Cat's Eye (1985)**

 

There are some serious heavies in Lewis Teague's Cat's Eye (1985). Kenneth McMillan, who loves to bet on anything, including the famed feline of this film and whether or not it crosses a busy street, orchestrating a terrifying ledge walk with his adversary, an aging tennis pro played by Robert Hays who was having an affair with his fed-up wife. McMillan, with this vicious kingpin reputation and bought police, doesn't play fair, even as Hays must endure quite a distance around a major Atlantic City highrise. He just lives for terrorizing his enemies, making sure Hays never rests, even when he finds a small crevice following a consistent pigeon peck on his ankle. And even when Hays wins the bet by crossing the ledge, getting to walk away with cash and McMillan's wife just wasn't going to happen. But even better is Hays' revenge. The use of a horn and how the cat does factor as a background character are fun little additions to this second tale, I felt.

Not expecting the severed head, Hays reacts

Fear of heights might freak viewers out

That first tale with James Woods might stir up serious anxiety for those who love to smoke. I think this first tale is really, really good. I think this is the one, because of Woods' performance and Alan King's menacing Quitter's, Inc exec leaves an impression to say the least. An addendum to having to quit cold turkey or else watch King terrorize your wife with this "electric shock room" is Woods can't gain weight or his wife loses a finger! Quitters, Inc is seriously an organization that uses Big Brother as a guiding mantra for how they keep their customers "in line."

The third tale just remains the weakest for me personally. I love that the cat is really involved in it, though. The little creature with the teeny tiny dagger, gobbling up a pet bird, stabbing the cat, and going for the breath of Drew Barrymore (Naughton, the father, Candy Clark, the mother) does establish it as a serious threat. This is the tale, though, that really captured the attention and concentration of my teenage son and daughter. All the toys, record player, and Muppet Baby balloons are pop culture 80s nostalgic goodies to those who were Drew's age in 1985. Candy Clark's rivalry with the cat amused me, but I am glad the cat escapes euthanasia from the animal shelter. Quite a use of a fan in Drew's room, with lots of creature bits and pieces.

If you are a cat-lover, I think this particular Stephen King 80s film might just be a winner. I liked this film Saturday night more than previous viewings. I told my daughter that I did find "The Ledge" quite intense, despite knowing the outcome. That electrical sign nearly hurling Hays to his death, and the subsequent hard work to get back to the ledge is really a fine suspense part of the ledge walk.

Companion to Cat's Eye*