Man's Best Friend
A compassionate reporter shelters a brilliant laboratory dog, only to discover that its engineered gifts conceal a lethal predator.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- darkly comic
- tense
- pulpy
- late night horror viewing
- 1990s genre movie marathon
What critics said
Critics generally found the film polished and intermittently fun but derivative and shallow in its execution.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Max first appears intelligent and lovable in Lori's home, creating a sharp contrast with his later behavior as an unstoppable killer.
Dr. Jarret's laboratory creates a genetically mutated dog with heightened intelligence and special abilities that become lethal.
The film combines horror and science fiction with comedy while centering its suspense on a dangerous mutated dog.
Lori conceals Max from police in her home, turning a familiar living environment into the site of mounting danger.
Films like Man's Best Friend, and why
Cujo
shared comedy horror tone, animal menace, and satirical treatment of scientific experimentation
Deep Blue Sea
shared genetically engineered creature premise, thriller pacing, and darkly comic genre sensibility
The Fly
shared science fiction horror, laboratory experimentation, and escalating creature threat
Arachnophobia
shared killer-animal horror premise with a pulpy, entertaining approach to human danger
Movie Details
- Director
- John Lafia
- Release Date
- 1993-11-19
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 5.9 / 10 (141)
Cast
- Ally Sheedy
- Lance Henriksen
- Robert Costanzo
- Fredric Lehne
- John Cassini
- J.D. Daniels
- William Sanderson
- Trula M. Marcus
- Robin Frates
- Rick Barker
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Cultpix
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Man's Best Friend about?
- A compassionate reporter shelters a brilliant laboratory dog, only to discover that its engineered gifts conceal a lethal predator.
- What is Man's Best Friend like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Man's Best Friend as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Man's Best Friend violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Man's Best Friend as graphic.
- What did critics think of Man's Best Friend?
- Critics generally found the film polished and intermittently fun but derivative and shallow in its execution.
- Which films are like Man's Best Friend?
- Films with a similar feel include Cujo, Deep Blue Sea, The Fly, and Arachnophobia.
- How long is Man's Best Friend?
- Man's Best Friend runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch Man's Best Friend?
- In United States, Man's Best Friend streams on Cultpix.
