Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997)

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil poster

Warner Bros.
Starring: John Cusack, Kevin Spacey
Directed by: Clint Eastwood

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

Synopsis: Writer John Kelso (John Cusack) finds himself embroiled in a murder case when the subject of his article, Jim Williams (Kevin Spacey) is accused of murder.

Featured Feline: Williams owns a tabby cat named Shelton. Shelton is first seen with Williams as he is talking to Kelso in his home.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil - Jim Williams Kevin Spacey petting tabby cat Shelton

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil - Jim Williams Kevin Spacey sitting on chair with pet tabby cat Shelton on sofa

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil - Jim Williams Kevin Spacey sitting across from John Kelso John Cusack with tabby cat Shelton on couch

Right after the murder, Kelso enters Williams’ house and Shelton runs in after him.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil - tabby cat Shelton running in through door

Shelton is then seen on Williams’ lap as the body is being removed from the home.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil - Jim Williams Kevin Spacey petting tabby cat Shelton on his lap in chair

Later during the court case, Shelton becomes a key point in the defense case as Williams’ lawyer Sonny Selier (Jack Thompson) points out how the crime scene was far from secure if the cat (and Kelso) could get in and walk around.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil - crime scene photo showing tabby cat Shelton near dead body