Cujo (1983)

 

If you feel even the slightest trepidation concerning dogs (if you are even a bit afraid of them), this might not be the best film you could ever watch. But I presume you had already guessed that. 

Based on a book by Stephen King, 'Cujo' is one of those adaptations that is done rather well. Heck, they kept things way more grounded here than in the original story, where the dog is possessed by the soul of a child murderer. A little out there, but then again: King was coked out of his brain when writing this, even to the point where he doesn't even remember writing this. 

And still pull off a decent narrative: faut le faire. 

Anyway...

We're focused on the Trenton family, where things aren't going to swimmingly. Wife Donna is having an affair, husband Vic is having problems when one of his commercials brings about a backlash (not his fault, but the company of course wants to blame the commercial guys) and their child Tad is always afraid of monsters. Because their cars start to break down and the local garage is way too busy, they head into the sticks to the farm of Joe Camber, a gruff and rather nasty man who also fixes cars. It is here they first see Cujo, a massive yet adorable Saint Bernard. 

No one knows that Cujo has been bitten by a rabid bat and is slowly but surely going insane. 

When Donna's car gets the fits, she heads off to the Camber residence, not knowing that Joe Camber has since been mauled by his dog who becomes increasingly aggressive as every sound and light hurts him. This means that Donna and Tad get stuck in their tiny Pinto for days on end as Cujo lays siege to their nerves...

This is once again a horrorfilm that keeps things simple and small. You don't need a lot more than a car, a dog and two traumatised people in order to have an engaging story. Absolute props to actress Dee Wallace, who has to carry the brunt of the film. She is not some heroin, rather a very relatable person with her own issues and problems. I know she was often cast as the quintessential mom during the 80s because of 'ET', but she has got quite a range. The then 6 year old Danny Pintauro was also directed very well by director Lewis Teague. Heck, this film is scary precisely because nearly everything is so damn realistic. 

Also: of course they went for one of the sweetest dogs ever and turn him evil. Of course on purpose, that's the whole point. And as said before: if you're even the slightest apprehensive about dogs, this will give you the willies. 

'Cujo' is a decent little film that works as a nailbiting thriller. Nothing fancy, nothing spectacular: just simple (and a little disturbing) fun.