Directed by Lewis Teague, and written by acclaimed horror novelist Stephen King, Cat’s Eye is a horror anthology film comprising three segments: “Quitters, Inc.”, “The Ledge”, and “General”. The first two segments are adapted from King’s own collection of short stories, 1978’s Night Shift, whilst the third is unique to Cat’s Eye, written with Drew Barrymore in mind after her impressive performance in 1984’s Firestarter.
King had previously collaborated with George A. Romero on the EC Comics-inspired horror anthology Creepshow (1982) – employing a schlock visual style reminiscent of Tales from the Crypt, The Vault of Horror, and The Haunt of Fear, courtesy of SFX legend Tom Savini – but Cat’s Eye is a different animal altogether. Produced by the infamous Dino De Laurentiis (having previously produced the Stephen King adaptations: The Dead Zone and Firestarter), Cat’s Eye opts for a more realistic approach, frequently disturbing with macabre humour, Alan Silvestri’s effective score, and playful nods to King’s prior cinematic oeuvre.
Utilising the framing device of a stray cat – who later becomes the unlikely protagonist of the third and final segment – Cat’s Eye opens with the titular feline being chased by a rabid Saint Bernard; the one and the same from Cujo (1983), another Stephen King adaptation directed by Teague, and arguably one of the most effective. Indeed, King himself praised Cujo as “terrific” in an interview with Rolling Stone over a decade ago. During his escape, the cat is almost hit by a red and white 1958 Plymouth Fury with a bumper sticker that reads: “Watch out for me. I am Pure Evil. I am CHRISTINE”; referencing John Carpenter’s Christine (1983) and the Stephen King novel it was based upon.
With only seven of its nine lives left, the cat (later known as the “General”) manages to hide away in a delivery truck heading to New York City, where the first segment “Quitters, Inc” begins: Advised by a friend, Dick Morrison (James Woods) joins Quitters, Inc in an attempt to help kick his smoking habit, but is horrified when he learns how they have managed to secure their 100% success rate… In a macabre demonstration, the clinic’s doctor places a stray cat (the unfortunate General) inside a large caged structure and proceeds to torture the defenceless animal through the electrified metallic flooring. Their methods are clearly communicated: If Dick is caught smoking a cigarette, Quitters, Inc will torture his wife and daughter (Drew Barrymore) – and the horror will increase in magnitude for subsequent infractions, including bodily dismemberment, rape, and death!
“Quitters, Inc” is an effective horror short predating subsequent decades of declining societal tolerance towards smoking; an extreme social commentary on how difficult it can be to overcome addiction. Another playful nod to King also occurs when James Woods watches David Cronenberg’s The Dead Zone (1983), with Woods proclaiming: “Who writes this crap?” Escaping Quitters, Inc, the General leaves via the Staten Island Ferry towards New Jersey, and into the second segment, “The Ledge”: Involved romantically with the wife (Mary D’Arcy) of a jealous husband (and mob boss, portrayed by Kenneth McMillian), gambler Johnny Norris (Robert Hays) is blackmailed into agreeing to a dangerous wager… If he can circumvent the exterior ledge of the husband’s penthouse, a divorce will be granted to Sally. But if he doesn’t succeed, well… it’s a long way down!
The General plays a pivotal part during the shocking conclusion of “The Ledge”, before escaping via freight train to North Carolina, where he is found and adopted by a young girl named Amanda (also portrayed by Drew Barrymore). De Laurentiis was convinced – and rightly so – that Barrymore was going to be a star, and therefore awkwardly gave her more screen time through various characters. Indeed, Barrymore – along with portraying Dick’s daughter and Amanda – also appears as an unnamed girl in a TV commercial during “The Ledge”, and starred in the infamous prologue that was cut without Teague’s knowledge…
In the deleted opening sequence, it is discovered that a young girl is dead, and her superstitious parents believe the stray cat lurking in her bedroom to be the culprit! Whilst the father attempts desperately to revive the lifeless Drew Barrymore, her mother takes aim at the General with an automatic weapon! Fortunately, the cat miraculously escapes before being chased down by Cujo… Also, in what is perhaps a leftover from the original prologue, the General receives frequent prophetic messages from Drew Barrymore pleading for help, and warning of the danger ahead!
In the third and final segment, “The General”, the titular feline must protect Amanda from a creature that lurks within her bedroom walls; a malevolent troll that intends to steal Amanda’s breath! Emerging from its slumber, the tiny terror slays a pet parakeet, before climbing onto Amanda’s chest… Fortunately, the General is able to infiltrate her bedroom through an open window, ready to pounce upon its prey! Disgruntled by the feline threat, the troll abandons its attempt to asphyxiate the young girl and flees, but not before injuring the General!
The next morning, Amanda’s mother (Candy Clarke – observed earlier reading a copy of Pet Sematary!) – believing the cat had killed their parakeet, despite Amada’s father (James Naughton) remaining unconvinced the injury was from “one good peck” – takes the General to an animal shelter to be euthanized! Is this the last of the General’s nine lives? And if so, who will protect Drew Barrymore?!
Spinning a cover version of The Police’s “Every Breath You Take” – also aptly played during “Quitters, Inc” – Cat’s Eye ends both ludicrously, and satisfactorily, in dismemberment through delightful SFX courtesy of Carlo Rambaldi! Interestingly, Milton Subotsky – the co-founder of Amicus – was also credited as a co-producer; a man known for numerous British portmanteau horrors; from Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors (1965) to The House That Dripped Blood (1971) to From Beyond the Grave (1974).
Whilst Creepshow remained in the genre zeitgeist, Cat’s Eye is often overlooked due to its inconsistent tone. As the first Stephen King adaptation to recieve a PG-13 rating from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) – a rating created at the behest of director Steven Spielberg to accommodate the darker tone of family-orientated movies like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) and Joe Dante’s Gremlins (1984) – its arguable that “The General”, despite its horrific conclusion, was aimed at the younger demographic. Indeed, as a child I was equally terrified and in awe of Rambaldi’s monstrous creation! Yet, I think we can all agree rape, torture (“Quitters, Inc”) and decapitation (“The Ledge”) was definitely included with adults in mind, right?
Despite the film’s tonal inconsistencies, Cat’s Eye is one of the stronger horror anthologies from the era; three darkly humorous tales (or should that be tails?) of macabre portmanteau suspense that capture the spirit of the master of horror, Stephen King.
