June 2025 – Evil has a new bark.

Netflix has just dropped the official trailer for its 2026 remake of Cujo, a modern reimagining of Stephen King’s classic 1981 novel — and it’s already sending chills down horror fans’ spines. Directed by Fede Álvarez (Don’t Breathe, Evil Dead), this intense psychological horror-thriller brings a more visceral and grounded take on man’s worst friend.

Scroll down to the bottom of the article to see the Trailer

🐾 Plot Overview

Set in rural Maine, Cujo follows Donna Trenton (played by Jessica Chastain), a mother struggling with family issues and an isolated lifestyle. When she and her young son become trapped in their car during a visit to a remote mechanic’s shop, they find themselves at the mercy of Cujo — a once-friendly St. Bernard turned rabid by a bat bite.

But in this remake, Cujo isn’t just an animal — he’s the embodiment of nature gone wrong, a relentless force of chaos in an age of human overreach. Tension builds not just from jump scares, but from claustrophobic realism, emotional desperation, and the brutal simplicity of survival.

🎥 Trailer Highlights

• Haunting overhead shots of a dusty road surrounded by nothing but tall grass and silence.

• Jessica Chastain pounding on the window, whispering: “Don’t look at him. Don’t move.”

• Cujo slowly circling the car, his fur matted and muzzle bloodied, growling through the glass.

• A distorted version of a nursery rhyme playing faintly on the car radio.

• A final close-up of Cujo’s eye — calm, until it suddenly lunges toward the screen.

🧠 Tone and Direction

Fede Álvarez brings a gritty, suspense-filled approach that blends King’s original dread with contemporary psychological horror. Practical effects are emphasized, giving Cujo a disturbingly real presence, and the film focuses heavily on mother-son dynamics, emotional breakdown, and isolation.

🎬 Cast and Crew

• Jessica Chastain as Donna Trenton

• Jacob Tremblay as her son, Tad

• Directed by: Fede Álvarez

• Written by: Fede Álvarez & Rodo Sayagues

• Produced by: Blumhouse Television & Netflix

• Based on the novel by: Stephen King

📅 Release Date

Cujo (2026) will premiere October 3, 2026, exclusively on Netflix — just in time for Halloween season.

The trailer ends with one line of text fading in on screen:

“Fear doesn’t knock. It scratches.”