Black Cat poster
Black Cat (Chinese: 黑貓; pinyin: Hei mao) is a 1991 Hong Kong action film directed and produced by Stephen Shin. The film stars Jade Leung as Catherine who accidentally kills a truck driver. After escaping trial, she is captured by medics who then inserts a "Black Cat" chip into her brain which puts her under the CIA's complete control. The CIA make her into a new CIA agent known as Erica.
Director Stephen Shin originally wanted the film to be a straight remake of Luc Besson's film Nikita but couldn't after Disney purchased the rights for an American remake. Critics compared the film unfavorably to Nikita. Jade Leung won the award for Best Newcomer at the 11th Hong Kong Film Awards for her role in the film. A sequel titled Black Cat 2: The Assassination of President Yeltsen was released in 1992.
Plot[]
An 18-wheeler drives down an interstate highway in New York State. The truck pulls into the empty Liberty truck stop and the driver goes inside its restaurant. A lone woman sits at a table slowly polishing silverware. The truck driver, Beckerham, calls out for coffee to an unseen cook named Benny who comments on Beckerham's long days on the road. Beckerham takes a seat at a booth and Benny brings him a cup of coffee. On his way to the kitchen, Benny berates the woman for being lazy and laments hiring her. He tells her to go look after his customer, Beckerham, who watches the single sided exchange.
The woman unenthusiastically dumps some silverware on Beckerham's table and begins to wipe it down. Beckerham tries to sweet-talk her and comments on how she must hate her job. He propositions her with promises of a quick buck and places an unwanted hand on her waist, which is promptly pushes away. Undeterred, he reaches for her breast. In retaliation, she drives a fork through his hand and he screams in pain. He slaps her rage and the woman falls to the ground. Benny cuts in and stops Beckerham from beating on the woman, demanding to know what happened. Beckerham tells him about the fork and Benny immediately fires the woman, who is still lying on the floor.
Benny tosses the woman and her belongings out the front door of the restaurant. She runs back to him and demands that he pay her. He grabs a wad of cash that he has on him and tosses it on the ground and locks the door behind him. She reaches down for the money and sees that it's only $12 American dollars.
Inside, the restaurant, Benny tends to Beckerham's injured hand. He asks Benny where he found her. "She came in yesterday, flat broke, said she really needed a job," Benny says. He adds that he only really wanted to sleep with her. At the front door, the woman bangs on it, demanding to be let in. Angry, Benny tells her to go away or he'll call the police. He opens the door and she runs in past him. She goes bast the counter and grabs a silver harmonica. Benny questions her about it and she tells him that it's hers.
Outside, the woman sits and plays the harmonica. Beckerham steps outside the restaurant for a smoke and sees her. He approaches her and comments on her ability to play the harmonica. She ignores him. He propositions her again but she ignores him. Unbothered, Beckerham goes to his truck. The woman taps him on the shoulder just as he's about to get inside. "30 bucks, stud," she tells him. Amused, Beckerham pulls out the money and shoves it down her blouse. He pushes her down to her knees and begins to undo his belt. The woman is hiding a large rock behind her back and when Beckerham least expects it, she hits him with it, causing him to fall over in pain. She kicks him several times. She grabs the money he gave her and shoves it in his mouth.
She goes to her duffle bag and begins to walk away but Beckerham grabs her from behind and starts chocking her. He tosses her through the window of the restaurant, where a shocked Benny see her land on the floor. He picks up the phone and calls the police, demanding assistance. The woman crawls underneath a pool table but Beckerham tips it over. With a pool cue, she hits him in the head but he head butts her in return before lifting her and tossing her against a jukebox. Benny runs for a gun and shoots it in air. "I don't want any killing in the cafe," he says. It's enough to get him to stop his assault and he lets her go. Seeing a large piece of broken glass, the woman grabs it and shoves it in his chest multiple times. Benny interferes and hold her at gunpoint, but Beckerham pushes him aside and she lands on a pinball machine, dropping his gun. The woman grabs the gun and begins to fire frantically, taking out lights all around her, before one of the shots hits Beckerham.
The police arrive at the Liberty truck stop and find all the lights out. Two officers enter and call out. The interior is completely dark and only the lights from their flashlights illuminate it. One of the officers finds Benny and tells his partner to call an ambulance. The officer finds Beckerham lying over the woman. He pushes him off and checks the woman's vitals. She wakes up and shoots the officer through the chest.
Cast[]
- Jade Leung as Catherine/Erica
- Simon Yam as Brian
- Thomas Lam as Thomas