解:(1)对于抛物线$y = x^2 - 1,$令$y = 0,$则$x^2 - 1 = 0,$解得$x = \pm 1,$所以$A(-1, 0),$$B(1, 0);$令$x = 0,$则$y = 0 - 1 = -1,$所以$C(0, -1)。$
(2)在$Rt\triangle AOC$和$Rt\triangle BOC$中,$OA = 1,$$OC = 1,$$OB = 1,$由勾股定理得$AC = \sqrt{OA^2 + OC^2} = \sqrt{1^2 + 1^2} = \sqrt{2},$$BC = \sqrt{OB^2 + OC^2} = \sqrt{1^2 + 1^2} = \sqrt{2}。$因为$AB = OA + OB = 2,$所以$AC^2 + BC^2 = (\sqrt{2})^2 + (\sqrt{2})^2 = 2 + 2 = 4 = AB^2,$且$AC = BC,$故$\triangle ABC$是等腰直角三角形。