Pet Sematary Movie Analysis

Stephen King's Pet Sematary is a film that makes me conflicted about not having read the book. Which is odd given the author, but that's how it goes. Pet Sematary is a film that I remember well as a kid, it along with, well, IT, but also Carrie, The Shining and a host of other King adaptations were required viewing in my household. Most of the novels that these film's are based on were read to my brother and I as kids. You know, when other kids were being read Dr. Seuss, not that I'm complaining. Pet Sematary is a film that I didn't find all that frightening as a kid, and now as an adult it hold up just the same. I wouldn't count this one among my least favorite King films. It's just one of the one's that doesn't stick out much upon reflection to me. Much like Dalores Claiborne or Tommyknockers.

The set up is fairly generic, a new family, The Creeds, Dr. Louis (Dale Midkiff), his wife Rachel (Denise Crosby) and their two children, Ellie (Blaze Berdahl) and Gage (Miko Hughes), move into a new home... in Maine. Louis quickly befriends Jud Crandall (Fred Gwynne) , his elderly next door neighbor (and best character in this film) and he …show more content…
Mainly why in the world would Jud ever show anyone that place. It's not like Louis, a doctor, would ever think of burying a person out there. Not with those magic resurrections powers it has and after the horrible experience he's had in the past, why ever bring that place up. He seems like a smart man, one that would know what secrets are best kept.

Final thoughts, its good I guess and I fear reading the book would change that. As it would invariably make this film worse in my eyes. Beyond Fred Gwynne and Denise Crosby, most Fred Gwynne... this film just doesn't do anything for me. It feels slow, while somehow at the same time rushed. But I would still recommend this film, just not to hardcore horror fans as this film would leave them wanting. But to a casual fan of the genre, sure.