Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: Kevin Kolsch & Dennis Widmyer, Paramount Pictures, MA, 101 Minutes.
Supernatural supremo Stephen King’s scary novel ‘Pet Sematary’ was initially adapted into the 1989 movie of the same name and now some 30 years later has been reimagined by directors Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer (‘Starry Eyes’).
In many ways similar to the earlier version, Dr Louis Creed (Aussie Jason Clarke – ‘Chappaquiddick’), wife Rachel (Amy Seimetz – ‘Alien-Covenant’), daughter Elle (Jete Laurence – ‘The Snowman’) and baby son Gage decide to move their home to a small country town in Maine.
After meeting their neighbour Jud (John Lithgow –‘Interstellar’), Louis is informed of a mysterious pet cemetery in the woods close to the family’s home with its mist-shrouded burial ground infused with reanimating powers.
It is not long before Elle’s cherished pet cat Church is hit by a truck on the busy highway backing onto their home causing Louis to resort to burying the cat in the mysterious pet cemetery.
Louis is then shocked to see a reanimated Church return to their home appearing more aggressive and dirtier as it retaliates against Elle by scratching her face.
As Louis attempts to get rid of the deadly cat he must also confront a related problem, that of the continuing trauma faced by Rachel over her sister Zelda’s distressing death as a teenager.
To alleviate their pain Louis holds a birthday party for Elle unaware that she has ventured onto the road after Church and is killed by another truck swerving to avoid Gage whose life is saved by Louis.
What follows is the father’s dramatic attempt to resurrect his daughter using the same cemetery that reanimated the cat, only this time there are disastrous consequences for himself and the whole family.
In spite of an encouraging start by Kolsch and Widmyer in their adaptation of King’s terrifying tale the storyline subsequently descends into a series of distressing events, especially in the concluding scenes culminating in a dissatisfying conclusion.
Many of King’s fans may find this remake more surreal than the original even though Clarke, Laurence and Lithgow appear more convincing in their portrayals of their characters than their counterparts in the 1989 version.
Vic’s Verdict: 2 ½ Stars
