Man's Best Friend (1993)

Director:

John Lafia

Writer (WGA):

John Lafia (written by)

Release Date:

19 November 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Companion. Protector. Killer.

Plot:

A dog turns from man's best friend into man's worst nightmare as he attacks everything that moves.

Plot Keywords:

Dog | Attack | Rights | Mad Scientist | Security Guard

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Ally Sheedy	...	Lori Tanner
Lance Henriksen	...	Dr. Jarret
Robert Costanzo	...	Detective Kovacs
Fredric Lehne	...	Perry
John Cassini	...	Detective Bendetti
J.D. Daniels	...	Rudy
William Sanderson	...	Ray
Trula M. Marcus	...	Annie
Robin Frates	...	Judy Sanders
Rick Barker	...	Mailman
Bradley Pierce	...	Chet
Robert Arentz	...	EMAX Security Guard
Cameron Arnett	...	Dog Catcher #1
Adam Carl	...	Dog Catcher #2
Thomas Rosales Jr.	...	Mugger
Ray Lykins	...	KCBG Security Guard
Mickey Cassidy	...	Paper Boy
Robert Shaye	...	Mobile Mechanic (as L.E. Moko)
Caroline Cornell	...	KCBG Receptionist
Del Zamora	...	Rudy's Dad
Arlen Stuart	...	Mrs. Barclay
Frank Cavestani	...	Policeman
Paul Hayes	...	2nd Mechanic
Peter Georges	...	Truck Driver
Olivia Brown	...	Lab Assistant
Lisa Cavallo	...	Friday
Frank Welker	...	Special Vocal Effects (voice)

Directed by
John Lafia

Writing credits (WGA)
John Lafia		(written by)

Produced by
Robert Engelman	....	producer
Daniel Grodnik	....	executive producer
Robert Kosberg	....	executive producer
Kelley Smith-Wait	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Joel Goldsmith
Alex Wilkinson

Cinematography by
Mark Irwin

Film Editing by
Nancy Frazen
Michael N. Knue

Casting by
Valorie Massalas

Production Design by
Jaymes Hinkle

Art Direction by
Erik Olson

Set Decoration by
Ellen Totleben

Costume Design by
Beverly Hong

Makeup Department
Mitchell J. Coughlin	....	makeup effects artist
Aliki Demetriades	....	hair stylist: Speedy
Aliki Demetriades	....	makeup artist: Speedy
Suzanne Parker Sanders	....	hair stylist
Suzanne Parker Sanders	....	makeup artist
Kevin Yagher	....	special makeup effects

Production Management
Robert Engelman	....	unit production manager
Ric Keeley	....	post-production supervisor
Cindy Lovelady	....	executive in charge of production (as Cindy Hornickel)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Benita Allen	....	assistant director
Jeff Rafner	....	assistant director
David Spitzer	....	assistant director
Daniel R. Suhart	....	second assistant director: additional photography

Art Department
Sharon E. Alshams	....	lead set designer
Scott Edward Collins	....	set dresser
Tom Craig	....	set dresser
Anna Czerwatiuk	....	set dresser
Jonathan Josell	....	art department coordinator
Christopher Neely	....	set dresser
Gregory R. Wolf	....	property master

Sound Department
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley artist
Jim Brookshire	....	dialogue editor
Harry Cohen	....	special sound designer
David Farmer	....	sound effects editor
William Freesh	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lewis Goldstein	....	sound effects editor (as Lew Goldstein)
Tom Hartig	....	boom operator
Bess Hopper	....	foley artist
Steve Nelson	....	sound mixer
Vince Nicastro	....	foley artist
Ann Scibelli	....	sound effects editor
Cathie Speakman	....	dialogue editor
Cathie Speakman	....	sound editor
Ken Teaney	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steven D. Williams	....	supervising sound editor

Special Effects by
Mark R. Byers	....	special effects assistant
Frank Ceglia	....	special effects coordinator
Fred Folger	....	mechanic
Paul H. Haines Jr.	....	special effects assistant
Greg Aronowitz	....	special break-away props (uncredited)
Robert Lindores	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Scott Billups	....	visual effects
Peter Webb	....	visual effects

Stunts
Rick Barker	....	stunt coordinator
Rick Barker	....	stunts
Bob Black	....	stunts
Simone Boisseree	....	stunts
Martin Bresin	....	stunts
John Cann	....	stunts (as John Caan)
Frank Ceglia	....	stunts
Scott Alan Cook	....	stunts (as Scott Cook)
Jake Crawford	....	additional stunt coordinator: stunts
Everett Creach	....	stunts
Justin De Rosa	....	stunts
David Deleissegues	....	stunts
Kiante Elam	....	stunts
Glory Fioramonti	....	stunts
Mike Johnson	....	stunts
Donna Keegan	....	stunts
Clint Lilley	....	stunts
Jack Lilley	....	stunts
Mike H. McGaughy	....	stunts (as Mike McGaughy)
Brian Joseph Moore	....	stunts
Bobby Porter	....	stunts (as Bobby M. Porter)
Debby Lynn Ross	....	stunts
Clint Rowe	....	stunts
Scott Rowe	....	stunts
Jerry Wills	....	stunts
Danny Wynands	....	stunts (as Dan Wynands)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ron Bahara	....	first assistant camera: second camera
Matthew J. Curry	....	additional second assistant camera
John Ditomaso	....	electrician
Mark Fellman	....	still photographer
Loren Hillebrand	....	dolly grip
Dawn Jones	....	second assistant camera (as Dawn Laurel)
Peter Schmitt	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Charles M. Smallwood	....	best boy grip
Scott E. Steele	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Don Telles	....	grip
Gary Katsuya Ushino	....	first assistant camera
Troy White	....	electrician
Jay W. Yowler	....	gaffer
Phillip Darlington	....	electrician (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Victoria Djokovich Digby	....	set costumer
Sandy Kenyon	....	wardrobe assistant
Michelle Jade Lee	....	costume supervisor
Linda L. Meltzer	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Leigh Davis	....	assistant film editor
Jill Dole	....	additional editor
Tzarina V. Edillon	....	apprentice editor
Joe Fineman	....	executive in charge of post-production
Lisa Linder	....	assistant film editor
Vartan Nazarian	....	editorial apprentice intern
Meghan L. Noble	....	assistant film editor
Matvey Shatz	....	color timer

Music Department
Martin Blasick	....	music producer: "Puppy Love"
Michael Dittrick	....	music editor

Transportation Department
D.J. Gardiner	....	driver

Other crew
Keith Bauer	....	animal trainer
Steve Berens	....	animal trainer
Bundy Chanock	....	set medic
Janna Crawford	....	puppeteer (as Janna Leann Crawford)
David Deleissegues	....	animal trainer
Melinda Eichberg	....	animal trainer
Thomas Floutz	....	puppeteer
Anne E. Hart	....	production coordinator
Haley McLane	....	script supervisor: re-shoots
John Palmerton	....	assistant production coordinator
Jacobus Rose	....	production executive
Clint Rowe	....	animal trainer
Scott Rowe	....	animal trainer
Judith Saunders	....	script supervisor
Erik Schaper	....	puppeteer
Frank Schmidt	....	animal trainer
Russell Shinkle	....	puppeteer
Steven Shkolnik	....	location manager
David Stinnett	....	puppeteer
N. Brock Winkless IV	....	puppeteer
Marsha Zvonkin	....	production accountant
Fred Folger	....	mechanic (uncredited)

Production Companies

• New Line Cinema
• Roven-Cavallo Entertainment

Distributors

• Alliance Atlantis Vivafilm (1993) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (1994) (France) (theatrical)
• New Line Cinema (1993) (USA) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (1994) (Canada) (VHS)
• Fox Video (1995) (Japan) (VHS)
• New Line Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• New Line Home Video (video)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (1994) (Argentina) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Available Light Productions
• Composite Image Systems (CIS)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for terror and violence involving a household pet

Runtime:

97 min | UK:87 min | Argentina:95 min | Canada:87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR | DTS

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) | Germany:18 | UK:15 | USA:R | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Argentina:13 | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15

Filming Locations:

Sierra Madre, California, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

The dog used to portray the DNA-altered dog is a Tibetan mastiff.

Quotes:

Doctor Jarret:When you think of guard dogs, you first think of German Shepherds: they are smart, lethal... but not good enough. Now we developed the new Emax3000. They are totally obsolete.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Phelous & the Movies: Man's Best Friend (#4.24)" (2012)

Soundtrack:

Puppy Love

Doggone it!

"Man's Best Friend", about a genetically altered dog that kills any perceived threat, is pretty much what you'd expect. Ally Sheedy really chews the scenery as the reporter investigating cruelty to animals and inadvertently releasing the bloodthirsty pooch. But no matter, the movie still is pretty fun to watch, with the full understanding that it's basically a totally dumb flick. Lance Henriksen, playing the scientist who created the murderous hound, lets his face do the acting.

Like I said, it's mostly just a fun movie to watch. Definitely nothing special about it. Although I should admit that I'd never heard of a Tibetan mastiff until I read a description of the movie.