1. Cat's Eye
This 1985 anthology features a collection of Stephen King stories (2 from his book Night Shift and one original to the movie) linked by a cat who plays a minor role in 2 of the stories before starring in the final segment. The tales are portrayed as being seen through the eyes of the cat as he attempts to answer a seemingly psychic distress call from Drew Barrymore. The studio demanded massive cuts to the framing story calling it "too silly." Plans to include an adaptation of King's "Sometimes They Come Back," in the film were also scrapped.
Quitters, Inc Dick Morrison (James Woods) has been trying to quit smoking for ages and has been referred to Quitters, Inc a "helping agency" apparently run by former mobsters who have converted their arm breaking tactics into a legitimate business. They have a huge success rate based on threatening the families of their clients with increasingly horrific punishments. The first punishment is demonstrated on the titular cat as it is placed in a room with an electrified floor. Clinic counselor Dr. Vinnie Donatti (Alan King) explains that the first time Morrison smokes, his wife will get the shock treatment. The second time Morrison smokes his daughter gets a turn in the shock room and the third time would see his wife raped. The fourth strike and Morrison would find himself snuffed out. Morrison soon realizes that this merry band of committed antismoking enthusiasts have him under constant surveillance. When he attempts to sneak a cigarette during a traffic jam, he is immediately caught and his wife thrown in the shock room. This breaks Morrison's smoking addiction, but his counselor warns him that there could be consequences for his weight gain..... Woods puts in a great turn as the harried smoker and does a great job depicting nicotine cravings. That and his scenes with the remarkable Alan King make this story work.
The Ledge Johnny Norris (Airplane's Robert Hays) has been having an affair with the wrong woman, the wife of a notorious crime boss Cressner (Kenneth Mcmillan). Kidnapped by Cressner and blackmailed into a dangerous bet, Norris has to either circle the gangster's building via a narrow ledge hundreds of feet above the ground or risk being framed and jailed for drug possession. Norris takes the bet and despite being attacked by birds and sprayed with a fire hose survives the ordeal. Now armed with a gun, he wonders if Cressner is up for a little bet of his own...
General The cat is adopted by a little girl who names him General. The cat is forced to sleep outside at night as the cat hating mother is fearful that General will harm her pet parakeet and "steal" her daughter's breath. Inside the house a breath stealing troll is lurking determined to get the cat out of the way and take the little girl's life..... Any movie that features a cat vs troll battle of wits, culminating in a fight to the death has got to be worth 90 minutes of your time! While the troll looks like the offspring of a Keebler Elf and Jigsaw from Saw, the effects surrounding it are effective. Cat's Eye is packed to the gill with references to previous movies based on Stephen King's works with haunted murder car Christine and rabid demon dog Cujo making implied appearances. Not an earth shattering movie and short on scares but entertaining nonetheless. Which anthology movies will you be watching to extend your Halloween? Sound off in the comments below.