Cujo Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		3.5

Cujo Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 24, 2023

Lewis Teague's "Cujo" (1983) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include multiple audio commentaries; a large collection of recent cast and crew interviews; documentary on the making of the film; promotional materials; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

Cujo has previously appeared on Blu-ray courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment, Olive Films, and Eureka Entertainment. You can see our reviews of the most recent U.S. release from Olives Films here, and the most recent UK release from Eureka Entertainment here.

Cujo Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Cujo arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The release introduces a brand new 4K makeover of Cujo, which is also available on 4K Blu-ray. I viewed the entire film in native 4K and then spent several hours examining this release. Also, I did numerous comparisons with Eureka Entertainment's Region-B release of Cujo.

The 1080p presentation reveals the same issues that I observed on the 4K presentation, which of course is not surprising. However, I would say that in several darker areas the 1080p presentation probably performs slightly better. Why? Because some darker nuances are flattened -- you can see examples in the our review of the 4K Blu-ray release -- and the HDR grades exacerbates the issue. Here, these areas look marginally better. This said, it is possible that the filtering corrections I mentioned in the other review may not be as distracting to some viewers, and if this is the case, they may like the overall appearance of the 4K makeover quite a lot. However, I suspect that the larger your screen is, the easier it will be for you to begin noticing that a lot of areas do not look as convincing as they should have. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Cujo Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I spent quite a bit of time with both tracks. While the 2.0 track is very healthy, purists will most likely be unhappy with it because it is downmixed. I spent more time with the 5.1 track this time around and my impression is that during the action footage it does plenty of good things. I think that I could probably use for a proper viewing of Cujo and be quite pleased with.

Cujo Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary One - Lee Gambin, a big fan of Cujo and author of Nope, Nothing Wrong Here: The Making of Cujo, highlights various small details that make the film memorable, and discusses the novel by Stephen King that inspired the film and the original script for it, Dee Wallace's performance, the film's atmosphere and soundtrack, etc. This commentary first appeared on Eureka Entertainment's Region-B release of Cujo.

• Commentary Two - in this archival audio commentary, director Lewis Teague confesses that Cujo is his favorite film "because it is the most accomplished film he has done" and because he had the opportunity to work with some of the best people that he could. Mr. Teague then discusses in great detail his preferred directing methods and how they were utilized during the shooting of Cujo, specific lensing choices that were made, the overlapping of some very interesting themes throughout the film as well as its visual style, etc. The commentary was recorded in 2007 and has appeared on other home video releases of Cujo, like Lionsgate's DVD release.

• Commentary Three - this archival audio commentary was recorded by director Lewis Teague and is moderated by critic Jeff McKay. A lot of the information that is shared in this commentary again addresses the conception and production of Cujo, but is expanded in different areas. For example, Mr. Teague discusses Stephen King's ability to create realistic horror and characters that are right for very particular situations/stories. Also, there is interesting information about Peter Medak's involvement with Cujo, the footage he shot, and his eventual replacement. The commentary was recorded in 2013 in for Olive Films' Blu-ray release of Cujo.

• Cujo Revisited - in this archival program, Lewis Teague, and actors Dee Wallace, Danny Pintauro, and Daniel Hugh Kelly recall their experiences working on Cujo and reveal how pleased they are that it has become a cult film. The program was directed by Shawn Caple and procured by Eric D. Wilkinson for Paramount in 2014. In English, not subtitled. (22 min).

• Dog Days: The Making of Cujo - this archival documentary examines the genesis of Cujo as well as its cult status. Included in it are interviews with director Lewis Teague, Stephen King biographer Douglas E. Winter, producers Daniel H. Blatt and Robert Singer, and actress Dee Wallace, amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (43 min).

• Interviews - presented here are several interviews that initially appeared on Eureka Entertainment's Blu-ray release of Cujo.
  
  1. Marcia Ross - in this video interview, casting director Marcia Ross discusses the early stages of the production process, the adjustments that were made after Peter Medak left and Lewis Teague took over (at this point the entire film was cast), Dee Wallace's involvement with the production, the film's final look, etc. In English, not subtitled. (20 min).
  
  2. Dee Wallace - in this video interview, actress Dee Wallace recalls her initial impressions of the part that she played in Cujo, her interactions with the film's three producers -- Daniel H. Blatt, Robert Singer, and Neil A. Machlis -- Peter Medak's take on the material and his departure, her work with director Lewis Teague, the shooting of some of the most dramatic sequences, etc. In English, not subtitled. (42 min).
  
  3. Charles Bernstein - in this video interview, composer Charles Bernstein discusses in great detail the scoring of Cujo, the specific feelings and emotions that he wanted the music to convey and the three major themes that he used to accomplish his goal, the origin(s) of Cujo's theme, the nature of the relationship between the music and the sound effects that enhance the film's tense atmosphere, etc. In English, not subtitled. (36 min).
  
  4. Gary Morgan - in this video interview, stuntman Gary Morgan recalls how he was contacted and asked to contribute to Cujo, the type of preparation work he did before shooting began, how he did some of the most challenging stunts, his interactions with Lewis Teague, etc. In English, not subtitled. (27 min).
  
  5. Jean Coulter - in this video interview, stuntwoman Jean Coulter explains how she was contacted and asked to contribute to Cujo, and recalls her work with dog trainer Karl Lewis Miller, the comments she received from Lewis Teague, hew work with Dee Wallace, etc. In English, not subtitled. (27 min).
  
  6. Kathie Lawrence - in this video interview, visual effects artist Kathie Lawrence recalls her preparation for Cujo, how the 'smaller' dog was placed in the costume that she worked on, the type of materials that were used to create the bodies of the dogs, the prosthetic pieces that were used, etc. In English, not subtitled. (27 min).
  
  7. Robert Clark - in this video interview, special effects designer Robert Clark discusses his preparation and work with dog trainer Karl Lewis Miller, the shooting of the big fight at the end between Dee Wallace and Cujo, the sculpting of the dog's face and head, etc. In English, not subtitled. (13 min).
  
  8. Teresa Miller - in this video interview, dog trainer Teresa Miller, daughter of Karl Lewis Miller, recalls how her father prepared for Cujo, the specific work he did to get specific reactions from the dogs (four were used), the work that the stuntman had to do, what it was like to live with St. Bernards, etc. In English, not subtitled. (29 min).

• Trailers, TV and Radio Spots -
  
  1. Original trailer. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).
  2. TV Spots. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).
  3. Radio Spots. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

Cujo Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Cujo has been remastered in 4K and is available on 4K Blu-ray (this is a combo pack release) and Blu-ray. However, its transition to 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray is not as convincing as it should have been. On the other hand, this release has a fantastic selection of bonus features, so I think that it is rather easy to recommend to fans of the film. If you decide that you want it in your collection, it is probably best to pick it up during a sale.