Made just about the time genetic engineering was getting mainstream recognition, this movie plays on the danger of combining dogs with genetic engineering. "Max" is a cross between, I believe, a dog and a tiger and is incredibly intelligent, to boot. Of course, no one planned for his nasty disposition.

Nor did anyone plan for his escape from the laboratory. He ends up at the house of a reporter, played by none other than Ally Sheedy. At first he seems like a nice and smart dog, a definite keeper. Then things go south.

Two scenes I'll never forget: One, the dog chases a neighborhood cat, who tries to escape (naturally) by climbing a tree. No problem for "Max," though, who pulls out his tiger claws and climbs the tree, too. The next thing you see is the dog in the treetop, mouth wide open a full 180 degrees, the cat slowly descending into his mouth. Hysterically fake and horribly bad.

The other is when a friend of Ally's becomes suspicious of the dog, and the dog knows it. While the friend is in the house expressing his concern (which Sheedy shrugs off, of course), the dog crawls under his car outside. A few minutes later, the guy is speeding uncontrollably down a noticeably convenient hill, and the audience is shown the braking cable under the car, which Max has chewed right through. Clever dog.