I like the basic idea for CLOAK & DAGGER (young boy is being chased by bad guys and nobody believes him), but the execution of the story is really bizarre. He gets police attention immediately after the first murder, but then clams up thanks to his imaginary friend, so the cops just take him home. Everything that happens after that is his own fault. The story would have been more compelling, if he had gotten the attention of the FBI and then something went wrong. Example: he gets kidnapped or maybe a crooked FBI agent double-crosses him. Anything would have been better than his self-created danger, but then again, kids are mostly stupid, so I'm kinda dumb for thinking that he's going to act logical.
That said, C&D is still entertaining, especially for fan's of 80's kid's movies. Dabney Coleman is very good in his double role, screenplay by Tom (FRIGHT NIGHT, CHILD'S PLAY) Holland, old video game graphics, 80's fashions, early William Forsythe sighting, a very delightful John McIntire and Jeanette Nolan appearance (that really made my day), bland San Antonio locations, a wannabe Hitchcock feel to the entire film, strange younger girl next door character who talks like she's 45 years-old despite the fact that she's probably less than 10. I liked CLOAK & DAGGER, but, I think, it would have been a better film in the hands of stronger director.
Another curious thing about CLOAK & DAGGER is why in the hell did the people in charge of this movie allow it to be released during the 1984 Summer Olympics and then up against other youth oriented films like GHOSTBUSTERS, GREMLINS, RED DAWN, THE LAST STARFIGHTER, THE KARATE KID, THE JUNGLE BOOK (re-issue), INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM, THE NEVERENDING STORY and THE MUPPETS TAKE MANHATTAN??? Jesus wept! Talk about shooting yourself in the foot! That is just pure insanity.
