Cujo – 25th Anniversary Edition (DVD-Video/Lionsgate)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C Film: C
Most film
and TV production of Stephen King works never work, but one that actually falls
in that rare space between failure and success is Lewis Teague’s 1983 version
of Cujo, with Dee Wallace, Daniel Hugh-Kelly and then-unknown Danny Pintauro (Who’s The Boss?) as a family who
becomes terrified by a dog suffering a rabid infection after a freak bat bite
attack.
The film
has its moments and really plays out the conventions, but at least it knows
what those are from the Don Carlos Dunaway/Lauren Currier screenplay, but it is
a script that somehow also loses some of the character associated with a King
story. It is made with some energy and
definitely some production effort, but still manages not to work overall. Still, it has its moments and by default, is
still better than many other King adaptations.
Ed Lauter and Christopher Stone also star.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image shows its age and is likely an older
professional analog transfer. If not, it
is a dated print. Color can be a bit
weak and having seen this in 35mm, could be improved. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono is also showing
its age, but is fine here for the presentation given. Extras include a making of featurette and
feature length commentary by Teague.
- Nicholas Sheffo
