Scratches turns a boring day at home into a fight for survival. The full practical suit makes the killer cat feel disturbingly real.
A blood-soaked cat named Scratches invades 2 siblings’ home in The Cat and the Hatchet, a low-budget indie horror parody slated for release in October 2026.
Ellie and Connor are stuck at home on a boring day when Scratches arrives with a murderous idea of fun. The character is played by co-producer Mark Ricci in a practical-effects suit made with matted black-and-white fur, yellow contact lenses, a torn red bow tie, fake whiskers and blood smeared across its muzzle.
The short comes from director Cameron Dodd and Six Side Studios, the Canadian creator team he founded around 2014 after building an audience with Spider-Man fan films. Kaleb Carmichael is also producing, with Prime Capitol involved in the production.
A Toronto casting call posted in August described the project as a paid proof of concept for a possible feature. An earlier synopsis followed estranged adult siblings who return to their late mother’s home and discover that their childhood imaginary friend is an ancient entity that feeds on fear. The teaser released September 17 presents a simpler home-invasion story with younger siblings.
An exact October release date and platform haven’t been announced.
