One-Sheet Wonders! – CUJO (1983)

Despite its source novel being released two years earlier, I remember Warner Bros. trying (and almost succeeding) to create a ‘mystique’ around its film adaptation of Stephen King’s 1981 bestseller. What was “Cujo”? Unfortunately for Warners, King by that time had risen to such fame that the secret was tough to keep, and soon everyone knew the title monster was indeed a big, cuddly Saint Bernard.

I’ve seen wildly conflicting reviews of the film since its release–some saying the dog’s whipped-cream makeup was downright laughable, while others still believe it to be one of King’s best adaptations, with Dee Wallace’s performance worthy of an Oscar nomination–but one thing you cannot deny is how neat the poster is. The title’s blood smear across the picket fence gives a big clue as to what “Cujo” is, while still maintaining some of that coy mystery the studio was shooting for in the weeks leading up to the film’s release.

In March, Netflix announced a new deal that would see the streaming service distribute a new reboot of King’s classic, so we’ll keep an eye out for more details regarding that in the coming months.

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