PET SEMATARY Review

As with 2017's IT, this year's adaptation of Stephen King's 1983 novel is an update of an earlier adaptation that has a loyal fan base born of the generation in which King also penned these horror stories. Is this to say those original, filmed adaptations were more in tune with King's stories than today's updates? I couldn't say specifically in regards to IT or Pet Sematary as I haven't had the nerve to open either of those books, but while 1989's Pet Sematary and 1990's IT miniseries undoubtedly share a certain kindred spirit with King’s novels these current re-imaginings operate on a grander scale of sorts-idolizing the source material in a way that translates these stories in more epic terms to the screen. King’s emotionally-driven, character-based work tends to use the horror genre more as a mask for saying what he wants to say which would seem to account for why King’s work has always operated in being more vividly unsettling than straight up scary, but the themes of Pet Sematary are really dark...even for King. Though I have no personal connection or nostalgic ties to either King’s original novel or the original 1989 movie adaptation I tend to be intrigued if not by the premises of King’s works, but for the emotional investment they are able to create through this aforementioned character work. This is why IT ultimately worked so well two years ago for despite having a terrifying clown at the center it was the group of kids and their personal stories as well as the dynamics between them that allowed the movie to work and to be about things besides Pennywise. In directing duo Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer’s new take on King’s material, there is certainly no fear of going as far as is necessary to evoke the grief that comes along with dealing in loss and more specifically-the loss of a child. Kölsch and Widmyer undoubtedly create a sense of dread from the beginning playing the titular location in a way King would be proud as this sense of dread is not only represented in the literal manifestation of this burial ground, but of the reach it has into the lives of those that both live near and/or meddle in it. An interesting concept and fitting approach, no doubt, but while the emotions are as raw as the aesthetic approach it is a lack of connection to these character’s-especially Jason Clarke’s withdrawn nature despite his character’s actions-that give Pet Sematary a strong sense of purpose if not the lasting, devastating impact it seems pre-disposed to possess.

First Trailer for Stephen King's PET SEMATARY

Spoiler alert: I've never seen the 1989 adaptation of Stephen King's 1983 novel of the same name about a cemetery behind a young family's home in Maine that holds a terrible secret concerning the power of life after death. While that all may sound rather vague, what Pet Sematary is actually about-from what I can recall of my brothers discussions concerning the '89 film-is that of a haunted cemetery that brings pets back to life. Outside of that, I don't know much about what goes down in the story, but it's not hard to see why with the success of last fall's IT re-imagining and Hulu's Castle Rock why we're getting more re-makes or re-imaginings of King's most popular works. Does this carry the same cultural significance or nostalgia as IT, no way, but Sematary always felt like something of an appreciated if not exactly well-renowned entry in King's storied career. Given Mary Lambert's original film is now available to stream on Amazon Prime I'll definitely be making time to catch up with it before the end of the month (why not? It's October!) as well as preparing myself for whatever directing duo Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer have in store for us next spring. While Kölsch and Widmyer don't exactly have anything in their filmography that stands out (a bunch of rando horror flicks that look to be on the cheap side with not exactly glowing reviews) they did direct a few episodes of MTV's underrated and underseen Scream: The TV Series that makes me a little more optimistic about what they might do with a King property. Based on the trailer alone, I'm digging the way this thing looks (it was shot by Laurie Rose who's worked on Netflix's Peaky Blinders and also did 2017's 70's-laden Free Fire) as it feels more crisp and precise than some horror flicks that delve headfirst into a more grimy aesthetic. I'm also loving that John Lithgow will be playing the weird old man next door role (originally played by the original Herman Munster, Fred Gwynne, in the '89 version) as the guy is so versatile and, if you've seen Dexter, is a guy you know can play psychotic and/or crazy to haunting effect. While the rest of the casting is more shrug-worthy given Jason Clarke seems to be taking any role these days there is definitely potential here, but I'm sure I'll either have more hope or less optimism after giving the original film a go. 2018's Pet Sematary also stars Amy Seimetz, Naomi Frenette, Jeté Laurence, Obssa Ahmed, Alyssa Brooke Levine, Hugo & Lucas Lavoie, and opens on April 5th, 2019.