Cujo (1983)

As I prepare to finally break down and head out to see IT in a couple days, I figured that it was time to immerse myself in a mini Stephen King marathon. My first selection in this endeavor is the 1983 thriller Cujo.

Plot/ Cujo, a friendly St. Bernard, contracts rabies and conducts a reign of terror on a small American town.

Movies based on Stephen King novels are often hit or miss and unfortunately more seem to miss. I was a huge King fan growing up and read all of the books he put out, so maybe, that is why I find the adaptations uneven at best. Most of the movies never seem to capture the characters as well as they were written. This one was a movie that when I first saw it in the 1980s didn’t meet my expectations. Watching it today, while I still find it a touch uneven, it does have a tension that I didn’t remember existing when I first watched it. The cinematography was solid, the cast and performances worked, the storyline was believable, and this was much better than the majority of animal attack films that came out during that general era. I have to admit that the realistic feel and the tone definitely took me back to my youth and the grainy look of the drive-in classics. Sure, some of the movie feels a touch dated, but that is somewhat expected after all these years. In the end, this may not be the best adaptation of his work, but it does rank in the top half. If you have not seen it, you should check it out.

The Barrens (2012)

 

 

 

After working on a couple pieces on HAARP and Hurricane Sandy, and also spending multiple hours on twitter calling for answers in the Benghazi Incident, I decided it was time for a break. I needed it. Sure, those other two causes are tremendously important, and the mainstream media has done little to cover them, there does come a time to step back. Ironically, when I was searching for something to watch, I stumbled upon a movie about one of my favorite subjects, the Jersey Devil. What is it? The 2012 flick, The Barrens.

 

 

Plot/ A man takes his family on a camping trip and becomes convinced they are being stalked by the legendary monster of the New Jersey Pine Barrens: the Jersey Devil.

 

 

Having suffered though many creature features recently, I had low expectations on this entry. However, much to my surprise, this one was a lot better than I could have ever imagined. Armed with an outstanding storyline and some solid acting, this one was entertaining throughout. The scripting was sound, the effects on target and the cinematography was good. Yes, there were some slight pacing issues and a couple small elements that felt out of place, but those are easily overlooked. In the end, this may be more of a psychological thriller than horror, but it is entertaining and actually an original take on this great legend. If you enjoy creature features and are looking for one, check this out.