Pet Sematary Review (2019) – Better off Dead?

Just got back from the press screening of the 2019 adaptation of Pet Sematary which is based off Stephen King’s novel of the same title. Here’s my non-spoiler Pet Sematary review.

The film stars Jason Clarke (Terminator: Genisys, War of the Planet of the Apes) together with Amy Seimetz and John Lithgow and is directed by Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer.Synopsis:

Dr. Louis Creed and his wife, Rachel, relocate from Boston to rural Maine with their two young children. The couple soon discover a mysterious burial ground hidden deep in the woods near their new home. When tragedy strikes, Louis turns to his neighbour Jud Crandall, setting off a perilous chain reaction that unleashes an unspeakable evil with horrific consequences.

Scares

Everything is tense with this film but it wants to make audience gasp or be scared. Love how they managed to make the already scary 80s version of Pet Sematary into something even creepier. I felt like they had a good balance of jump scares and tension building suspenseful moments.

Visuals

Yes, there’s gore here in this film but they keep it to a tolerable level. There’s still some amount of body horror and that really brings you in. Hats off to really taking the time to set rhe mood and the pace for the film.

Whether its Church the Cat looking menacingly at Louis and the family to Ellie and her slow descent to whatever the hell she ends up being, you can be sure the the creep factor is dialed up.

Musical Score

Have to say in this Pet Sematary review that they really did take extra measure to make the scenes surreal. Like there’s this scene in the graveyard aka the Sematary where they trudge slowly towards the woods beyond Dr. Louis’ property

References

Interestingly enough there’s a number of easter eggs and call backs to other King novels and movies. Derry from “It” makes an appearance here. There are a number of trucks here which could be a reference to “Maximum Overdrive”.

Re-watching the movie is a great way to spot more King goodness.CharactersAs expected, there are slow moments throughout the film but thats normal. Jason Clarke’s Louis was good because he’s a man of science who becomes a man of mysticism which kinda goes out of hand. Rebecca has PTSD, almost phobic of death. Its through them the movie gets added depth and exposition. The weakness also becomes the film’s mouthpiece for what it wants to talk about.

Sadly while its discussed, we never get some closure for each character’s plot. We instead get a change of pace and outlook.

Also major feels when things happen to the characters here. Thats the beauty of pacing the story beats and making us actually care.

Pet Sematary Review – Verdict

8/10

Pet Sematary opens April 3 from United International Pictures Philippines.