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Cujo

  • 1983
  • R
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
48K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,472
415
Cujo (1983)
Home Video Trailer from Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Play trailer1:29
3 Videos
99+ Photos
HorrorThriller

Cujo, a friendly St. Bernard, contracts rabies and conducts a reign of terror on a small American town.Cujo, a friendly St. Bernard, contracts rabies and conducts a reign of terror on a small American town.Cujo, a friendly St. Bernard, contracts rabies and conducts a reign of terror on a small American town.

  • Director
    • Lewis Teague
  • Writers
    • Stephen King
    • Don Carlos Dunaway
    • Barbara Turner
  • Stars
    • Dee Wallace
    • Daniel Hugh Kelly
    • Danny Pintauro
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.1/10
    48K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,472
    415
    • Director
      • Lewis Teague
    • Writers
      • Stephen King
      • Don Carlos Dunaway
      • Barbara Turner
    • Stars
      • Dee Wallace
      • Daniel Hugh Kelly
      • Danny Pintauro
    • 218User reviews
    • 140Critic reviews
    • 57Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 3 nominations

    Videos3

    Cujo: 25th Anniversary Edition
    Trailer 1:29
    Watch Cujo: 25th Anniversary Edition
    'Cujo' | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:09
    Watch 'Cujo' | Anniversary Mashup
    Jane Levy of "Castle Rock" Is Bringing Pennywise to Your Next Party
    Video 1:48
    Watch Jane Levy of "Castle Rock" Is Bringing Pennywise to Your Next Party

    Photos110

    Cujo (1983)
    Danny Pintauro and Dee Wallace in Cujo (1983)
    Dee Wallace in Cujo (1983)
    Danny Pintauro, Daniel Hugh Kelly, and Dee Wallace in Cujo (1983)
    Cujo (1983)
    Cujo (1983)
    Cujo (1983)
    Cujo (1983)
    Dee Wallace in Cujo (1983)
    Cujo (1983)
    Dee Wallace in Cujo (1983)
    Dee Wallace in Cujo (1983)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Dee Wallace
    Dee Wallace
    • Donna Trenton
    Daniel Hugh Kelly
    Daniel Hugh Kelly
    • Vic Trenton
    • (as Daniel Hugh-Kelly)
    Danny Pintauro
    Danny Pintauro
    • Tad Trenton
    Christopher Stone
    Christopher Stone
    • Steve Kemp
    Ed Lauter
    Ed Lauter
    • Joe Camber
    Kaiulani Lee
    Kaiulani Lee
    • Charity Camber
    Billy Jayne
    Billy Jayne
    • Brett Camber
    • (as Billy Jacoby)
    Mills Watson
    Mills Watson
    • Gary Pervier
    Sandy Ward
    Sandy Ward
    • Bannerman
    Jerry Hardin
    Jerry Hardin
    • Masen
    Merritt Olsen
    • Professor
    Arthur Rosenberg
    Arthur Rosenberg
    • Roger Breakstone
    Terry Donovan-Smith
    • Harry
    Robert Elross
    • Meara
    Robert Behling
    • Fournier
    Clare Torao
    Clare Torao
    • Lady Reporter
    • (as Claire Nono)
    Daniel H. Blatt
    • Dr. Merkatz
    Robert Craighead
    Robert Craighead
    • Joe MaGruder
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Lewis Teague
    • Writers
      • Stephen King
      • Don Carlos Dunaway
      • Barbara Turner
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The dogs featured in the film would often have their tails tied down to their legs because the dogs would be enjoying themselves so much that they would wag their tails during filming. This tactic was missed once in the editing where they show Cujo from behind ready to attack and his tail is wagging energetically.
    • Goofs
      During the first night that Cujo has Donna and Tad trapped in the car, Cujo becomes enraged by the ringing phone and crashes through the window to attack it. When the phone stops ringing, Cujo remains in the window, and you can see the trainer's hand come up and pull the dog down from the window.
    • Quotes

      Donna Trenton: Fuck you, dog.

    • Crazy credits
      The film's title appears out of a pool of swirling blood.
    • Alternate versions
      The original VHS release of the film, as well as the television version, omitted some early scenes in the film establishing the characters. Among the scenes cut are a scene of Vic Trenton and Steve Kemp playing tennis, a scene where Vic picks up Tad from daycare, and a scene where Donna and Steve are in bed and Steve starts playing a trombone while Donna gets up and goes to dress in the next room. This last scene replaces the more subtle scene of Donna and Steve making love that is featured in the VHS release.
    • Connections
      Edited into Doggiewoggiez! Poochiewoochiez! (2012)

    User reviews218

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    It might have you foaming at the mouth?
    A St. Bernard dog is playfully chasing a rabbit, but when the dog decides to pop its head into a burrow it's bitten by a rabies-infected bat and slowly over time it becomes a maliciously uncontrolled mutt. Which, it turns on its owner and also terrorises that of a unfaithful women and her son that came to get their vehicle repaired, but only to be trapped in their broken down car with rabid dog outside trying to get to them.

    Beethoven… yep, I just couldn't stop thinking of the lovable Beethoven when watching this flick. That was one of my childhood favourites, but I guess it isn't going to be quite the same when I come across it again. I won't look a Beethoven the same way again. Anyhow, this is one of the King's better-made adaptations. Although, it's a long way from brilliant, it delivers a stable amount of interest and tension to proceedings. This was my second viewing of it and it has hardly lost any of that full-blooded impact it generated, especially the heart racing standoff between the dog and the trapped victims. I wouldn't be surprise that you don't think your watching a horror film to begin with, as the opening basis centres around a family melodrama, raising martial issues and work commitments. It kind of comes across as cheesy in its supposed sentiment in those moments.

    Then it kicks into gear with the slow beginning making way for a crackerjack final 40 minutes of simple confined tension built around isolation. It also doesn't hold back on the vicious dog attacks with ample ferocity and raw suspense being belted out. Watching people being mauled apart by this giant scuffed up dog wasn't that pleasant at all. The gore effects were more than adequate and it looked the part of a rabid dog perfectly. But you couldn't help but feel sorry for the dog, as it's more of a victim then the people who he's terrorising. Honestly I cared more for the misunderstood pooch than the initial victims. The characters weren't entirely likable, with the exception of one or two, but I didn't connect with them in this mess. The story is simple and plays it straight, but that doesn't mean it avoids the familiar clichés. Although, it doesn't entirely hurt the film, well it kind of enhances it actually. A surprising factor I found was that the film's camera-work was well choreographed with plenty of swirling shots and when it needed to up the ante it became rather erratic to fit in with the mood. Also add in some glorious slow-mo. The score on the other hand I thought was forcefully unbalanced and didn't fit into the mood at times. The performances are all sturdy and very hard to knock. Dee Wallace-Stone was at the top of her game as the wayward wife and Danny Pintauro as her worried son was equally so. Daniel Hugh Kelly gives a likable performance as the father and of course the endearing dog is worth a mention too. The strong performances make this traumatic experience even more believable.

    A tautly constructed and work-man like film that won't push the boundaries, but its intensely petrifying in its simple origins.
    helpful•32
    14
    • lost-in-limbo
    • Mar 14, 2006

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    FAQ9

    • Were actual dogs or other animals harmed in any way in the making of this film?
    • Is Cujo's rabies accurately depicted?
    • What is 'Cujo' about?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 12, 1983 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Куджо
    • Filming locations
      • Santa Rosa, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Sunn Classic Pictures
      • TAFT Entertainment Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $21,156,152
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $6,114,899
      • Aug 14, 1983
    • Gross worldwide
      • $21,156,152
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 33 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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