CAT'S EYE

US, 1985, 94 minutes, Colour.
Drew Barrymore, Robert Hays, James Woods, Candy Clark, Alan King, Kenneth Mc Millan, James Naughton.
Directed by Lewis Teague.

Cat's Eye is an enjoyable, if minor, horror thriller. It is based on three stories by Stephen King and the author himself wrote the screenplay. Critics have noted the similarity of themes and treatment with some of the stories by Roald Dahl.

The film jokes about other King stories: a television clip from The Dead Zone, the cat of the title being chased by Cujo and crossing the road in front of Christine. Candy Clark reads 'Pet Semetary' in bed and Drew Barrymore was the star of Firestarter. There are similarities of themes and treatment with other King films.

The film was co-produced by Milton Subotsky who was producer of a number of omnibus films in-Britain in the '60s and '70s: Torture Garden, Asylum, Vault of Horror. The film uses the thread of a cat walking through the film and becoming part of three stories.

The first story is amusing for those who have tried to give up smoking - with some dire consequences. The second story is certainly a thriller for those who have an abhorrence of heights. The third story is an imitation of Gremlins. The stars are good, the film enjoyable - though not startling.

1. An enjoyable thriller? Enjoyable horror? The entertainment value of three short stories in the one film?

2. The work of Stephen King, his reputation? His use of the horror genres, his skill with the conventions? Seriously? With jokes? A re-working of his own and others' horror stories? The jokey references to his own books and films?

3. The work of the director and his skill with horror films (Alligator, Cujo)? His skill with animal menace? Style, tension? The importance of pace and editing? Special effects? Fantasy? The creature (by Carlo Rambaldi of E.T. and Dune)?

4. The focus on the cat, the credit with the cat's eye, the link between the stories, the catwalk, travelling to various cities, participation in each story as a character: the electric shock in the clinic, the bet and the cat crossing the road, being on the ledge? Being called The General by the little girl, the killing of the bird, the confrontation with the monster and being wounded, being taken to the pet, cemetery, escaping, the final battle with the monster and kissing the little girl? The cat as a character?

5. The enigmatic presence of Drew Barrymore in the film as 'Our Girl'? The little girl imprisoned in the model in the shop window? The little girl on the television screen wanting to get out? Talking to the cat? Her role as Morrison's daughter in the first daughter? Her starring role in the third?

6. Quitters Incorporated: A horror nightmare, for those giving up smoking, audiences identifying? Morrison and his smoking, the sign advising him to go to Quitters Incorporated? The car sequence at the beginning? Donato and his unctuous style, Morrison's ordeal in the waiting room, the patient, his wife coming out, the interview and the conditions? The cat hopping an the electrified wire? Morrison tormented, the response of his wife and family, sleepless night, the episode with the closet and the watcher? The footprints on the floor? His visit to school and his daughter? The tracking by Donatti? The watchers? The bridge hold-up and his concealed smoking, his being discovered? The cush home, his wife kidnapped, electrified? His reconciliation with his wife - and Donatti winning the bet? His progress, the happy encounters with Donatti - and the warning stories about over-eating and the removal of fingers? The final toast and the lady guest reluctantly toasting, with her missing finger?

7. The Ledge: Atlantic City, the atmosphere of gambling, Cressner and his gambling, setting his thugs to track his wife and Morris? Norris and the bus, the farewell? His being abducted violently? Cressner and his bet about the cat crossing the street, winning? Self-confidence? Vindictiveness against his wife and Norris? Cressner as petty, cruel, his taunting of Norris, forcing him to go round the ledge, trying to thwart him? The revenge and the setting up of Norris's death? The reversal of roles?, Norris as the tennis coach, the affair with Cressner's wife, seeing her off,7the abduction, the ledge, his decision to go, fear, endurance? The devices to heighten the horror - the wind, the birds, the bird pecking his leg, the electric sign? His success and the reversing of roles and Cressner's death? With the bugle broken on the footpath? The atmosphere in this film, editing and pace, the audience made to share Norris's moving around the ledge?

8. The final story with the monster - North Carolina, the nice American family, the cat and the little girl welcoming it, the parents and their relationship, treatment of their daughter, domestic sequences? Sally Ann's dislike of the cat, seeing it kill the bird, forbidding it in the house, taking it to the pet cemetery? The little girl and the loss of the cat, her love for the bird, her nightmares, the monster coming through the wall, killing the bird, trying to draw her breath from her? The final encounter, the General to the rescue despite his wound, the fight with the monster, the monster's being shredded like a Gremlin? The reconciliation - and the cat kissing the little girl at the end?

9. The enjoyment of such nightmare horrors - touching the shadow side of ourselves?