"Cat's Eye" directed by Lewis Teague (who also directed King's "Cujo") steps up to the plate again to adapt three of Stephen King's short stories all of which are linked by a stray cat. With a few famous faces (Drew Barrymore, James Woods, Robert Hays and Alan King), this is a funny, suspenseful and a mostly well-made movie. Of note is the constant references to King's other work. In the opening scenes the cat is chased by a bloody St. Bernard (Cujo) and runs in front of a red car with a bumper sticker stating 'I'm Christine' (obviously Christine...). In the segment "Quitters Inc." a character is watching "The Dead Zone" and proceeds to say 'who writes this crap?' In the last segment "The General" a woman is reading Pet Semetary. All these references should make any King fan giggle and realise this movie is very tongue-in-cheek.
The first segment "Quitters Inc." is the best of the three (the short story is also extremely good). James Morrison (James Woods) decides to give up smoking by joining Quitters Inc. but at first finds their methods cruel and sadistic. Can he go along with their twisted game or will he fall to temptation? Also starring Alan King, this segment is at times funny and at times creepy with an ending sure to shock.
The second segment "The Ledge" is the second best of the three and is darkly funny. Johnny Norris (Robert Hays) becomes involved with a dangerous man, Cressner (Kenneth McMillian), who loves to wager. However, this particular one is rather twisted. The wager is, if Norris can climb around a ledge at the top of an apartment building he gets money, freedom and his girl. People with fears of heights will hate this segment as the majority of it is filmed up high and at times is very tense. Although in some scenes the special effects look rather dated this one is still a great watch.
The last and weakest segment "The General" with Drew Barrymore is about a troll who lives in the girl's bedroom and tries to steal her breath. However, the cat who we've been following is by her side, trying to protect her. I found this segment to be the worst. I found the story silly and uninteresting, the special effects were bad and it wasn't at all scary or funny.
But I don't want to end this review on a bad note because this movie was very watchable and a very faithful King adaptation. It was a mixture of horror and comedy with some good actors and a good score.
3/5
The first segment "Quitters Inc." is the best of the three (the short story is also extremely good). James Morrison (James Woods) decides to give up smoking by joining Quitters Inc. but at first finds their methods cruel and sadistic. Can he go along with their twisted game or will he fall to temptation? Also starring Alan King, this segment is at times funny and at times creepy with an ending sure to shock.
The second segment "The Ledge" is the second best of the three and is darkly funny. Johnny Norris (Robert Hays) becomes involved with a dangerous man, Cressner (Kenneth McMillian), who loves to wager. However, this particular one is rather twisted. The wager is, if Norris can climb around a ledge at the top of an apartment building he gets money, freedom and his girl. People with fears of heights will hate this segment as the majority of it is filmed up high and at times is very tense. Although in some scenes the special effects look rather dated this one is still a great watch.
The last and weakest segment "The General" with Drew Barrymore is about a troll who lives in the girl's bedroom and tries to steal her breath. However, the cat who we've been following is by her side, trying to protect her. I found this segment to be the worst. I found the story silly and uninteresting, the special effects were bad and it wasn't at all scary or funny.
But I don't want to end this review on a bad note because this movie was very watchable and a very faithful King adaptation. It was a mixture of horror and comedy with some good actors and a good score.
3/5