Director: Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmeyer
Writer: Matt Greenberg
Cast: Jason Clark, Amy Seimetz, John Lithgow, and Jete Laurence
In search of a more relaxed lifestyle, Dr. Louis Creed and family move from fast-paced Boston to the small rural town of Ludlow. Not long after their move, they discover a mysterious cemetery in the woods behind their home. The cemetery is a macabre monument of sorts, where locals have buried their furry family members for decades. Tragedy strikes when their own cat, Church, is struck by a speeding semi. A kind neighbor offers to help bury the feline and leads Dr. Creed to a mysterious clearing just beyond the cemetery. The burial goes as planned except for one thing, the cat comes back. The return of the feline causes a disastrous chain of events with catastrophic results.
Adapted from Stephen King’s 1983 bestseller, Pet Sematary is an intensely creepy, nightmare-inducing thriller. The novel was inspired by Author Stephen King’s real experiences renting a house on a busy street in Maine. Originally thought to be too dark for mass consumption, the novel was released and achieved much success. Director Kevin Kolsch stays true to the novel’s sinister plot but offers a fresh modern aesthetic. As the story deepens, the images get darker building up to a terrifying climax. Though primarily a disturbing horror film, the movie can also be viewed as an allegory of grief and how dangerous it is to ignore. Though resurrection and zombies are extreme, the underlying theme of letting go is impossible to ignore. Dr. Creed’s inability to cope with losing the cat and disappointing his daughter are the catalysts that propel evil into their lives eventually resulting in death and destruction. The theme of grief and guilt are furthered by a subplot involving Dr. Creed’s loving wife Rachel, who has yet to get over the loss of her own older sibling, Zelda. The film offers some insight into Rachel’s upbringing as she occasionally endures flashbacks of her tortured childhood.
As fans of both the novel and original film, we enjoyed the twists and surprising turns the story takes. Though much of the film remains true to the book, as far as pace and character development, some of the stories differ greatly. For instance, the Creeds lose their daughter Ellie and not their son Gage. If fans are expecting to witness another cute but sinister scalpel wielding toddler they will be sorely disappointed. Mick Hughes’ infamous cries of “not fair” have been replaced by the guttural growls of a strong and feral Ellie. The imagery is also updated with a tremendous amount of gore. For example, audiences will literally see the broken bones and pulsing brain matter of Victor Pascow, the unfortunate spirit guide to Dr. Creed. Frightening from start to finish, Pet Sematary exceeds expectations and serves up an unsettling surprise ending that will leave you gasping for air.
Pet Sematary hits theaters, Friday, April 5, 2019.