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5.8/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.8/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. It's Got Me Again! remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like old-school animation that feels like a fever dream you had after eating too much cheese before bed, you’ll probably get a kick out of It's Got Me Again!. If you’re the type of person who needs a coherent plot or gets annoyed by mice making music out of thimbles, skip it. It’s short, it’s loud, and it’s very 1932.
The whole thing starts with these mice who seem to have a really sophisticated understanding of rhythm. They’re tapping on matchboxes and using rubber bands for bass lines. It’s actually kind of impressive until you realize they’re basically living in a death trap. One wrong move and they’re lunch.
Then the cat shows up. He’s not the cute, cuddly kind of cat either. He’s got that sharp, jagged animation style where his limbs look like they might snap off at any second. He looks genuinely annoyed to be there, which is a mood I can relate to on a Monday morning.
The way the mice handle him is… well, it’s a bit violent, isn't it? It reminded me a little of the frantic energy in The Gigolo Racket, though with significantly more tail-pulling and less dialogue. There’s a specific shot where a mouse hits the cat with a spoon, and the timing is so fast it’s almost impossible to track.
Honestly, the whole sequence goes on for a bit. It’s just mice throwing household objects at a cat. It’s not deep. It’s just chaos in black and white. 🐭
I found myself wondering if this was supposed to be scary for kids back then. The lighting is all shadows and jagged lines. It’s much moodier than something like Ain't Love Grand?, which feels like a sunny day in comparison.
It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s a weird, fun slice of history. If you have a few minutes, sure, watch it. Just don’t expect a heartwarming story about interspecies friendship. This cat and these mice? They are definitely not friends.