Cujo (film)

Cujo'' is the 1983 adaptation of Cujo directed by Lewis Teague from a screenplay by Don Carlos Dunaway and Lauren Currier. It was released on August 12, 1983.

Plot

The story is set almost entirely in the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine. The action centers on Cujo, a St. Bernard, that belongs to Joe Camber and his family. Although Joe is fond of Cujo, he never bothers to get the dog vaccinated against rabies. While chasing a rabbit in the fields around the Cambers' house, Cujo gets his head temporarily stuck in the entrance to a small limestone cave and is bitten on the nose by a bat and infected with rabies. Meanwhile, Joe's wife Charity plans to run away from her abusive husband, and she is worried about Joe's negative influence on their son, Brett. Charity wins the state lottery, using a check to bribe Joe into allowing her to take Brett on a trip to visit Charity's sister, Holly, in Connecticut.

Soon after Charity and Brett leave, Cujo attacks and kills the Cambers' neighbor, Gary Pervier. Joe goes to the Pervier home to check on Gary because they were planning to go to Boston, only to find him dead. Before Joe is able to call authorities for help, Cujo attacks and kills him as well.

The Trentons—Donna, Vic, and five-year-old Tad—are having problems of their own. Vic has discovered that his wife had been involved in an affair. In the midst of this household tension, Vic's fledgling advertising agency is failing, and he is forced to leave on a business trip to Boston and New York. Donna, home alone with Tad, takes their failing Ford Pinto to the Cambers' for repairs. The car breaks down in Camber's yard and as Donna attempts to find Mr. Camber, Cujo appears and is ready to pounce. She climbs back in the car and Cujo starts to attack.

Donna and Tad become trapped in their vehicle. During one escape attempt, Donna is bitten in the stomach and leg, but manages to survive and escape back into the car. She considers running for the Cambers' home but is afraid the door will be locked and she will be subsequently killed by Cujo, leaving her son all alone, and abandons the idea.

Vic returns to Castle Rock after several failed attempts to contact her. He also learns from the police that Steve Kemp, the man with whom Donna was having an affair, is suspected of ransacking his home and possibly kidnapping Donna and Tad. However, in an effort to explore all leads, the state police send local Castle Rock Sheriff George Bannerman out to the Cambers' house. When George gets there, Cujo attacks and kills him. Following this, Donna realizes that Tad is dying and she must act. She faces Cujo down with a bat, breaking it over his head and fatally stabbing him with the broken end. Vic arrives immediately afterwards only to discover Tad dead of dehydration. The book ends with both The Trentons and The Cambers trying to go on with their lives; including Charity giving Brett a new, vaccinated puppy they name Willie.

Cast

• Donna Trenton - Dee Wallace-Stone
• Tad Trenton - Danny Pintauro
• Vic Trenton - Daniel Hugh Kelly
• Steve Kemp - Christopher Stone
• Joe Camber - Ed Lauter
• George Bannerman - Sandy Ward

Production

For the character of Cujo the film used five St. Bernards, a Rottweiller, one mechanical head, and a man in a dog costume.

The movie had an estimated budget of $5,000,000 and grossed about $21,200,000. It was filmed in Glen Ellen, Mendocino, Petaluma, and Santa Rosa. All in California.

Reception

The film recieved mixed reviews upon its release. Most critics said that the film was a cliche` and jump-scare ridden mess. However, since then, it has gained a gentle reception from fans, who call it a very good adaptation of the novel, praising the cast, how it follows the book so closely, and Cujo himself. The film was #58 on Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments.

Differences from the Book

• No mention is made to The Dead Zone or Frank Dodd. Bannerman is only called that once, very briefly.
  • The Dead Zone was being adapted at the same time by another studio. They were released roughly two months apart, Cujo being first.
• The film starts off with Cujo getting bitten. This is the only scene in which Cujo is not rabid.
• The film shows the Trenton's first visit to the Camber's during the course of the movie. Tad does play with Cujo but he is only in the early stages of rabies.
• The Sharp Cereal Incident happens during the movie.
• The film shows Donna sleeping with Steve twice before finally breaking up, where the book introduces Steve in the break-up scene.
• Kemp is shown to be a friend of the Trenton's. He plays tennis with Vic. And even comes in when they're eating.
• Vic never gets a letter from Kemp. Vic drives by and sees Donna and Steve and figures it out.
• Donna never tells Vic she has had an affair but the conversation is alluded to.
• Charity wins the lottery but tells Brett and Joe together. Joe agrees to let them go to her sisters without resistance. After that Charity and Brett are never in the movie again.
• Vic never calls the police asking them to check on Donna. He returns home of his own free will. It is only when he arrives that he finds out what Kemp did.
• Kemp never leaves town.
• Kemp isn't shown destroying the house. He never ejaculates on the bed. And does mess up the upstairs bedrooms.
• When Donna attempts to escape she does not throw rocks. Instead she gets on her hands and knees and looks under the car. And instead of Cujo sitting there waiting he moves around the back and sneaks up on her from behind.
• Although Cujo does bite Donna, no mention is shown that she has gotten rabies.
• The fight between Bannerman and Cujo is longer and includes the inside of the barn.
• Tad lives in this version.
  • According to one source, the producers though the death of a child would be too tramatic. Other sources claim that this decision was to keep even those who read the book in suspense.
• Although Donna stabs Cujo with the bat that's not what kills him. Cujo breaks into the house as Donna is helping Tad and she shoots Cujo with Bannerman's gun.
• The movie ends with Vic finding Donna and Tad. There is no mention of the rabies scare, Donna's treatment, or the outcome of the Sharp account.