3.5/5 Stars

In a decade filled with numerous Stephen King adaptations, such as “It,” “Gerald’s Game” and “1922,” “Pet Sematary” is a nice addition to enhance the master of horror’s legacy. This version is a unique reimagining of both the 1983 novel and the 1989 film of the same name.

One of the best things about this movie is the painstakingly believable performances from Jason Clarke (“The Aftermath”), Amy Seimetz (“Get Shorty”) and the legendary John Lithgow (“Late Night”). The basic premise of the story is about a family who experiences bizarre happenings after they discover an old Native American burial site in the woods behind their new house in Maine. Clarke’s Louis and Seimetz’s Rachel are two characters who are trying to start a new life alongside their 9-year-old daughter Ellie (Jete Laurence) and toddler Gage (Hugo and Lucas Lavoie).

The pacing of the film is very slow, with tons of exposition setting the stage for the fear-inducing climax. Lithgow’s character Jud is the family’s old neighbor whose appearance leads to significant plot points. Seeing the family dynamic slowly crumble is heartbreaking and shows viewers how one person’s bad decision can affect everyone else. 

Directors Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer did a solid job differentiating themselves from all prior adaptations baring the name. Their use of jump scares is not perfect, but it is still effective. The lighting in the film was dark at times but served a purpose to make viewers unsure of what was happening. Sometimes showing less is more in the horror genre.

Screenwriter Jeff Buhler did a fantastic job altering a story that has been done before. The choice to add a different twist during the second act was the right one. Audiences have become too accustomed to seeing remakes comprised of shot-by-shot recreations like Gus Van Sant’s 1998 version of the Hitchcock classic “Psycho.” If fans of the source material are given things they have seen before, that is not creative visual storytelling. 

This story perfectly represents all of King’s disturbing trademarks as an author. The concept of death and how to overcome grief are at the forefront of the tale. Louis is a devout father who tragically gets thrown into a situation nobody should have to suffer through. His mistakes can be justified through the eyes of anybody who has suffered a great loss. The setting is eerie and foreshadows an inevitably dark ending. The tone of the picture is fitting for what is happening to the character’s physical and mental state. 

There are some issues that stand out, especially some of the illogical things that are done by Louis and Jud. For example, if high-speed trucks are constantly passing your house, why not build a fence to ensure safety? Also, the film takes a little while to get going and ignores some developments that are shown early for cheap scares. But, overall, this is an unsettling film that, as the end credits song goes, “I don’t want to be buried in a Pet Sematary.” After viewing this, everyone will agree with The Ramones’ sentiments.

Image from Paramount Pictures via YouTube