Pet Sematary (2019)

Starring: Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz, John Lithgow, Jete Laurence, Hugo Lavoie, Lucas Lavoie
Directed by: Kevin Kolsch, Dennis Widmyer
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
2019

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: After their pet cat dies, a family learns from their new neighbor (John Lithgow) that on their property is a burial ground with the ability to bring the dead back to life.

Review:

Tim: I'm a bit bothered I still haven't seen the original Pet Sematary. But, we're living in a Stephen King renaissance (which I couldn't be happier about) and I'm trying to stay up-to-date. While this movie isn't as remarkable as It: Chapter One, this is still a solid remake and an effective horror movie in its own right. While the horror genre has been producing some legitimately strong movies in recent years, it still feels like there's a shortage of good movies. That's why there will always be cause for celebration when we get one.

This movie feels like it presents a story that is interesting, yet also a bit obvious and predictable. A family learns that there is a place behind their new house that allows buried animals to come back from the dead. I think this is a different location than the children's misspelled "Pet Sematary", although I wasn't quite clear on this from the movie. There's the creepy pet cemetery, but the mystical place where dead animals come back to life felt like it was much further behind it? I don't know, that's a small quibble I have with the film. Anyway, as is always the case with miraculous cures like this, the returned animal doesn't quite come back the same. You can see the obvious line of thinking- "If this place brings back a dead cat, what else could it bring back?" With any thought, you know exactly where the story is going. Now fortunately, directors Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer craft an entertaining enough journey that you still want to take it. I do have to admit that it's a fairly obvious journey, though.

I admit I love the tagline, "Sometimes dead is better." That sums up the entire movie in a typically creepy Stephen King way. It also presents us with a wonderful challenge to the thinking of most living creatures- it's written in our DNA that alive is better than dead. It was fun watching a film that conveys this alternative message to us. It's done in an effective way first by following a resurrected cat. This is one of the highlights of the film. I'm not sure how they found the cat for this movie, but the image on the cover and in the film is unforgettable. That is one frightening looking cat and it was wonderful. (MAJOR SPOILER AHEAD)-------- the resurrected people don't quite have the same level of fright, although they are admittedly creepy. I'm not complaining about them because they work as the story needed them to, but man, no one compares to that cat.

The cast was interesting. I like Jason Clarke and I thought he did a fairly decent job in the lead role. He's a good actor and he has this quality to him that is a bit off-putting. His appearance and demeanor works with horror movies. Even when he's likeable, he has this ability to create distance from the audience when needed. That being said, I wouldn't say I loved Clarke's performance. He works and is serviceable, but he didn't blow me away. John Lithgow, on the other hand, gave an incredible performance. He's one of the most criminally underrated actors working today. His supporting performance here is fantastic. The beard was right on point and he came across as mysterious and a bit dangerous. I never knew what to think about him. Should I like him? Should I fear him? It was a wonderfully ambiguous performance and one of the best of the film. I wish I liked Amy Seimetz's performance better. I didn't realize I'd seen her in a number of things before (including "Stranger Things!"). But that was because her performances were either too small or too forgettable. That's how bland she is as an actress. I hate to be mean here, but I just didn't see anything here that made me think she would have a long career in lead roles. She's okay- it's not like I disliked her performance. I just think the film needed a significantly stronger performance in this role. What she does throughout the film is unremarkable. The actors playing the kids were fine, they were creepy when they needed to be and vulnerable as appropriate, too. The film really has three main characters- Jason Clarke was fine but not great, Lithgow was great, and Seimetz was bland. The cast might not detract from the film, but it doesn't add as much as it needed to.

While flawed, Pet Sematary proves that the Stephen King renaissance is alive and well and should continue. This is a creepy horror movie that entertains and wisely doesn't overstay it's welcome. I enjoyed this movie and will be curious if they make a sequel, since this one was profitable.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Pet Sematary (1989), Pet Sematary II