Cujo

R

Released Aug 3, 1983

1 hr. 31 min.

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

List

59%

46 Reviews

Tomatometer

45%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In this tale of a killer canine, man's best friend turns into his worst enemy. When sweet St. Bernard Cujo is bitten by a bat, he starts behaving oddly and becomes very aggressive. As Cujo morphs into a dangerous beast, he goes on a rampage in a small town. Stay-at-home mom Donna (Dee Wallace) gets caught in Cujo's crosshairs on a fateful errand with her son, Tad (Danny Pintauro). Stuck in their tiny car, Donna and Tad have a frightening showdown with the crazed animal.

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Critics Consensus

Cujo is artless work punctuated with moments of high canine gore and one wild Dee Wallace performance.

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Teddy B

It has no real purpose or aim, but it does serve up an acceptable amount of well-done suspense, even if the first act drags for a long time and doesn't tie in at all to the last act.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/13/24

Full Review

Jeff M

I honestly try to avoid getting too hyperbolic in my reviews, but not only do I think this is the second best Stephen King book to screen adaptation ever (next to CARRIE), but I think it's one of the truly great horror films of the last few decades. I watched it for the first time in probably at least ten years, and I was amazed at how well it held up. I've said it a jillion times and I'll say it again here - the scariest movies are the ones rooted in reality. And there's not a second of screen time here that doesn't feel like it could be true to life. Wallace joins the illustrious pantheon of horror movie moms including JoBeth Williams in POLTERGEIST and Toni Collette in HEREDITARY. Her work here is extraordinary, and she is the single most important element that holds this movie together. And MAJOR props to young Pintauro who is absolutely wonderful, particularly in the latter half of the movie. The key to this film is a genuine concern and caring about the characters involved. And I honestly would place Cujo up there with Jaws as one of the great scary creatures of its time.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/08/24

Full Review

Trafalgar L

Normally I love seeing Stephen King's work be adapted but this was just irritating for me. The plot is about a Saint Bernard inflicted with rabies who terrorizes a small town. But, my God the little boy in this movie was annoying and Dee Wallace fails to be a Scream Queen. I would have been happier if they kept the original ending with both Cujo and her son dying. But, at the end of the day they made a movie. So that's what matters. /s

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/02/24

Full Review

Emoji M

Why does this even exist:/ It's a messed up story. Look at my letterboxd review.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

12/09/23

Full Review

S4l3m s

Es una mamada pero sinceramente si me causo miedo XD para que miento

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/03/23

Full Review

Michael W

This horror movie was alright. Dee Wallace, Danny Pintauro, Daniel Hugh Kelly, Ed Lauter, Christopher Stone, Billy Jayne, and the rest of the cast did a decent job in this movie. The plot of the movie was gruesome and insane. It's about protecting yourself and your family from a rabid dog. If you haven't seen this movie yet, don't waste your time. It's not worth it.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/08/23

Full Review

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Lewis Teague

Director

Dee Wallace

Donna Trenton

Danny Pintauro

Tad Trenton

Daniel Hugh Kelly

Vic Trenton

Christopher Stone

Steve Kemp

Ed Lauter

Joe Camber

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Cujo: Official Clip - Breathe!

2:13

Cujo: Official Clip - Cujo Won't Hurt Him

2:13

Cujo: Official Clip - Get Back in That Barn, Damn You

2:05

Cujo: Official Clip - You're Rabid!

2:13

Cujo: Official Clip - What's the Matter?

2:03

Cujo: Official Clip - It's Just a Doggie

2:13

Cujo: Official Clip - A Bat Bites Cujo

1:56

Cujo: Official Clip - Donna Is Bitten

2:09

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Adam Nayman

The Ringer

The movie is as nasty and single-minded as Cujo himself: It's simple, and it works.

Sep 5, 2019

Full Review

Gary Arnold

Washington Post

"Cujo" no doubt presented fewer difficulties for a novelist than it does for a movie director.

Oct 4, 2017

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

A dull, uneventful entry in the horror genre.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

The raw performances by Danny Pintauro and Dee Wallace are key here, as they effectively embody abject terror and desperation, respectively.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 18, 2023

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Director Lewis Teague does what he can in an attempt to maximize tension, but there’s only so much he can do with such a limited setting and such a sparse story.

Rated: 2.5/4

Nov 8, 2023

Full Review

Erick Estrada

Cinegarage

A truly absurd film that never found the conductor thread of its story... transporting the facts from the novel wasn't enough. [Full review in Spanish]

Apr 12, 2023

Full Review

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Synopsis

In this tale of a killer canine, man's best friend turns into his worst enemy. When sweet St. Bernard Cujo is bitten by a bat, he starts behaving oddly and becomes very aggressive. As Cujo morphs into a dangerous beast, he goes on a rampage in a small town. Stay-at-home mom Donna (Dee Wallace) gets caught in Cujo's crosshairs on a fateful errand with her son, Tad (Danny Pintauro). Stuck in their tiny car, Donna and Tad have a frightening showdown with the crazed animal.

Director: Lewis Teague
Screenwriter: Stephen King, Don Carlos Dunaway, Lauren Currier
Distributor: Artisan Entertainment, Warner Home Vídeo, Republic Pictures, Warner Bros.
Production Co: TAFT Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 3, 1983, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 1, 2016
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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