The Cat is yet another take on the popular character of Wisely, a writer and paranormal investigator who always seems to get himself into strange situations. Just how strange do things get here? Well, not only is there an alien who looks like slimy cotton candy that immolates people before eating or possessing them, the audience is treated to a knock-down drag-out wrestling match between a dog and cat that would give the "Macho Man" Randy Savage versus Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat contest at Wrestlemania III a run for its' money.

Now, before you animal rights types out there work yourselves up into a lather to start protesting abuse, keep in mind that the cat and dog fight is extremely fake looking, to the point that puppet stand-ins for the critters are obviously used that make Triumph the Insult Comic Dog look like a technological wonder. That sort of thing is going to be a major reason why you would like this movie or hate it. The special effects are bottom of the barrel stuff, even keeping in mind the miniscule budget Hong Kong productions like this had to work with.

For this reviewer, the cheesiness is part of The Cat's charm. Sure, the effects look terrible, but I would much rather see bad hand-made practical effects created earnestly than dull glossed-over CGI effects churned out, as is the case with far too many releases (regardless of budget) nowadays. Plus, this movie has a cat giving a dog a suplex. A freakin' suplex, people! I really can't emphasize just how bad-ass that is, albeit in a totally incoherent and nonsensical manner that might leave you wondering if someone switched your morning vitamins for something more powerful.

The director of The Cat, Lam Nai-Choi, only has about a dozen pictures to his credit, but most of them, including Seventh Curse (another wacky take on the Wisely mythos) and Story of Ricky (quite possibly the goriest kung fu movie ever) are unique entries, which is saying a lot considering how over-the-top and schizophrenic Hong Kong cinema can get. The Cat fits right in with Lam's filmography. Is it what could be truly considered a "good" film to most people? Probably not. But it is entertaining and unique in its' own sort of twisted way, making this recommended viewing material for those who like to dabble in the weirder side of cinema.

RATING: 7