Cujo does a wonderful job of setting up the inevitable showdown between a terrified mother and a rabid 200 pound beast. Its a short movie, and because of that nothing feels extraneous or unneeded. Cujo is the family's dog - a huge, lovable St. Bernard. However, in the opening sequence, the poor doggie is bitten by a bat... and you probably know where this is going. The Trentons - Vic, Donna and their son Tad - are a normal suburban family. Vic works in advertising, Donna is a housewife and Tad is a sensitive little boy who has a fear of monsters in his closet. One day, Donna and Tad take their car to the rural home of mechanic Joe Camber for some repairs. They quickly learn that the Camber familys easy-going dog is no longer so easy-going. Cujo viciously attacks the car. And even worse, the alternator dies, meaning the two are unable to leave. In one expertly done scene, the camera pulls back, and you see the two of them stuck in the battered Pinto with nothing around them - just the car on the dirt driveway. The isolation is absolute, and its terrifying. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grDQCjs3WV4
Jesse Gumbarge is editor and chief blogger at JarvisCity.com - He loves old-school horror films and starting pointless debates. You can reach out at: JesseGumbarge@JarvisCity.com
