Pet Sematary (1989 film)

Pet sematary poster

Pet Sematary is a 1989 American supernatural horror film directed by Mary Lambert and written by Stephen King. The film is an adaptation of King's 1983 novel of the same name. It stars Dale Midkiff, Denise Crosby, Blaze Berdahl, and Fred Gwynne. The story follows a family that discovers a mysterious cemetery in the woods behind their new home, which has the power to resurrect the dead.

Plot

The film centers on the Creed family: Dr. Louis Creed (Dale Midkiff), his wife Rachel (Denise Crosby), their daughter Ellie (Blaze Berdahl), and their toddler son Gage (Miko Hughes). After moving to a rural home in Maine, they discover a pet cemetery (misspelled "sematary") in the woods behind their house. Their neighbor, Jud Crandall (Fred Gwynne), warns them about the cemetery's dark powers.

When the family cat, Church, is killed, Jud takes Louis to an ancient burial ground beyond the pet cemetery, where they bury the cat. Church returns, but he is not the same; he is more aggressive and violent. Tragedy strikes again when Gage is killed by a truck. In his grief, Louis decides to bury Gage in the same burial ground, despite Jud's warnings. Gage returns from the dead, but he is malevolent and dangerous.

Cast

• Dale Midkiff as Dr. Louis Creed
• Denise Crosby as Rachel Creed
• Blaze Berdahl as Ellie Creed
• Miko Hughes as Gage Creed
• Fred Gwynne as Jud Crandall

Production

The film was shot on location in Maine, where the novel is set. Stephen King makes a cameo appearance as a minister at a funeral. The screenplay was written by King himself, ensuring that the film stayed true to the source material.

Reception

Pet Sematary received mixed reviews from critics but was a commercial success. It has since gained a cult following and is considered one of the more faithful adaptations of King's work.

Legacy

The film's success led to a sequel, Pet Sematary Two, released in 1992. In 2019, a remake of the original film was released, directed by Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer.

See also

• Stephen King filmography
• List of horror films of 1989
• Pet Sematary (novel)

External links

Pet Sematary at IMDb

Pet Sematary at AllMovie