Cat's Eye (1985)

Boring

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Yet another horror anthology, this time composed of three stories all linked together by a cat. Similar to THE UNCANNY, you might think, and you'd be right; Milton Subotsky's name even finds itself in the closing credits (after purchasing rights to loads of Stephen King short stories). But the thing that differentiates CAT'S EYE from other typical American horror anthologies (I mean the likes of CREEPSHOW 2 and TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE: THE MOVIE) is that for once, all of the stories are above average. Usually there's a couple of good ones, or one excellent, and the others being below average, but not in this case. The stories are taken from Stephen King shorts (apart from the last segment, which I can't really remember reading), and there are even a couple of gags for those in the know; a 1958 Plymouth Fury drives past in one scene, while another characters sees THE DEAD ZONE on television and asks "who writes this crap?".The feel of the first story, with a terrified man trapped in a nightmare, desperate for a cigarette but unable to smoke for fear of harming his wife, is excellent, and James Woods is perfect in the role. Like all the best anthology segments, there's a twist in the tale and the episode really can't be bettered.The second story is almost as good, and the journey around the ledge makes for some very taut and terrifying moments that will truly make your palms sweat (and it's even more effective if you're scared of heights like I am). Just check out the pigeon moment! Once again there's a twist ending and the segment is very enjoyable, especially the scene where the men wager on the cat's ability to cross a busy road.The cat also features heavily in the final segment, coming off worst again before battling the nasty troll creature. This story is the least original of the three but it's entertaining enough, and even though I'm not much of an animal lover (who am I kidding?) the cat is very cute. Okay, that's it, I've ashamed myself now so I'll make my exit quickly and quietly...

Actually I thought the overall quality for this anthology movie is pretty high. I expected to like it since I am a big fan of Stephen King. It seems that when I take comedy horror lightly, I am able to enjoy it much more. This is much more comedy than horror. In fact only the second story can be considered somewhat of a horror story but the rest are on the comedy side. I also liked the overall light hearted tone of the stories. Obviously this is made for a much younger audience.I was quite impressed with the first two stories and I would have rated it higher but the third story is just not good enough. The special effects are corny, the tone is very childlike and I guess it is intended that way. The scenes between the cat and the troll were just too ridiculous. It is a pity because the first 2 are excellent.The quitters incorporated story was pretty awesome and I was laughing at various points. The party scene being a highlight, I guess I know how smokers must feel when they try to quit. It is hilarious in usual 80s fashion. I also liked the performance of James woods. This is the advantage of having professional talented actors in horror movies instead of some unknown faces. The output is always a level higher than what we can expect in an 80s horror movie.The Ledge was also of high quality. As usual, in stories with this theme, there are many elements which are too difficult to accept. If you are looking for logic. But if you just want to go along with any ridiculous scenario, then you would really enjoy the story here! I had a lot of fun watching the bird pecking at him, the guy holding on to the wall no matter what and the effective twist. It is a nice little ride! Anyway so I loved it overall but I was not satisfied with the third story at all, so I have to rate it lower. I rate the first story 8, second story 9 and the third story 5. So overall I rate it a 7.7/10

Three years after giving us the excellent EC-influenced anthology Creepshow, bestselling horror writer Stephen KIng returned to the short story format for Cat's Eye, which offered up three Twilight Zone-style tales linked by a stray cat, which plays a part in each segment. A wonderful streak of dark humour, excellent performances, and taut direction from Lewis Teague make for a whole lot of fun.The action begins in New York, where smoker Dick Morrison (James Woods) visits Quitters Inc., an agency dedicated to helping people stop smoking. Unfortunately for Dick, the place is run by mafia-like hoodlums whose radical aversion therapy involves torture, rape and mutilation. A great central turn by the ever reliable Woods ensures a memorable start to the movie. Funniest moment: meat-head Junk (Tony Munafo) exclaiming 'Fiddlysticks!' as the cat escapes his clutches.Tale number two, my favourite of the three, stars Robert Hays as ageing tennis pro Johnny Norris, who is having an affair with the wife of crooked Atlantic City businessman and avid gambler Cressner (Kenneth McMillan). After sending his goons to kidnap Johnny, Cressner offers his love-rival a wager he cannot refuse: he must walk along the thin ledge that goes around his penthouse apartment or face being framed for dealing in heroin. What follows is a superb exercise in pure suspense, topped off with a nasty shock and a neat twist. Extra points are awarded for the vicious pigeon and that hilarious horn sound effect right at the end.The last story sees the cat arriving in Wilmington, NC, where 8-year-old Amanda (Drew Barrymore) talks her parents into adopting the animal—which is just as well, because there is a nasty troll in her bedroom that wants to steal the girl's breath, and only the brave feline (now named General) can save her. This one is definitely the weakest of the three, but still has plenty to offer fans of fantasy and the macabre, including an unforgettable malevolent creature, great use of over-sized sets, and an assured performance from the young Barrymore.

Strange things happen when this cat appears - like an omen or forewarning of bad things to come - and all this cat wants do is get to the little girl he is wanting to help. The cat leads us to three bizarre tales of horror.The movie is funny (a comedy horror) but the one short story that stands out to me as being the most seriously terrifying is "The Ledge". I am very much afraid of heights so this particular segment had chills going up and down my spine - creepy as all heck.If you like short horror stories then you might like Cat's Eye. Other similar movies with short horror tales that are also good: 'Trilogy of Terror', 'Gallery of Horror', 'Creepshow' and 'Tales from the Darkside'.6.5/10