Like the book, the movie centers on the Trenton’s, a young family recently moved to Castle Rock, Maine from New York. Cracks appear in the Trenton’s seemingly picture-perfect marriage when Vic (Daniel Hugh-Kelly), an advertising executive, discovers that Donna (Dee Wallace) is having an affair with family friend Steve Kemp (Christopher Stone). As it happens, Vic is on the verge of losing his biggest account. He decides to take a trip out of town to salvage the account and think about his marital troubles.
The couple’s only child, Tad (Danny Pintauro) is a socially awkward kid who had found companionship with Cujo, the Saint Bernard owned by the local car mechanic. Unfortunately, after Cujo is bitten by a rabid bat while hunting, the once loveable pooch turns into a killing machine. Watching the Saint Bernard’s gradual transition from friendly to ferocious at his owner’s isolated repair shop is both depressing and scary, especially if you’re a dog lover.
While Vic is away, Donna and Tad visit the mechanic to get their dying Ford Pinto looked at. On arrival, they discover the mechanic has been mauled to death by Cujo. The dog, still hungry for blood, goes for Donna and Tad, caught in their car that won’t start. With Cujo repeatedly attacking the car and getting angrier by the minute, mother and son are under siege. A terrified Donna and her screaming son must endure three days of terror. Donna knows she and her son will die if they don’t get water. A showdown between mother and beast is inevitable…
Originally published in 1981, Cujo is still considered one of Stephen King’s darkest works to date. The novel’s bleak ending was changed for the film, with Stephen King’s blessing. Anyone who has read the book will likely understand that studio executives would be uneasy keeping the original one. Horror fans though, may rightly feel that the ending for the film is weak, thus leaving Cujo with more bark than bite.
Even so, director Lewis Teague (The Jewel of the Nile) does a fine job creating a distinct division between the personal drama and the suspense. The first half of the film establishes the characters and their lives—given the state of her marriage, we realize that nobody is at home to suddenly rescue Donna and her son. She will have to deal with this rabid beast alone. Cujo is also helped by a strong performance by Dee Wallace who is completely believable as a mother who will do whatever she has to, in order to save her son. Even a young Danny Pinatauro, who’s constant high-pitched squealing can be nerve racking, looks genuinely petrified.
Cujo celebrates its 40th anniversary with an excellent 4K release from Kino Lorber Studio Classics. Reportedly sourced from a new 4K scan of the original 35mm negative, the result is head and shoulders above previous Blu-ray releases. The improved level of detail is immediately noticeable. The Dolby Vision HDR results in improved color depth, balance and black levels. Blacks are deep and inky throughout with nice shadow delineation. Whites are bold and clean. There are no apparent print flaws throughout. This is a must-have for fans of the film.
Kino offers up two standard audio tracks. An English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Personally, I prefer the 5.1 track, as it offers more oomph during action sequences. For purists, its nice to have the 2.0 track available.
English SDH subtitles are available.
Kino offers a plethora of extras on the included Blu-ray disc:
4K UHD Disc:
- Audio Commentary with Lee Gambin: Author of Nope, Nothing Wrong Here: The Making of Cujo. This commentary first appeared on Eureka Entertainment’s Region-B release of Cujo.
- Audio Commentary with Director Lewis Teague: Recorded in 2007.
- Audio Commentary with Director Lewis Teague: Moderated by critic Jeff McKay. Recorded in 2013.
Blu-ray Disc:
- Audio Commentary with Lee Gambin: Author of Nope, Nothing Wrong Here: The Making of Cujo. This commentary first appeared on Eureka Entertainment’s Region-B release of Cujo
- Audio Commentary with Director Lewis Teague: Recorded in 2007.
- Audio Commentary with Director Lewis Teague: Moderated by critic Jeff McKay. Recorded in 2013.
- Cujo Revisited: Roundtable with Dee Wallace, Danny Pintauro, Daniel Hugh Kelly, and Lewis Teague (HD, 21:40)
- Dog Days: The Making of Cujo (SD, 42:48)
- Interview with Dee Wallace (HD, 41:35)
- Interview with Composer Charles Bernstein (HD, 35:38)
- Interview with Stuntman Gary Morgan (HD, 26:11)
- Interview with Stuntwoman Jean Coulter (HD, 21:10)
- Interview with Casting Director Marcia Ross (HD, 20:04)
- Interview with Visual Effects Artist Kathie Lawrence (HD, 13:56)
- Interview with Special Effects Designer Robert Clark (HD, 12:51)
- Interview with Dog Trainer Teresa Miller (HD, 28:15)
- Radio Spots (HD, 1:36 total, three spots)
- TV Spots (SD, 2:17 total, three spots)
- Trailer (SD, 1:47)
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