Catnip: Egress to Oblivion?

Whilst posing as an educational short, warning of the dangers of the powerful narcotic catnip, this movie is currently being hawked around carnivals and sleazy drive-in theatres by it's makers in an obvious ploy to exploit and cash in on this disturbing phenomenon.

Every type of cheap come-on is employed, from bright, distorted visuals meant to replicate the so called 'trip' experienced by users, to 'hip', nausea inducing music, all designed to add to the glamour and allure that the narrative claims to warn against.

And then there are the addicts themselves. A truly rum bunch, one suspects at least one or two of them are just out of work actors, although it is hard to believe that the outré behaviour of others could ever be performed unless under the influence of some kind of substance.

It is sad to note, finally, that cat owners taking their pets to see this film in good conscience, are actually more likely to assist the pushers in their evil practises.

One of the most exploitative films I've sin, this exploits the victims as well as the viewers. The makers of this one should hang their heads in shame.

I only gave it 8/10 because I am off my head on the nip myself.

This film is a spoof of educational "just say no" schools' programming on the danger of drugs, with the twist here being that the drug in question is catnip. What we get there is a 1960's/1970's film full of psychedelic delivery, cats freaking out and an earnest narrator telling us of the dangers. It should be hilarious and to be honest in almost every regard it almost is, almost – but it falls short in most ways.

The style of delivery is the most evident. OK so I admit that I have not seen any 1960's schools films on drugs in the US, so maybe the crazy colors and such were the norm, but I really doubt it since that would be a little against the point. So for me this side doesn't work because it doesn't really feel like a real film delivered straight. The narration does it better but Easley's voice doesn't totally fit and doesn't feel like it is really of the time; the same is felt of the scientists – the delivery of them is not totally on point and it breaks the joke. The footage of cats is pretty funny but the "talking heads" bits are too obvious and don't work. It is good for a chuckle and was put together very cheaply, but the central joke (it is a straight film about the dangers of catnip) doesn't work as it should and when this falls everything else drops with it. It is a case of close, but no cigar – but I'd love to see the idea done better again as I think the resources available really limited the film.