Pet Sematary (1989) – Sometimes dead is better

After moving to their new home, the Creed family’s cat is killed after wandering onto the highway. Judd, an elderly neighbor, show Louis, the father, an isolated hill behind the local pet cemetery and instructs him to bury the deceased feline. Not long after the cat reappears, but he’s not the same. When their youngest son meets with a fatal accicent, a distraught Louis buries him in the same location, hoping to revive him. Unfortunately Louis unleashes far more than he bargained for.

Pet Semetary was the first Stephen King adaptation that scared me – not for the gore or blood, but for the suspense and “creepiness.”

One of my favorite “gotcha” moment happens very early in the movie. The Creed family have just moved in. It’s night and Louis is looking at the path leading to the pet cemetery when their cat Church drops from some higher tree limbs.

Another good “gotcha” moment happens after a college student, Victor Pascow, is hit by a truck and brought to the medical facility where Louis works. It’s apparent the college student is dead and Louis is sitting beside the body. Suddenly the deadman reaches out his hand, gasp ans starts talking. Even now, it’s an effective scene and still creeps me out – but at least I don’t jump anymore.

There are many more gotcha moments throughout this movie which is why Pet Sematary is so much fun to watch. Does this mean the movie is flawless? I wouldn’t go that far.

Here’s a little bit of trivia – two twin actresses play the role of Ellie Creed, Blaze and Beau Bardahl. These little girls’ performances are annoying. I know the character was written for a purpose, but I’m not hip on watching whinny, sniveling, bratty children on screen. They really turn me off. To me, the character Ellie Creed spends her time on screen just whinning or crying or acting bratty and I just wanted her to be gone.

Probably my second biggest hang up is having a three-year-old little boy acting like he’s risen from the dead and possessed by a demon. Three is a little young to play “evil.” However if it weren’t for this little boy running around wielding a scapel, the movie would really not be as satisfying.

But enough with the downers, Pet Semetary is a great horror film, and a lot of fun to watch with all the “gotcha” moments.

Now for a little bit of trivia:

• This was the first filmed screenplay that Stephen King adapted from one of his won novels.
• Seven cats were used to play Church.
• Star Fred Gwynne dyed his hair white for the role of Judd Crandall.
• When Rachel gets off the semi, the numbers 666 are on it.
• The idea for this storycame about when Stephen King’s daughter’s cat, Smuckey, was killed on the highway outside their home.

Pet Sematary stars:

Dale Midkiff as Louis Creed

Denise Crosby as Rachel Creed

Fred Gwynne as Judd Crandall

Brad Greenquist as Victor Pascow