Cujo

Cujo is a fictional character and the title of Stephen King’s 1981 horror novel, as well as its 1983 film adaptation. The story is set in the town of Castle Rock, Maine, and centers on Donna Trenton and her young son Tad, who become trapped in a car after their family dog, Cujo, contracts rabies and turns violently dangerous. The narrative shifts among Donna, Tad, and Cujo, exploring themes of fear, isolation, and the breakdown of ordinary family life under extreme circumstances.

Cujo the dog is depicted as a friendly St. Bernard who is bitten or otherwise exposed to rabies, triggering the transformation into a threat that stalks the two trapped occupants. The plot unfolds as the mother and son struggle to survive inside the sweltering car while rescue seems increasingly unlikely. The novel is renowned for its taut atmosphere and its focus on psychological horror rather than supernatural elements.

The novel was published in 1981 by Viking Press and is one of King’s best-known standalone works, illustrating his ability to blend ordinary settings with escalating danger. It contributed to his reputation as a master of suspense and contemporary horror.

The film adaptation, released in 1983 and directed by Lewis Teague, stars Dee Wallace as Donna, Daniel Hugh Kelly as Vic Trenton, and Danny Pintauro as Tad. The dog Cujo was portrayed by multiple trained animals. The screenplay follows the book’s central premise and translates its claustrophobic tension to the screen.

Legacy: Cujo remains a notable entry in late 20th-century horror, frequently cited in discussions of Stephen King’s work and of domestic suspense in popular culture.