A businessman reincarnated as a dog learns that his fatal car crash was his fault.

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the 1995 fantasy drama Fluke, a workaholic man dies in a car accident and returns to life as a dog. He attempts to reconnect with his family, only to discover that his own reckless driving—not his business partner's betrayal—caused his death. It is a bizarre, somber meditation on reincarnation.

Directed by Carlo Carlei and based on the 1977 novel by James Herbert, Fluke follows Thomas P. Johnson, a businessman who dies in a car crash and is reincarnated as a dog. After being raised by a homeless woman named Bella, the dog, named Fluke, eventually finds his former wife, Carol, and son, Brian. The film explores his struggle to reconcile his past human life as a distant workaholic with his new canine existence, eventually realizing that he must move on.

The narrative takes a dark turn when Fluke suspects his former business partner, Jeff Newman, caused his death. However, a climactic flashback reveals that Fluke was actually responsible for the accident, having driven recklessly on the wrong side of the road to argue with Jeff. Jeff had attempted to save him but failed. Ultimately, Fluke accepts his new life, reuniting with his former friend Rumbo—who has also been reincarnated, this time as a squirrel—to discuss the nature of existence.

Upon its release on June 2, 1995, the film was a significant box-office disappointment, grossing only about $3.9 million in North America. Critics were largely unimpressed, with many describing the film as a confusing hybrid of a family movie and an adult psychodrama. Reviews in outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post criticized its heavy-handed tone and bizarre themes, with some suggesting the story was too serious for children and too ridiculous for adults. Despite the negative reception, the film earned two nominations at the 22nd Saturn Awards, including Best Fantasy Film.

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