Search - Cujo on DVD

Samuel K. (Solvanda)
Reviewed on 12/24/2018...

Dee Wallace's wild work in this movie playing Donna is Stephen King's favorite performance of any character of his film adaptations, although Danny Pintauro as her son, Tad Trenton, sends in quite the formidable fear-consumed consummate act. A good majority of Cujo is plain claustrophobic, and you'll be torn at the end of this film as to what is more terrifying: an oozing, encrusted, rabid St. Bernard or being trapped in a sweltering vehicle with a traumatized shrieking child. "You said there weren't monsters!! You said there weren't monsters!!! You said there weren't monsters!!!!"

If you've been through the novel, you'll know that it ends on quite the grim note. In the film, however, the conclusion is not as hard hitting. It was the fourth highest grossing horror film of 1983. Interestingly, Cujo was played by four St. Bernards, several mechanical dogs, and a black Labrador-Great Dane mix in a St. Bernard costume.

2 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

Paula S. from BROOKSVILLE, FL
Reviewed on 8/29/2015...

This is a scary movie due to the fact that this could happen. If you are scared of dogs do not watch this movie. I watched it years ago and still remembered it and had to get it again to enjoy it one more time. A woman and her child is trapped in a car by this large dog.

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Michel D. (michelann) from WALNUT GROVE, MO
Reviewed on 10/27/2012...

Big rabid dog – family stuck in their car – tension mounting!
Sounds like a typical Stephen King novel! This is one of King’s more scarier “nuggets” he found somewhere in the deep dark recesses of his rather scary mind and also one that was difficult to bring to the big screen but it ran successfully back in the 80’s and later on TV. And anyone who is the least bit claustrophobic will be hiding behind their recliner chair when this one gets rolling!

1 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

Keith B. (beachwolfie) from MT HOLLY, NC
Reviewed on 2/17/2012...

I am sorry but this movie did NO justice to the original novel. If you have NEVER read the book I will admit you will like. If you read the book... skip it. You will be disappointed... too many changes as most do

0 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Cujo finally gets his reward!!!!!

Kevin Pepper | Elkmont, AL USA | 10/06/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have waited a looooooong time to see this film get the special treatment it deserved. For years, the only way I had to view this classic horror treat was on an old DVD release with cropped edges, horrible picture, and NO special features at all.....not to mention the ugliest DVD artwork ever for a Stephen King release.

Lionsgate has now given us Cujo as it has never been seen on home video. I was blown away by how clear the picture is, and how vibrant the colors are. The old transfer just seemed washed out and faded. I watched this on my PS3, which upscales it to hi-def, and I never dreamed this film could ever look this good. I'm also glad that there was no effort to try to create a surround sound track for this film, since most of it takes place inside a car. You have the choice of watching it in the original mono, or a 2 channel stereo mix. While this is not a film I would choose to show off my surround system, it is very effective for what is happening on screen. Not only do we get treated to a remastered copy of the film, but Cujo also has some really good special features. The 3-part documentary runs about 45 min. total, and is very informative about the way the film was made. Both Dee Wallace and Danny Pintauro take part in the documentary. The director, Lewis Teague, also provides a good commentary track. I only have two minor complaints: 1st, there is no trailer for Cujo and 2nd, with it being the 25th anniversary edition, I would rather have seen the artwork from the original movie poster as the cover. I'm not complaining too much about the artwork since it is a huge improvement over the previous version, I just think the poster with the white picket fence and the word "Cujo" in blood was a great poster.

Bottom line: If you own the original DVD version of Cujo, put it in the doghouse. You will be glad you upgraded to this fantastic version of what I think is one of the best adaptations of Stephen King's work on film."

A Claustraphobe's Nightmare!

Ryan Costantino | Nowhere, Special | 08/21/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If I had read the book first I would have probably known what I was in for when I sat down to watch this movie. I have a deeply rooted fear of confined spaces and possibly an even bigger fear of being eaten. So basically, this movie scared me to no end! Now I have to admit much of the story (and acting) moved along fairly slowly, until the mother and son were stuck in the middle of nowhere, in a station wagon, with a large, rabid Saint Bernard attempting to get inside! It was this portion of the movie that got my skin crawling! When Cujo starts attacking the car and you just get this feeling that nobody is getting out of there alive, that's good Horror entertainment! Strangely enough I never felt that Cujo should die or that he was a "monster". I just kept thinking that all of us are victims of circumstance, and not one of us has control over the events in our lives. That concept alone is terrifying! The acting of the mother and son were perfect and I'd really like to know how they got the dog who played Cujo to act so mean! To me, a claustraphobe, this was one nightmare of a movie. If I had been younger I would have probably developed a serious fear of dogs to boot. But dogs are great, as long as you make sure they've had their shots! You don't want your dog going Cujo on you, now do you! One of the scariest movies I've ever seen!"

One of the all time classic horror movies.

Steve McFadden | College Park, MD | 04/29/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Featuring a rabid St. Benard who turns into a vicious killing machine who traps a wife and child in a broken down car in the middle of nowhere, Cujo takes suspense to a whole new level.Sure, the first half of the film is pretty paint by numbers stuff that features no horror and gore whasoever, but that was so you can get acquainted with the characters.... Cujo is technically an innocent victim of an evil disease, you can see that King didn't want this to be the typical "evil dog vs. caring owners" storyline... but basically ir comes down to a dog named Cujo getting bitten by a rabid bat. He then goes on a killing spree. Tad Trenton and his mom go to a farm to get their car fixed. Too bad when they get there, the people who were supposed to fix the car get killed by the dog. Then, the car breaks down, and all hell breaks loose.The problems with the movie are few, but deadlier than the vicious streak of Cujo. The movie is too boring early on, and the ending ... a big one. Plus, the DVD features no extras whatsoever, just improved sound quality and scene selection. The visuals are the same as they were in the 80's, so dont expect anything too great.This is not a revolutionary film by any means, but Cujo delivers what King wanted it to: a tale of evil vs. good, but with shades of gray. And Cujo just looks too cool to be ignored for long. I reccommend seeing this movie without a doubt. It is one of my favorite horror movies of all time."