Murder of a Cat

Name: Murder of a Cat
Genre: Thriller, Comedy
Released: December 5, 2014
Duration: 101 min
Rating: 31

2014

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 8 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 4 Ratings

See All

2.5

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

2.5	Your Score
2.5	User Score Generally unfavorable reviews based on 4 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Murder Of A Cat

Now Playing: Murder Of A Cat

Movie Details & Credits

Gravitas Ventures | Release Date: December 5, 2014 | Not Rated

Summary: When someone murders his beloved cat, Clinton (Fran Kranz), an adult child, demands justice. Taking it upon himself to solve the case, he teams up with an unlikely ally, Greta (Nikki Reed), and the two set out to find the culprit lurking in their small suburban town. But as Clinton searches for the truth, he begins to uncover a conspiracyWhen someone murders his beloved cat, Clinton (Fran Kranz), an adult child, demands justice. Taking it upon himself to solve the case, he teams up with an unlikely ally, Greta (Nikki Reed), and the two set out to find the culprit lurking in their small suburban town. But as Clinton searches for the truth, he begins to uncover a conspiracy that goes far deeper than he anticipated. [Gravitas Ventures]… Expand

Director: Gillian Greene

Genre(s): Thriller, Comedy

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 101 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Serena Donadoni

Nov 25, 2014

Murder of a Cat has an off-kilter charm, with Greene prizing humor over menace, and Clinton's maturity over plot resolution Read full review

Sara Stewart

Dec 3, 2014

Heavy on quirk and light on wit, first-time director Gillian Greene’s comedy leans too heavily on the badly wigged Kranz. Read full review

Neil Genzlinger

Dec 4, 2014

The film, a first feature from Gillian Greene (wife of the director Sam Raimi, a producer here), has to settle for “sometimes amusing comedy” when it was probably aiming for “cult hit.” Read full review

Michael Rechtshaffen

Dec 4, 2014

A plodding comic caper that fails to deliver. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Simon Abrams

Dec 5, 2014

Even if you can accept that there's nothing inherently wrong with being a little misanthropic in the right context, you'll probably find that Murder of a Cat's mean streak isn't wide enough. Read full review

Joe Neumaier

Dec 3, 2014

This is a perfect example of the kind of indie movie J.K. Simmons will hopefully never have to do again if he wins an Oscar for “Whiplash.” Read full review

Rex Reed

Dec 3, 2014

Described as a satire on Hollywood detective flicks, this bucket of swill is so amateurish and confused it doesn’t know what it is. It’s not a comedy, drama or anything in-between. Read full review

SEE ALL 8 REVIEWS

Write a Review

Mixed:

User Reviews

Tone01

Dec 26, 2014

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Check any screen writing manual for definitions of plot point, twist, rising action. Then the RomCom playbook: meet girl, lose girl by self, regain girl, lose girl to externals, win girl.

Paint-by-numbers.

The script for "Murder of a Cat" is a textbook example. Each move is telegraphed. Each line moves toward the big twist right on time at minute 77. It may not be enough to discount this, or any film, but sadly there's nothing else to recommend it.

The chemistry between Nikki Reed and Fran Kranz is nonexistent. The former sleepwalks through a thankless, underwritten part while the latter, a sexless man-child living with Mom, was surely directed to angrily shout every line. Even the venerable J.K. Simmons phones it in, as does Greg Kinnear. Only Blythe Danner turns in a nuanced performance.

Further, Fran Kranz isn't a character, he's an annoying, trite and insulting caricature that's an affront to sensibility.

That leaves only plot: a Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew quest for the killer of Franz' cat. The yawn-inducing trail leading to the killer is paved with ennui and inane set pieces rolled in obvious that the filmmakers incorrectly believed was quirk.

There's a slapdash, let's-get-this-over feel to the proceedings which may derive from a tight shooting schedule. That might be forgiven, but when the cast isn't invested that feeling wafts over the footlights to hapless audiences. That conceit is the worst aspect in this useless film.

"Murder of a Cat" is an unfunny, undramatic, unwatchable insult not worthy of anyone's time. Maybe your cat will like it. (Maybe they'll wish for the same fate as the cinematic feline.)… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 1 REVIEWS