6 Things About Cujo You Didn’t Know

Source: Warner Bros.

In 1983, horror fans were introduced to “Cujo”, a film adaptation of Stephen King’s novel about a rabid St. Bernard terrorizing a small town. The movie may not be the most critically acclaimed, but it has become a cult classic over the years.

While the film’s plot may seem straightforward, there are some fun and fascinating facts you may not know about “Cujo”. Here are five of them.

1. The Dogs

The filmmakers used five St. Bernards, one mechanical head, and a man in a dog costume to portray Cujo. To encourage the dogs to attack the car, animal trainers placed the dogs’ favorite toys inside the vehicle.

2. Meryl Streep?

The role of Donna Trenton, Cujo’s main victim, was originally offered to Meryl Streep, who turned it down. (source: Wikipedia) Dee Wallace ultimately played the role, delivering a memorable performance as a mother trapped in a car with her young son while a rabid dog terrorizes them from outside. While it’s hard to imagine anyone but Wallace in the role, it’s interesting to think about how the movie might have differed with Streep in the lead.

3. Good Dog

The filmmakers had to use a mechanical dog head for some of the more violent scenes in the movie, as the real St. Bernards were too well-behaved to act aggressively on command.

4. The Score

The movie’s score was composed by Charles Bernstein, who also composed the iconic score for “A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984). Bernstein’s score for “Cujo” is notable for its use of unconventional instruments, such as a waterphone and a bowed vibraphone, which create an eerie and unsettling atmosphere that perfectly complements the film’s tense and terrifying moments.

5. More Bernards

The movie’s success led to a surge in popularity for St. Bernards as pets, but also led to many incidents of people abandoning or mistreating the dogs when they proved too difficult to handle. Many people were drawn to the breed because of Cujo’s lovable appearance but were unprepared for the amount of exercise, training, and attention that St. Bernards require.

This led to a number of incidents of abandonment and mistreatment, as well as an increase in the number of St. Bernards in animal shelters. The surge in popularity for the breed became known as the “Cujo effect”, and led to calls for responsible pet ownership and education about the needs of different breeds.

6. Stephen King’s Opinion:

Stephen King has mentioned in interviews that due to his heavy alcohol consumption during the time “Cujo” was written, he barely remembers writing it. However, he has praised the film adaptation, particularly Wallace’s performance.