When I watch a horror movie, and if there happens to be a dog in it, I am glued to the screen because I care if that dog makes it. If I leave the room while one of these movies are on, and I come back and I just missed this huge massacre and slaughter of characters onscreen.
I’m the person who asks, “They didn’t kill the dog, did they?” I wouldn’t be admitting that if I didn’t know that other people say or think that as well.I find that dogs are probably the best animals out there. (Sorry for all you cat lovers!) They have lovable personalities unlike most animals.
They can be your best friend, yet they can also be your worst enemy, which is perfect when it comes to terms of horror films. So whether these pooches were “top dogs” or “hounds of hell” they still provided a memorable performance. Here’s the list of dogs I think deserve a BIG bone….milk bone that is.
1. Cujo – Cujo
This may seem like the most obvious choice, but really, is there a dog in horror film history out there that can beat this killer pooch? I think not! Seeing the cuddly St. Bernard rapidly turn into a rabies-infested killing machine was very frightening, and even though at the end, after he’s killed a few people, I still don’t like the last scene where they kill him. To this day, this movie still comes through and makes me squirm because it really could happen. (Well, I don’t know about the whole “baiting and stalking Dee Wallace Stone” part. He has rabies, not the mind of highly trained and intelligent serial killer!) Overall, Cujo is the “top dog” out of this bunch.
3 & 2. The Hills Have Eyes/Original & Remake – Beast
The real stars of both of these gritty films are the friendly turned vicious German Sheppards. In both versions, Beast managed to play an intricate part in taking out the sadistic villains. To me, Beast was the real hero in both of these films. He was also the one character who I cared for the most. (For the lot of them, I didn’t give a damn about.)
4. Bad Moon – Thor
The real star of this movie was not Mariel Hemingway or the horrifying werewolf. It was the loyal German Sheppard who belonged to the family in this film. This dog knew something was wrong from the moment Michael “I’ll never live down Streets of Fire” Pare arrived at the house. If you’re a werewolf fan, you’ve probably already seen this underrated Eric Red film, but if you haven’t, please see it just for the fight at the end with the werewolf and Thor. Very suspenseful…it’ll have you “howling” with delight. (Cheesy…I know!)
5. The Lost Boys – Nanook
This was an awesome dog. This husky was a very loyal and friendly protector of his family. (Unlike Max’s hound of hell) Although, if you threatened his family, (or even the Frog Brothers) he would show you who’s boss. The scene that sold me was when Michael was trying to hurt Sam and Nanook sent him half turning vampire ass down the stairs. Very smart pooch!
6. Man’s Best Friend – Max
Max may have been a bad ass dog and programmed to kill, but he had heart. When the dog wasn’t eating cats, peeing battery acid on his owner’s mean fiancée, and killing mailmen, he was friendly and loyal to his owner. (Ally Sheedy) Sure, this dog was nuts, but it was only because he was engineered that way, and most of the things he did, you really couldn’t blame him for. (Except for the mailman…that was uncalled for.)
7. Watchers – Furface
This so-called scary film may have sucked some serious ass, but it was the super intelligent and genetically engineered Golden Retriever that really “saved” the film. After watching this “Superdog” I wanted one myself. (Playing chess with your dog? Awesome!) Although, it’s pretty bad when the best thespian in a film is known for drinking out of the toilet and licking himself in his spare time.
8. Dawn of the Dead remake – Chips
This small black and white dog was very cute and smart. He managed to help the mall survivors, (he did way more than that silly beeyatch who tried to save his ass) and bring food to Andy. He was probably the only survivor at the end of the movie. ( If you watched past the closing credits, you know what I’m talking about.)
9. The Thing – Jed
When I had first seen this 1982 Sci-fi/horror film, the one part that I had remembered was when the group is revealed that the dog was the alien all along. To see the husky’s head split open and seeing the alien come out, had seriously scared the shit out of me. It also made me feel stupid, because the beginning scene basically set the whole “twist” up.
10. FEAR – The Martyr
When I had first seen this movie, I loved the dog and was shocked and angered when “Marky Mark’s” goons had decapitated him and put his head through the doggy door for all his family to see. It was surprising for the fact that most movies don’t usually show animal brutality like that. So, I guess he is the “martyr” of this group.
