When the Bough Breaks (2016)

When the Bough Breaks poster

Screen Gems
Starring: Morris Chestnut, Regina Hall, Jaz Sinclair
Directed by: Jon Cassar

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

Synopsis: John and Laura Taylor (Morris Chestnut, Regina Hall) have one last chance at having a baby via a surrogate, but their choice in Anna Walsh (Jaz Sinclair) turns deadly.

Featured Feline: Laura owns an elderly long-haired tuxedo cat named Miss Havisham (undoubtedly named after the Dickens’ character from Great Expectations, although it is not explained why). Miss Havisham is first seen on the couples’ bed.

When the Bough Breaks - long haired tuxedo cat Miss Havisham lying on bed with John Morris Chestnut and Laura Regina Hall

When the Bough Breaks - long haired tuxedo cat Miss Havisham lying on bed

Later John comes home to find Laura in the bar. Miss Havisham is sitting in the corridor in his way. “It’s been a long day, cat,” John says sternly. “Move.” Miss Havisham does.

When the Bough Breaks - long haired tuxedo cat Miss Havisham lying in hallway

When the Bough Breaks - long haired tuxedo cat Miss Havisham lying on floor with John Morris Chestnut and Laura Regina Hall

In another scene Laura comes downstairs one morning carrying Miss Havisham with her.

When the Bough Breaks - long haired tuxedo cat Miss Havisham being carried by Laura Regina Hall

When the Bough Breaks - long haired tuxedo cat Miss Havisham being carried by Laura Regina Hall lying on bed with John Morris Chestnut and Anna Jaz Sinclair

Miss Havisham is standing by the sliding glass doors as John tells the cat’s name to Anna and explains how Laura has always treated the cat like a baby. John admits he’s not a cat person.

When the Bough Breaks - long haired tuxedo cat Miss Havisham standing by sliding glass door

Miss Havisham watches as Anna swims in the pool late one night as well.

When the Bough Breaks - long haired tuxedo cat Miss Havisham looking through window at night

Kitty Carnage Warning! Sadly Miss Havisham is a casualty when Anna kills her and puts her in the baby’s crib. The cat seen in the crib is obviously fake.

The animal wrangler on the film was Steve Berens from Animals of Distinction and Miss Havisham may have been played by the cat acting team of Pepper.

Final Mewsings: Filmmakers have got to stop putting cats in movies just to kill them.

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