Cujo (1983)

[MrClarke]

Originally Posted by Viiincent

Anyone know if it comes with a slipcover? Most Olive releases do.

No slip

[OneWayFilms]

If I DO buy this, I'll keep my current bluray and just switch out the cover art. I always HATED that extreme closeup of Cujo's mouth and teeth.

[brettxwt]

Which release is better, Olive or Paramount? Which one has the best master?

[The Great Owl]

Last night, I watched my Olive Films Blu-ray of Cujo.

Cujo is based on one of Stephen King's most direly pessimistic novels. In his book, On Writing, Stephen King talks about his drug and alcohol troubles during that era, and about how he barely remembers writing Cujo. This probably explains why the story is somewhat different from anything else by the author. A few tweaks aside, this movie does a good job of conveying the novel's title character, a rabid St. Bernard, not only as a terrifying force of nature, but also as a representation of conventional everyday fears that real-life families face as they struggle to stay together as cohesive units. I've always thought that actress Dee Wallace was a little too old to play the character of Donna Trenton, but she is actually great in the role once the trouble starts. The premise, with Donna and her son trapped inside a car in hot weather while the rabid dog lurks around outside, is a cleverly unsettling spin on the problem of people leaving their pets in cars.

When I was in high school, a St. Bernard used to roam our neighborhood freely to play with everyone, protect everyone, and do good deeds in general. None of us ever knew who the owner was, but the dog was always around and was always in a happy and playful mood. I've never encountered a St. Bernard that wasn't totally awesome since then, so it's difficult to imagine one of them going berserk, even under the circumstances in the film. Sure enough, the filmmakers reportedly had quite a task before them as they used five different St. Bernards for the Cujo role. The dogs were having such a fun time on the set that the filmmakers had trouble with camera shots that showed the dogs' tails wagging in scenes where Cujo was supposed to be murderously fierce.

The Olive Films Blu-ray looks great, considering the source material that is inherently soft, as many films of that era were. The sound quality is a win, and this is good news, since this particular Olive title does not feature subtitles. I'm expecting this one to be announced as an Olive Signature release at some point.

I didn't make it all of the way through the informative director's commentary last night, so I'll finish it when I get home from work.

[thegreatmutato]

Originally Posted by brettxwt

Which release is better, Olive or Paramount? Which one has the best master?

This.

[OneWayFilms]

Are there any screen caps available anywhere that compares the OLIVE release vs the Paramount release?

AND...

Does anyone know IF and where custom artwork might exist for this film? The Olive cover art is SO much better over the Paramount cover.

[bigdaddyhorse]

Originally Posted by OneWayFilms

Are there any screen caps available anywhere that compares the OLIVE release vs the Paramount release?

AND...

Does anyone know IF and where custom artwork might exist for this film? The Olive cover art is SO much better over the Paramount cover.

There are screens for both on this site, which unfortunately do not directly compare at all, but you might be able to get an idea.

I see one cool custom cover at r1db dot com that is basically the Olive cover colored. Not sure why colored when posters were b&w like the Olive cover. Surprised there isn't a scan of the Olive, but there isn't. If you like it, PM me and I'll get you the full HD file.

[OneWayFilms]

Originally Posted by bigdaddyhorse

There are screens for both on this site, which unfortunately do not directly compare at all, but you might be able to get an idea.

I see one cool custom cover at r1db dot com that is basically the Olive cover colored. Not sure why colored when posters were b&w like the Olive cover. Surprised there isn't a scan of the Olive, but there isn't. If you like it, PM me and I'll get you the full HD file.

Sent, thank you.

WOW...I just checked out the screen shots from both versions and AMAZINGLY.....The Paramount looks WAAAAAAAY better than the Olive transfer. Paramount looks much more vivid, sharper and better color as well. Awesome, I'll stick to my Paramount....but will work towards getting a scan or custom made cover.

[zbinks]

Are people referring to the 2009 Lionsgate release when they're talking about the "Paramount" release?

[bigdaddyhorse]

Originally Posted by zbinks

Are people referring to the 2009 Lionsgate release when they're talking about the "Paramount" release?

[Show spoiler]

I would guess so, although that doesn't have a Paramount logo anywhere on it while the Olive does.
For the record, it's Republic and Lionsgate logos on that one.

[OneWayFilms]

Originally Posted by zbinks

Are people referring to the 2009 Lionsgate release when they're talking about the "Paramount" release?

LOL...Yeah. I saw someone else label it as the Paramount release, so I went with it. If I'm wrong, I'm so sorry.

[jayman3]

Special Limited Edition (4000 units)
• Hardbound Slipcase, featuring newly commissioned artwork by iconic British illustrator Graham Humphreys
• Reversible sleeve featuring artwork by Justin Osbourn and original poster artwork
• PLUS: A LIMITED EDITION 60-PAGE Collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Lee Gambin, author Scott Harrison, and Craig Ian Mann; illustrated with archival imagery from the film's production.
DISC ONE
• 1080p presentation of the film, on Blu-ray for the first time ever in the UK
• Uncompressed LPCM mono soundtrack
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• New and exclusive feature length audio commentary by Lee Gambin, author of Nope, Nothing Wrong Here: The Making of Cujo
• New interview with Dee Wallace [40 mins]
• New interview with composer Charles Bernstein [35 mins]
• New interview with stuntman Gary Morgan [25 mins]
• New interview with stuntwoman Jean Coulter [21 mins]
• New interview with casting director Marcia Ross. [20 mins]
• New interview with visual effects artist Kathie Lawrence [13 mins]
• New interview with special effects designer Robert Clark [12 mins]
• New interview with dog trainer Teresa Miller [28 mins]
• Dog Days: The Making of Cujo - archival documentary on the film's production [42 mins]
DISC TWO (Limited Edition Only)
• Q&A with Dee Wallace from "Cinemaniacs & Monster Fest 2015", moderated by Lee Gambin [96 mins]
• New interview with critic and author Kim Newman [25 mins]
Disc collector's from the UK or with a region free blu-ray player can pre-order Cujo (Eureka Classics) Limited 2-Disc Blu-ray Edition from Amazon right now.

https://movieweb.com/cujo-blu-ray-uk...mited-edition/

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by jayman3

[Show spoiler]

https://movieweb.com/cujo-blu-ray-uk...mited-edition/

Before anybody asks, this will be region locked.

[darkness2918]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

Before anybody asks, this will be region locked.

Region locking is a thing that really needs to go away permanently on BDs IMO, like with 4K discs.

[professorwho]

Originally Posted by darkness2918

Region locking is a thing that really needs to go away permanently on BDs IMO, like with 4K discs.

Agreed, but contractual obligations make it necessary, unfortunately.

[steve_dave]

Originally Posted by darkness2918

Region locking is a thing that really needs to go away permanently on BDs IMO, like with 4K discs.

Disney and Fox refused to support HD DVD because it did not have region locking; that forced the BD A to create some sort of region coding system.

[DaylightsEnd]

I always enjoy the tension and effective score in this underrated King adaptation. The film has enjoyed a couple of recent deluxe overseas releases on standard blu ray, but what it really needs is a new 4k uhd release, big-time. I’m sure that a multitude of rabid fans would gobble it up.