At first glance, Johannes Roberts’ latest trapped-by-a-killer-beast picture is a redux for the likes of Richard Franklin’s Link and George A. Romero’s Monkey Shines in that the main menace is a brilliantly-realised murdering chimp – done by very convincing suitmation and mo-cap (Miguel Torres Umba is the performer), possibly to the envy of filmmakers who had to rely on waving bananas offscreen and months of training. It’s main inspiration, however, is Lewis Teague’s Cujo, based on Stephen King’s novel – not a movie which often gets listed as a 1980s classic, though it was a formative influence on Roberts and may well be coming into fashion since this is the second homage to Cujo I’ve seen this week (the other is Game).
A symptom of rabies is hydrophobia – fear of water – and Ben can’t swim, so when the loved pet’s nasty turn becomes apparent the survivors retreat to a pool which dangerously abuts a deadly drop. Of course, Dad is out for the evening … mobile phones are broken or out of reach … escape attempts fail … and the clock is ticking for one bitten girl who needs her lifesaving shots within 48 hours. Like the 47 Meters Down films, this is a basic exercise in suspense – with a heroine who has to juggle responsibilities and risks as she’s confronted with a big problem. In theory, there ought to be more of a struggle with conscience as Ben has hitherto been a part of the family, but also perhaps taken out of his natural environment by the dead mother … but it’s stated bluntly that ‘Ben isn’t Ben anymore’ and the chimp is just an impersonal big bad like a shark, certainly with less emotional register than Link or Ella (from Monkey Shines). It opens with a major gore gambit and has pretty gruesome business, but it’s mostly in good fun. Solid horror hokum.