Unexpected Conspiracy Theory Uncovered In Ridiculous, Unrated Comedy Thriller

Written by Robert Scocchi | Published 20 seconds ago

Putting down a beloved family pet is never easy, but sometimes it is the most humane option when their health is rapidly deteriorating and the suffering is evident. 2014 Cat murder It explores what can go wrong when a bizarre incident involving a crossbow and a cat named Mousers turns into a strange web of intrigue involving the cat’s secret second owner, a major retailer, and a bunch of meaningless receipts until our hero does enough digging that the sheriff isn’t willing to do it himself.

Cat murder It borrows the dark thriller beats of the noir genre but frames it as a comedy, making it an unexpectedly engaging watch as our hero and his unlikely ally try to figure out who killed their cat, leaving no stone unturned in the process. With each step closer to the truth, new complications arise, and almost everyone they meet becomes a potential suspect in the Mausers’ murder.

Clinton, Greta, Mice, and Horatio

Cat murder It begins by establishing the Clinton (Fran Kranz) family dynamic. He lives with his mother, Edie (Blythe Danner), tries to make a living selling the figurines he makes while living in her basement, and regularly feuds with Sheriff Howell (J.K. Simmons), who also happens to be romantically involved with his mother. For obvious reasons, Clinton’s best friend is his 17-year-old cat, named Moosers. The rats come and go as they please, and Clinton has shamelessly corrupted them because, in Clinton’s eyes, they are partners in life.

When Mausers is suddenly killed by an arrow, Clinton refuses to leave his death unsolved. Sheriff Howell assures Clinton that he will look into the murder, but he seems more interested in spending time with Eddie than in the actual investigation. Taking matters into his own hands, Clinton retraces the Mousers’ steps to a seniors’ home, where he meets Greta (Nikki Reed), who is living there for cheap rent. Greta reveals that she was also taking care of the same cat, although she knew him as Horatio.

Sheriff Howell eventually concludes that the cat was living a double life, moving between two owners to maximize his meals and affection. Clinton is left with the unfortunate task of breaking the news to Greta that her beloved Horatio has been murdered.

While trying to trace the stock to its source, Clinton and Greta find themselves at Ford’s Megastore, owned by Al Ford (Greg Kinnear). Al is visibly uneasy about Greta’s presence, as she recently left work for him under questionable circumstances. This immediately raises Clinton’s suspicions that Greta may be hiding something. Although it has been revealed that Ford’s Megastore carries the specific crossbow model that would have been used in the Clinton/Horatio murder, there is no paper trail linking the weapon to this specific location. This sends Clinton and Greta on a wild goose chase to uncover who really killed their beloved cat.

It would have worked better as a short

Cat murder It clearly has its own premise, but it feels drawn out throughout its 90-minute runtime. Fran Kranz and Nikki Reed have a strong chemistry as reluctant adversaries turn into allies, and the mystery is entertaining enough to keep things moving. J. K. Simmons and Blythe Danner play an amusing older couple, whose frustration with Clinton’s stalled development is palpable and consistently funny, especially as his investigation escalates.

The problem is that the mystery itself isn’t fully rewarded, which makes a lot of the investigations seem frustrating in the end. He said that, Cat murder It’s still worth watching for its performance and irreverent tone. However, I can’t shake the feeling that this would have worked much better as a single episode of an anthology series rather than a feature film.

Cat murder It is currently streaming on Tubi.