From the Dead of Night (1989)

by Mark Murton

Directed by: Paul Wendkos

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: After a near death experience during which she finds herself in a tunnel of light being grabbed at by disembodied hands, fashion designer Joanna Darby (Lindsay Wagner) finds her life in constant danger. She becomes convinced that something unknown is trying to draw her back into the world of the dead. Her boyfriend Glen (Robin Thomas) thinks she’s losing her mind so Joanna turns to her ex-boyfriend Peter (Bruce Boxleitner), a strong believer in the supernatural, and together they confront the forces threatening Joanna in this made-for-TV miniseries.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): On the night of Joanna’s accident she is attending a party at her boyfriend’s house. As they mingle with the guests Joanna is surprised to find his tabby cat at her feet and she quickly gathers it up.

From the Dead of Night - Joanne Lindsay Wagner holding tabby cat with Glen Robin Thomas

Joanna suggests Glen should shut the cat in the bedroom in case he gets trampled, but he dismisses the idea.

After an awkward encounter with her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend, Joanna escapes outside. She sits on a lounger by the pool cradling the cat.

From the Dead of Night - Joanne Lindsay Wagner holding tabby cat on lounge chair

After a while she drops the cat to the ground and gets up to go back inside, but after a few steps she trips over the cat and, losing her balance, plunges into the pool causing her head to smack against a floating planter.

From the Dead of Night - tabby cat being tripped over by pool

From the Dead of Night - Joanne Lindsay Wagner tripping over tabby cat and falling into pool animated gif

As Joanna flounders under the water there’s an odd shot from her perspective of the cat running along the side of the pool (perhaps rushing to get help?)

From the Dead of Night - tabby cat running alongside pool

Purr Blurs: As Joanna becomes increasingly desperate she agrees to see a psychiatrist who hypnotizes her and takes her back to the night of her near-drowning (including a repeat shot of the cat trip). The psychiatrist concludes Joanna is confusing dreams with reality causing her to storm out.

From the Dead of Night - tabby cat being tripped over by pool again

Returning home, Joanna’s sleep is disturbed by memories of the tunnel of light. Awaking with a start, she is further unnerved by unexplained noises (including cat cries). Suddenly a calico cat lands heavily on the skylight.

From the Dead of Night - calico cat on skylight

Quickly followed by another.

From the Dead of Night - two calico cats on skylight

The cats depart almost as quickly as they came.

From the Dead of Night - Joanne Lindsay Wagner being startled by calico cats on skylight animated gif

Peter arranges a meeting at the home of a colleague of his, Professor Corning (Philip Sterling), who answers the door cradling a black cat in his arms.