This Is The Most Underrated Stephen King Adaptation
Stephen King is the reigning godfather of the horror genre. He is beloved by casual horror fans and devotees alike. The vast majority of his literary and cinematic output has a loyal fanbase and has received plenty of recognition over the years. But there are still outliers. And I would very much consider the 1985 anthology Cat’s Eye as one of those. Cat’s Eye may not reach the level of greatness of other Stephen King adaptations like Creepshow. But the film is nonetheless deserving of recognition as a strong collection of shorts with three very enjoyable segments. The film serves up plenty of dark comedy, and white-knuckle thrills, and even delivers a couple of surprisingly heartwarming exchanges along the way.
Cat’s Eye features two vignettes based on King’s Night Shift collection (“Quitter’s Inc” and “The Ledge”) with the third (“General”) written exclusively for this anthology. The titular feline and a young Drew Barrymore serve as the connective tissue that ties the stories together. Both the kitty cat and baby Drew become integral parts of the narrative in the third segment.
“Quitter’s Inc”: Just One Last Cigarette
“Quitter’s Inc” is the first of the vignettes. And boy does it start the proceedings off with a bang. The segment follows Dick Morrison (James Woods), a man trying to quit smoking by any means necessary. After several unsuccessful attempts, he enlists the aid of a Mafia-run organization that promises results through somewhat unconventional methods.
This segment is quite dark. But the underlying comedy juxtaposed alongside the extreme approach to quitting results in pitch-black comedic gold. The party sequence makes me guffaw every time I watch it. And I would go so far as to say that seeing Dick’s quitting consultant (Alan King) karate chop a pack of cigarettes ranks amongst the most iconic and unexpected flourishes from an ‘80s horror anthology.
The tension established when Dick repeatedly attempts to sneak a cigarette is masterfully rendered by director Lewis Teague. Each foiled attempt is packaged with maximum intensity by way of frenetic editing and claustrophobic camerawork. But just as the tension seems too much to bear, the dark comedy returns to balance out the viewing experience.
My one critique is that some aspects of this segment haven’t aged terribly well. But if you can look past the missteps, “Quitter’s Inc” is pretty exceptional. In fact, it’s likely my favorite of the three stories contained within Cat’s Eye.
“Cat’s Eye”: Such Great Heights
The second segment, “The Ledge” has a similarly dark sense of humor and plenty of nerve-shredding thrills. The setup finds Cressner (Kenneth McMillan), a mafia loan shark, making a deal with Johnny (Robert Hays), the tennis instructor who is taking up with Cressner’s wife. Cressner agrees to grant his wife a divorce if Johnny can successfully walk the ledge around the penthouse Cressner lives in.
The proposition suggested by Cressner proves even more dangerous than it sounds. With gaps in the ledge and Cressner trying to forcibly throw Johnny to his death, there is never a dull moment. The dizzying camera angles and the shots looking down the high rise to the street below are utterly terrifying. I’m not afraid of heights, yet I still find myself squirming in my seat.
There is less dark comedy in this vignette than in “Quitter’s Inc”. That lack of reprieve makes the stakes feel unbelievably real. With that said, Kenneth McMillan does turn in a performance that offers occasional moments of levity. And quite the performance it is. McMillan appears to be having a great time getting into character and becoming more and more unhinged with each passing moment. The eventual turning of the tables makes for the perfect ending to this near-perfect vignette.
Drew Barrymore And Her Cat
The final segment of this Stephen King adaptation sees a young girl (Drew Barrymore) connecting with the stray cat that has been searching for her throughout the first two segments. When the two finally cross paths, the girl’s parents go out of their way to keep the pair apart.
This segment is almost like a palate cleanser. Although it maintains some of the dark tonal elements from the previous two vignettes, much of the tension comes from the child’s mother insisting the cat has designs on stealing the little girl’s breath. That ill-advised stance actually winds up putting the young lady in even greater peril.
The ending of “General” validates the altruistic intentions of the well-meaning kitty and ties up the anthology nicely. Although I would say the ‘General’ segment isn’t quite as strong as its counterparts, it’s still a damn good vignette likely to evoke real emotion from the audience.
Cat’s Eye is a rare example of an anthology without a bad vignette in the bunch. Why it isn’t more celebrated, I don’t know. If you haven’t seen the film, I would suggest giving it a shot. You may just find that it’s a pretty solid effort that excels at both horror and dark comedy. Plus, it’s from the mind of Stephen King, so you know it’s going to be good.
Categorized:Editorials
