The Mafu Cage

The Mafu Cage

Year: 1978

Runtime: 102 mins

Language: English

Director: Karen Arthur

HorrorThriller

A disturbing love story unfolds as two eccentric sisters inhabit a decaying mansion, tending their late father's pet ape locked in a cage. One sister strives to keep her mind intact, while the other spirals deeper into barbaric madness, heightening the film’s eerie, claustrophobic atmosphere.

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Timeline & Setting – The Mafu Cage (1978)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Mafu Cage (1978). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Late 20th century

The events take place in a contemporary, late 20th-century milieu in Los Angeles and its environs. The household sits at the intersection of science, art, and a fragile family bond. The setting conveys a modern, urban atmosphere where psychological tension plays out in an intimate home.

Location

Los Angeles, Hollywood Hills, Griffith Observatory, Arizona

The story unfolds in the Hollywood Hills house and its surrounding Los Angeles setting, with the Griffith Observatory serving as a scientific hub for Ellen’s work. The sisters’ home doubles as a stage for intense, unstable dynamics driven by Cissy’s volatility and Ellen’s restraint. A work trip takes Ellen to Arizona, expanding the geographic footprint beyond the city into desert landscapes.

🌆 Urban LA 🏚 Dilapidated Hollywood Hills home 🔭 Griffith Observatory 🏜 Arizona desert

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:54

Main Characters – The Mafu Cage (1978)

Meet the key characters of The Mafu Cage (1978), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Ellen Carpenter (Lee Grant)

A successful but emotionally repressed astronomer living in the Hollywood Hills. Ellen is protective of her sister, cautious about inviting David into their private life, and strives to maintain normalcy amid a volatile household. Her rational approach clashes with Cissy’s instability, placing her in a moral balance between care and escape.

🔭 Scientist 🧠 Rational 💔 Repressed 👭 Protective

Cissy Carpenter (Carol Kane)

Mentally imbalanced and childlike, Cissy adores Ellen but seeks control through manipulation and ritualized behavior. She keeps monkeys in a cage in the living room and escalates to violence when frustrated. Her fixation on Ellen saturates the household with danger.

🧠 Obsessive 🔪 Violent 🗝️ Controlling 🐵 Animal-obsessed

Zom (Will Geer)

A godfather figure and zoologist who provides the household with exotic animals and artifacts. His involvement connects the sisters to a world of anthropological collecting and distant cultures. He acts as a practical link to the outside world, offering resources and guidance.

🧭 Mentor 🧪 Scientist 🐒 Animal collector

David Eastman (James Olson)

A coworker of Ellen at the Griffith Observatory who becomes her romantic interest. He becomes entangled in Cissy’s obsession as she treats him as an anthropological subject, leading to his murder. His presence catalyzes the fragile balance within the sisters’ household.

💼 Professional 💘 Romantic interest 🪢 Targeted 🩸 Victim

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:54

Major Themes – The Mafu Cage (1978)

Explore the central themes of The Mafu Cage (1978), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👪 Family Dynamics

Two sisters share a close yet toxic bond that drives much of the drama. Ellen’s rational, restrained approach clashes with Cissy’s volatile attachment to her sister. The relationship veers into manipulation, jealousy, and coercive control, culminating in tragedy.

🧠 Mental Illness

Cissy’s fragile mental state and episodic outbursts drive the plot. Her childlike dependence on Ellen makes boundaries perilous and unstable. The film explores how mental illness can distort perception and fuel dangerous actions.

🔒 Control and Violence

Cissy’s need to dominate extends to the people around her, culminating in the capture and killing of David. The mafu cage becomes a literal symbol of confinement and power. Tension builds as control fractures into murder and a deadly stalemate.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:54

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The Mafu Cage Summary

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The Mafu Cage Summary

The Mafu Cage Timeline

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The Mafu Cage Timeline

More About The Mafu Cage

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