The Book of Eli (2010)

The Book of Eli poster

Starring: Gilligan and Skyler
Directed by: The Hughes Brothers

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

Synopsis: In a post-apocalyptic world, a man named Eli (Denzel Washington) is on a quest, heading west with a book that others seem to want to steal or destroy.

Kitty Cameos: At the beginning of the film we see a man’s body lying in a forest where ashes are falling like snow. Out of nowhere a hairless cat appears, walking to the body to presumably start eating.

The Book of Eli - hairless cat approaching dead man's foot in forest

The Book of Eli - hairless cat sniffing at dead man's foot in forest

Kitty Carnage Warning!  We then see Eli off to one side aiming an arrow at the cat. Needless to say the cat does not survive and is, in fact, eaten later. Computer animation was used to show the cat being killed.

The Book of Eli - hairless cat standing in forest

The Book of Eli - hairless cat standing next to dead man in forest

The Book of Eli - hairless cat close up

Later in the film Eli walks into a bar where a group of motorcycle thugs known as Hijackers are gathered. A dirty white ragdoll cat is on the table with the Hijack Leader (Chris Browning).

The Book of Eli - dirty long-haired white cat in bar on table with Hijack Leader Chris Browning

When Eli goes to the bar to haggle with the bartender for water, the white cat jumps up beside him.

The Book of Eli - dirty long-haired white cat on bar

Eli nudges the cat away slightly and the cat hisses at him. This sets off a fight between Eli and the Hijack Leader.

The Book of Eli - dirty long-haired white cat about to be nudged on bar

The Book of Eli - dirty long-haired white cat hissing

The Book of Eli - dirty long-haired white cat on bar hissing at Eli Denzel Washington

Despite the violence the American Humane Association gave the film an Outstanding rating for their treatment of the cats. The animal trainer for the film was Trevor George-Fowler working for The Animal Agency.  The ragdoll cat actors were played by two cats; the cat actor on the table was Gilligan while the hissing cat actor on the bar was Skyler.

The Book of Eli - hairless cat medium shot

The Book of Eli - dirty long-haired white cat close up

Final Mewsings: And you thought the apocalypse was going to be hard on humans.


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