A Bucket of Blood (1959)

Leonard: "What's it called?"

Walter: "Dead Cat."

A struggling artist finds a bloody way to make popular art.
Starring: Dick Miller, Anthony Carbone, Barboura Morris, Ed Nelson

Link to IMDB

Walter Paisley works as a busboy in a cafe, surrounded by hip poets and burgeoning artists of the beatnik generation. He's a dim-witted social misfit but the people like him well enough because he's so friendly, except for his boss, Leonard, who constantly hounds him to focus on his job. Walter eagerly soaks up the art around him, with a dream to make an artistic statement of his own one day.

After accidentally killing his neighbour's cat, Walter is inspired to create something from the poor animals death, so he wraps the corpse in plaster to disguise it as a cat-shaped statue. The art piece is a real hit with all the local artists, as they're intrigued and amazed at Walter's creative talents. Being accepted is exciting, and now that he's had a taste of popularity he's eager for more, but as Walter succinctly puts it "he doesn't have another cat." A clumsy misunderstanding with an undercover cop leads to Walter smashing the man's head with a frying pan! As expected, Walter has now found the subject for his next art piece.

The guilt and confusion Walter feels is quickly replaced by the glory and success he receives from his peers when they see his next statue. Leonard learns of Walter's deadly artistic method and is sickened by it, but also realizes that he can make a lot of money if he lets Walter keep working. Compelled by greed and peer pressure, both men let the "creativity" flow, even when Walter's ambition slowly becomes more about revenge than trying to find acceptance.

"Life is an obscure hobo, bumming a ride on the omnibus of art." - Maxwell

The "Murdered Man"

Leonard

Dick Miller is great, he plays Walter's naivete very believably, balancing the innocence and desperate qualities of his unraveling mind as Walter becomes obsessed with fame at any cost. The story itself is rather predictable, but since it's told so well with a mix of suspense and humour it remains compelling. The brief length also keeps it focused, and it's structured much like a classic episode of The Twilight Zone.

The "Dead Cat"

There is a touch of absurdity here, but it enunciates the social satire on how ridiculous the facades of pretentious artists can be. If someone is going to be able to successfully make commentary on postmodern art mixed with a weird little horror story, you know it's going to be Roger Corman. He filmed this in only five days with a small budget, but he wasn't surprised when it was hailed as a classic satire on how amoral and loathsome the film industry can be towards its outsider artists.
Subtext aside, it's a well directed, clever and imaginative minor classic.

Be sure not to miss:
- How the movie got its title. It's subtle but highlights an important moment.
- Dick Miller would eventually play other characters also named Walter Paisley. Most notably in Chopping Mall and The Howling.

Internet review:
"One of my favorite dark comedy films of all time." - Shu

Should I watch it?
Recommended.

Where can I find it?
Here on YouTube.

A Bucket of Blood gets...