Cujo

Published: 1981

Cujo (1981) tells the harrowing story of a gentle St. Bernard who contracts rabies after being bitten by a bat, transforming into a savage killer terrorizing the town of Castle Rock, Maine. The central horror unfolds when Donna Trenton and her four-year-old son Tad become trapped in their broken-down car during a heatwave with the rabid Cujo lurking outside. Their desperate struggle for survival forms the novel's claustrophobic core. Written during King's struggle with alcoholism, the author has famously stated he barely remembers writing the book due to his substance abuse at the time. Unlike many of King's works, Cujo contains no supernatural elements—just the mundane horror of a sick animal and a series of unfortunate circumstances. Critics praised the novel's unflinching realism and psychological depth, particularly in its portrayal of a disintegrating marriage and the visceral terror of being trapped. The book's uncompromising ending shocked many readers and divided opinion, though it's now viewed as one of King's boldest narrative choices. The 1983 film adaptation starring Dee Wallace became a cult classic despite softening the book's conclusion. King has reflected that Cujo represents his exploration of how everyday life can collapse suddenly, creating horror from ordinary circumstances rather than supernatural forces. The novel continues to resonate for its intimate scale, psychological acuity, and unforgettable antagonist who is both monster and victim. For many readers, Cujo stands as one of King's most intense and emotionally wrenching works, notable for its stark realism and absence of supernatural elements.

Themes

• Rabies
• Isolation
• Motherhood
• Tragedy
• Powerlessness

Adaptations

• 1983 film adaptation

Collector Notes

First editions are relatively common but still desired. One of the few King books written in third-person omniscient without supernatural elements.