025, then Don’t Let the Cat Out might be for you. Directed by Tim Cruz (The Final Rose, Ladybug), who also wrote the film with Anthony Del Negro (Exploited), Don’t Let the Cat Out follows a man named Charlie as he house sits for a professor at his university. It doesn’t take long for him to discover the cat-obsessed couple has more nefarious plans than a simple night out.

From the moment the film begins, it’s clear Don’t Let the Cat Out is going to be a wild ride. First, the audience gets to know Charlie. He seems like a nice enough guy, hoping to make some extra cash and help his education by house sitting for a professor on his thesis committee. Unfortunately, Charlie’s kind nature keeps him from noticing the red flags. As soon as he enters the home of Rodney and Evelyn, it’s clear something is off. From the couple’s strange behavior to the odd home decor to the bizarre list of rules, everything hints to the night of horrors that awaits Charlie. He’s not there just to house sit, he’s there to be the new vessel for Rodney and Evelyn’s beloved cat. The ensuing chaos is thrilling, hilarious, and disturbing all at once. It’s a unique film that takes plenty of unexpected turns to keep the audience on their toes, never sure what will happen next.

Despite how fun and unhinged Don’t Let the Cat Out is, there are a number of plot holes and continuity errors. Sometimes this is a simple visual element that changes between scenes without explanation. Other times, it’s bigger plot details that are presented, but then never explained or mentioned again. While these moments can take the viewer out of the film as they contemplate the unanswered questions, the film is still quite entertaining thanks to the general silliness and absurd nature of the plot.

Of the entire cast in Don’t Let the Cat Out, there are two definitive standouts. The first is writer Anthony Del Negro as Charlie. Despite Charlie being somewhat naive and making bad decisions throughout the film, there is something about Del Negro’s performance that makes the character incredibly endearing. It’s almost impossible not to root for him to survive the outrageous situation he finds himself in. The other standout is Cerina Vincent (Cabin Fever, Tales of Halloween) as the lady of the house, Evelyn. Vincent chews up every scene she’s in. It’s clear she’s having a blast playing Evelyn, adding plenty of humor and camp to the character’s unhinged behavior.

When the film begins, it’s immediately apparent the filmmakers took a playful approach to the visuals. Don’t Let the Cat Out opens by showing the outside of Rodney and Evelyn’s house all decked out in vibrant lights for Halloween, giving the film a Goosebumps-like appearance. Inside the house is a slightly different story. The production designers found ways to incorporate cat decor throughout every inch of the house. It’s quite impressive just how many cat items they had. While I won’t reveal what awaits poor Charlie in the basement, I will say the vibe is ancient Egyptian cat-lover meets neon sex dungeon. It all adds to the playfulness of the horrors that unfold.

Don’t Let the Cat Out is an outrageous horror comedy that gives a whole new meaning to the term “cat lover.” There are certainly inconsistencies within the narrative that can be frustrating, but the story Cruz and Del Negro tell is still highly entertaining from start to finish. The visuals are a delight and help to add to the camp and absurdity. There are some truly memorable moments that will stick with audiences, and many of those are thanks to Del Negro and Vincent’s performances. Audiences who enjoy whacky, sometimes nonsensical horror with tons of laughs and surprises will want to seek out Don’t Let the Cat Out.

OVERALL RATING: 6/10