Cat's Eye
Three horror-thriller tales revolve around a mysterious stray cat which is attempting to find a little girl in trouble. In "Quitters, Inc.": the cat is picked up by a shady New York City "doctor" who uses experimental techniques to get people to quit smoking. His latest client is a man named Morrison, who learns he'll suffer some terrible consequences if he tries to cheat. In "The Ledge": the cat is picked up by Cressner, a shady Atlantic City millionaire who forces tennis pro Norris (his wife's lover), to walk a narrow ledge around his high-rise penthouse apartment. In "The General": the cat arrives in Wilmington, North Carolina, where it is found by Amanda, the young girl it has been sent to protect. What she needs protection from is a tiny, evil troll who lives behind the skirting board in her bedroom.
Working with a modest budget of $7.0M, the film achieved a steady performer with $13.1M in global revenue (+87% profit margin).
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Cat's Eye (1985) exhibits deliberately positioned plot construction, characteristic of Lewis Teague's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 11-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 34 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
The Cat
Amanda
Dick Morrison
Dr. Vinnie Donatti
Johnny Norris
Cressner
Main Cast & Characters
The Cat
Played by Multiple Animal Performers
A stray cat on a cross-country journey to save a little girl from supernatural danger
Amanda
Played by Drew Barrymore
A young girl protected by the cat from a malevolent troll that steals children's breath
Dick Morrison
Played by James Woods
A desperate smoker who enters a sadistic program to quit his addiction in "Quitters, Inc."
Dr. Vinnie Donatti
Played by Alan King
The ruthless enforcer of Quitters, Inc. who uses extreme methods to ensure clients quit smoking
Johnny Norris
Played by Robert Hays
A professional tennis player coerced into walking a building ledge by a mobster in "The Ledge"
Cressner
Played by Kenneth McMillan
A wealthy crime boss who forces his wife's lover to walk around his penthouse ledge as a deadly bet
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes A stray cat wanders city streets, searching. We see brief flashes of a young girl calling for help, establishing the cat's quest to find and save her.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Morrison's wife is threatened and tortured when he smokes, escalating the stakes. The cat escapes the clinic, continuing its journey.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
At 49 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 52% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat The troll nearly kills Amanda in a terrifying attack while she sleeps. The cat intervenes but is blamed. Amanda's mother, not understanding the real threat, has the cat taken to be destroyed., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 72 minutes (77% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The cat is captured again and locked away. Amanda is left completely vulnerable. The troll prepares for final attack. The "whiff of death" is literal—Amanda will die without the cat's protection., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 76 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Epic battle between cat and troll in Amanda's room. The cat uses everything learned on its journey—survival instinct, courage, sacrifice—to defeat the supernatural creature and save the girl. Parents finally witness the truth., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Cat's Eye's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 11 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Cat's Eye against these established plot points, we can identify how Lewis Teague utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Cat's Eye within the comedy genre.
Lewis Teague's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Lewis Teague films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.7, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Cat's Eye represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Lewis Teague filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Lewis Teague analyses, see The Jewel of the Nile, Navy Seals.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
A stray cat wanders city streets, searching. We see brief flashes of a young girl calling for help, establishing the cat's quest to find and save her.
Theme
In "Quitters, Inc." segment, the theme of addiction, control, and the lengths we go to protect those we love is introduced through Morrison's desperation to quit smoking.
Worldbuilding
Cat witnesses Morrison's story at Quitters, Inc., a sinister organization that uses torture and threats to force smoking cessation. Establishes the dark, interconnected world of King's universe.
Disruption
Morrison's wife is threatened and tortured when he smokes, escalating the stakes. The cat escapes the clinic, continuing its journey.
Resistance
The cat travels to Atlantic City, witnessing "The Ledge" story. Tennis pro Johnny Norris is forced by mobster Cressner to walk around a penthouse ledge. The cat observes human cruelty and survival instinct.
Act II
ConfrontationPremise
The cat tries to integrate into Amanda's household while the real threat emerges: a malevolent troll living in Amanda's bedroom wall that steals children's breath. The cat is repeatedly expelled by the mother who blames it for Amanda's problems.
Midpoint
The troll nearly kills Amanda in a terrifying attack while she sleeps. The cat intervenes but is blamed. Amanda's mother, not understanding the real threat, has the cat taken to be destroyed.
Opposition
The cat escapes from the animal control officer and races back to Amanda. Meanwhile, the troll grows bolder. Amanda's parents remain oblivious, increasing restrictions on her room. The cat faces multiple obstacles trying to return.
Collapse
The cat is captured again and locked away. Amanda is left completely vulnerable. The troll prepares for final attack. The "whiff of death" is literal—Amanda will die without the cat's protection.
Crisis
The cat's darkest moment. Trapped and seemingly defeated, it must find the strength and cunning to break free one final time. Amanda struggles to breathe as the troll closes in.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Epic battle between cat and troll in Amanda's room. The cat uses everything learned on its journey—survival instinct, courage, sacrifice—to defeat the supernatural creature and save the girl. Parents finally witness the truth.