'Cloak & Dagger' is a 1984 motion picture with the same title as one of Nik Kershaw's great songs (equally from 1984). I don't know if that song is related to this film or not. However, I read that this film is a remake of 1949's masterpiece 'The Window'. I couldn't disagree more on this...
While I agree that 'Cloak & Dagger' has minor plot similarities with 'The Window' (a little boy with a vivid imagination who witnesses a crime but isn't believed by anybody), the rest is completely different. If this is a remake of 'The Window', then it is a heavily disguised one.
In 'The Window', the boy is a teller of tall tales and his mother is alive. The criminals are his neighbors. There are no video-games or 'Cloaks and Daggers'. It takes place in a completely different generation, the pace is very different, it takes place in New York city and the sceneries/backgrounds are in a totally different league, as well as the levels of intensity and suspense. The runtime is also far shorter and the movie is noir.
In 'Cloak & Dagger', the kid is more grown-up and is not a teller of tall tales. His mother is dead. The criminals aren't neighbors. It takes place in the 80's and there are typically 80's video-games (like 'Cloak & Dagger'). It takes place in San Antonio, Texas (precisely where Henry Thomas was born). The criminals aren't after the kid because of the crime he witnessed, but because of the content hidden in the 'Cloak & Dagger' in question. The film is much longer and colored (not in black and white). Suspense and intensity cannot be compared. Among many other differences.
That said, the movie is interesting. It's nowhere near as good as 'The Window', but instead of comparing them think of them as movies apart. 'Cloak & Dagger' has many characteristic elements of the 80's in its favor but also lots of action without being excessive. It is undeniable that it's also a violent movie, with many murders. Davey even has to kill a murderer!
The ending has a touching side, with father and son regaining love and respect for each other. Plus, as Davey says shortly before, he doesn't want to "play" anymore.
Henry Thomas (best known as "Elliott" from 'E.T.') is the star of this film. Comparing to his most popular role, he improved, showing a more mature and natural acting. And here we have no such thing as the famous or infamous (depending on the way you judge it) 'E.T.' line «penis breath». Kim, the little girl, ain't annoying either, unlike Drew Barrymore's character from 'E.T.'
The movie focus on Davey's runaways from the killers who murdered a man. This man, before dying, gives Davey a 'Cloak & Dagger' video-game cartridge and reveals what it contains. However, the police doesn't believe Davey (not even his father). This leaves Davey in danger of life during the whole movie. Davey has one make-believe friend (Jack Flack) who doesn't always give good advices. Davey is constantly chased by the murderous spies from his house to canal boats, to the Alamo, across the city... even the apparently friendly old couple, as we realize later in the movie, work for the spies.
Henry Thomas drives a car here. I don't know what make and model it is, but it's a nice and beautiful car.
While I agree that 'Cloak & Dagger' has minor plot similarities with 'The Window' (a little boy with a vivid imagination who witnesses a crime but isn't believed by anybody), the rest is completely different. If this is a remake of 'The Window', then it is a heavily disguised one.
In 'The Window', the boy is a teller of tall tales and his mother is alive. The criminals are his neighbors. There are no video-games or 'Cloaks and Daggers'. It takes place in a completely different generation, the pace is very different, it takes place in New York city and the sceneries/backgrounds are in a totally different league, as well as the levels of intensity and suspense. The runtime is also far shorter and the movie is noir.
In 'Cloak & Dagger', the kid is more grown-up and is not a teller of tall tales. His mother is dead. The criminals aren't neighbors. It takes place in the 80's and there are typically 80's video-games (like 'Cloak & Dagger'). It takes place in San Antonio, Texas (precisely where Henry Thomas was born). The criminals aren't after the kid because of the crime he witnessed, but because of the content hidden in the 'Cloak & Dagger' in question. The film is much longer and colored (not in black and white). Suspense and intensity cannot be compared. Among many other differences.
That said, the movie is interesting. It's nowhere near as good as 'The Window', but instead of comparing them think of them as movies apart. 'Cloak & Dagger' has many characteristic elements of the 80's in its favor but also lots of action without being excessive. It is undeniable that it's also a violent movie, with many murders. Davey even has to kill a murderer!
The ending has a touching side, with father and son regaining love and respect for each other. Plus, as Davey says shortly before, he doesn't want to "play" anymore.
Henry Thomas (best known as "Elliott" from 'E.T.') is the star of this film. Comparing to his most popular role, he improved, showing a more mature and natural acting. And here we have no such thing as the famous or infamous (depending on the way you judge it) 'E.T.' line «penis breath». Kim, the little girl, ain't annoying either, unlike Drew Barrymore's character from 'E.T.'
The movie focus on Davey's runaways from the killers who murdered a man. This man, before dying, gives Davey a 'Cloak & Dagger' video-game cartridge and reveals what it contains. However, the police doesn't believe Davey (not even his father). This leaves Davey in danger of life during the whole movie. Davey has one make-believe friend (Jack Flack) who doesn't always give good advices. Davey is constantly chased by the murderous spies from his house to canal boats, to the Alamo, across the city... even the apparently friendly old couple, as we realize later in the movie, work for the spies.
Henry Thomas drives a car here. I don't know what make and model it is, but it's a nice and beautiful car.