Cujo is a 1983 horror film based on the novel by Stephen King. The story revolves around a family living in a small town and the terrifying events that unfold when their lives intersect with a rabid dog.
The film follows Donna Trenton, played by Dee Wallace, who is struggling with a failing marriage to her husband Vic. She takes their young son, Tad, to visit a mechanic named Joe Camber at his house, located on the outskirts of town. While there, they encounter Joe’s Saint Bernard dog, Cujo, who has been bitten by a bat and is unknowingly infected with rabies.
As Cujo’s illness takes hold, the dog becomes increasingly aggressive and dangerous. Donna and Tad find themselves trapped in their car when Cujo attacks them, leaving them unable to escape due to the dog’s violent behavior and the isolation of their location. The film becomes a tense survival story, with Donna and Tad trying to outsmart and escape the increasingly crazed dog in a life-or-death struggle.
Cujo is a psychological thriller as much as it is a horror movie, with King’s trademark exploration of fear, isolation, and the breakdown of the family unit. The film is known for its intense suspense, as well as its emotional weight, particularly in the relationship between Donna and her son. The dog’s gradual transformation from a harmless pet to a deadly menace adds a disturbing element to the story, as viewers see how something once familiar and comforting can turn into an uncontrollable force of terror.
