THE CAT is a Crazy Concoction

THE CAT (Blu-ray)

1992 / 89 min

88 Films

Review by Mr. Bonnie, the Doppleganger

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Mr. Bonnie, one of several writers of the feline persuasion who tow the line around here while Dave gets all the credit (but at least he feeds us on time). Dave also hands out the review assignments, and in my paws he dropped The Cat, a Hong Kong science-fiction film from 1992. 

“Why me?” I asked. “Doesn’t Pepper usually review the sci-fi stuff?”

“I thought you’d get a kick out of it,” Dave said. “It’s about a cat from space. And Look at the cover. The cat looks just like you.”

“I guess that explains why you kept The Picture of Dorian Gray for yourself. The painting looks just like you.” He didn’t think I was funny.

Unlike the movie I reviewed earlier this year with the same title, at least this one features a cat, even if he isn’t the actual star. Named General, he’s just one of three aliens who’ve arrived to save Earth from a blobby, goopy monster that sometimes absorbs people, others times burns them alive, and occasionally assumes their identity (depending on the requirements of the plot at the time). So creature-wise, there are similarities to The Thing, The Blob and a bowl of marinara sauce.

Scene stealer.

The main protagonist is Wisely (Waise Lee), a writer who uncannily determines General and his friends are aliens who must be stopped. He and the police are determined to hunt the cat down, which proves impossible. This leads to my personal favorite scene in the entire movie…a lengthy junkyard brawl where General kicks a dog’s ass (landing it in the hospital). But when his companion, Pai So (Christine Ng), assures Wisely they’re here to stop the monster from getting-hold of an artifact called the Octagon (which is actually some kind of weapon), he teams up with them. 

The special effects are as goofy as the plot, a kooky combination of rubber monsters, puppetry, wild gore, bluescreen and good ol’ stop motion. Speaking of which…I’ll concede that Dave is right about one thing: General really does resemble yours truly, save for numerous bits where he looks like a stuffed animal being thrown across the room.

The whole thing culminates with a climax that must have been sponsored in-part by Fanta, because the soda company’s logo is prominently featured among scenes of death and destruction. The Cat is as crazy and campy as it sounds, but at least it’s never boring, even when that handsome devil of a title character isn’t onscreen. It’s one of those fun what-the-hell-did-I-just-watch flicks.

EXTRA KIBBLES

JAPANESE CUT - With English subtitles, and waaay different than the original (less fun, too).

INTERVIEW - An extensive interview with the film’s screenwriter, Gordon Chan.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By Frank Djeng.

SUPPLEMENTAL BOOKLET - Includes two essay, color photos, cast & crew credits.

IMAGE GALLERY

TRAILER

REVERSIBLE COVER - With new and original artwork.

5” x 7” POSTER ART REPLICA - Two sided, with new and original artwork.