By Geno McGahee
I think one of the forgotten horror anthologies is CAT’S EYE and I don’t know why. Perhaps the PG-13 rating or the inclusion of Drew Barrymore makes horror fans weary of calling it a true blue scary movie. They think it’s unmanly or unhorrorly (first time that word has ever been used), but I’m secure with my masculinity and my horror love to call this an awesome anthology that is much better than CREEPSHOW, which has been the American standard of the eighties.
We begin with a cat that is roaming the city and that cat ties the stories together. The cat is looking for a girl that is in trouble, but first has to deal with some mobsters in QUITTERS, INC.
Dick Morrison (James Woods) wants to quit smoking and has a new program suggested to him called “Quitters, Inc.,” and they claim to have amazing results. Their methods are certainly questionable as they tell the wannabe quitters that if they smoke, their families will be hurt or worse. At one point, Morrison slips, prompting these mobsters to kidnap his wife and hit her with electrical shocks. One of the best moments of this tale is when the head of Quitters, Inc., invades the dream of Morrison and lip-syncs the Police’s I’ll Be Watching You. It is hilarious and the entire tale has its fair share of humor. You can’t go wrong with James Woods. He may be the same sarcastic prick character in every movie, but if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. This was a fun and entertaining tale. 8/10
In THE LEDGE, Cressner (Kenneth McMillan) is a rich man and is quite furious that his wife has left him for a former tennis player, Johnny (Robert Hays). He kidnaps Hays and brings him his high rise apartment and informs him that he planted drugs in his car and he will be going away for a long time, unless he’s up for a bet. Johnny agrees to walk the ledge completely around the building and if he makes it, he will be free to live his life, get money, and keep the girl. Cressner does not make it easy as he shoots a fire hose at him and does whatever he can to knock him off. Against all odds, Johnny makes it but Cresser is not a good loser. He throws a bag of money at Johnny and the head of his girlfriend falls out. With the help of the cat, he gets the upper hand and makes Cresser walk the ledge, leading to an amusing conclusion. This reminded me of the CREEPSHOW tale with Ted Danson “IF YOU CAN HOLD YOUR BREATH” and it’s just as good. They really stacked this movie with great actors. 8/10
THE GENERAL is the final tale and features Amanda (Drew Barrymore) and her battle with a small troll that lives in her house and wants to kill her. This is where the cat discovers his purpose and protects her, but her parents do not want the cat in the house. This gives the troll some opportunities to cause problems, but the cat comes to the rescue, leading to a gruesome conclusion. This was yet another great story that was well-acted and a lot of fun. In most anthologies, you get the tale that you skip when you watch it again, but each tale is as good as the last. 8/10.
CAT’S EYE is an awesome anthology, stacked with great performances and is packed with a fun factor and energy that separates this from most. It doesn’t take itself too seriously and it not meant to terrify. It’s meant to entertain and it does that.
Overall rating: 8/10
