Workaholic Thomas Johnson dies in an auto accident and reincarnates as a dog. Remembering some of his previous being, he returns to his wife and son to protect them from the man who caused his accident. But, as time goes by, his memories return, and Thomas realizes he wasn't such a good husband and father.
Acting
Matthew Modine commits FULLY to dog physicality.
Practical Effects
Golden retriever training that somehow sells the reincarnation.
Score
Carlo Siliotto's sweeping strings for DOG MOVIE emotions.
Director
Carlo Carlei
Matthew Modine
Thomas P. Johnson / Voice of Fluke
Nancy Travis
Carol Johnson
Eric Stoltz
Jeff Newman
Max Pomeranc
Brian Johnson
Ron Perlman
Sylvester
Jon Polito
Boss
Bill Cobbs
Bert
Federico Pacifici
Prof. Santini
Bart Hansard
Day Guard
Deborah Hobart
Dogpound Vet
Libby Whittemore
Libby, the Housekeeper
Collin Wilcox Paxton
Bella
Samuel L. Jackson
Rumbo (voice)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The 1977 source novel by James Herbert was significantly darker; Fluke was originally a mongrel who remembered being a homeless man, and the film softened the reincarnation mechanics for family audiences.
Released between Beethoven and Air Bud, Fluke represents peak '90s cinematic anxiety about absent fathers—using literal death and dog transformation to force workaholic dad introspection that decade desperately needed.
US
