Pet Sematary (1989)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Jeff "

  
  Pet Sematary is a very good horror film and believe it or not somebody can make a good horror film out of a Stephen King novel. Mary Lambert does a great job with this film and manages to bring across King's creepy story pretty well. Most people may avoid this, but they should… More
  Pet Sematary is a very good horror film and believe it or not somebody can make a good horror film out of a Stephen King novel. Mary Lambert does a great job with this film and manages to bring across King's creepy story pretty well. Most people may avoid this, but they should check it out. This film is surprisingly good, and is definitely one of the better King adaptations. Above all, this is one of the scariest of all of King's creations, and those who loved the book will definitely enjoy this film. This is a terrific film that delivers solid scares, and fans of the book like myself will enjoy it. I find this film adaptation to be very underrated, and it doesn't deserve the flack it has received. As far as horror films are concerned, Pet Sematary delivers a memorable and terrifying viewing experience. The film has a good cast that deliver on-screen. Actor Fred Gwynne is probably the best here, and the lead actor Dale Midkiff is good as well. This film is better than what most people would think. As far as I'm concerned, this is one of the better King adaptations that really stands out and delivers effective terror. Director Mary Lambert keeps the terror coming and the film has good atmosphere with a sense of evil, dread and helplessness. This is what makes horror so much fun to watch. Pet Sematary has all the elements that would make for a good, entertaining horror film. If you're a Stephen King fan, then check this one out. This film has plenty of effective creepy moments to give you a good scare.

• Melvin W

  
  Jud Crandall: Sometimes dead is better.  "A Pet Isn't Just For Life." Pet Sematary is a disappointing film to me just because of how much I liked the book. The book was extremely creepy and this plot works best in your mind. Of all Stephen King's books, Pet… More
  Jud Crandall: Sometimes dead is better.  "A Pet Isn't Just For Life." Pet Sematary is a disappointing film to me just because of how much I liked the book. The book was extremely creepy and this plot works best in your mind. Of all Stephen King's books, Pet Sematary has to be my favorite. It had an awesome premise and some of his creepiest ideas thrown into it. As a King adaption, it's decent, not one of the best not one of the worst.nits not down at the bottom with Dreamcatcher or up at the top with The Shining, but in the middle with Secret Window.  Louis Creed movies his family to rural  Maine from Chicago. He has a young daughter and son. The first thing he notices about his new house is that it sits on a deadly road. All day and night trucks speed by their house. His neighbor tells him that the road is reason for a cemetery called Pet Sematary that is right down a path from the Creed house. Beyond that cemetery is a more sinister plot of land that comes into play deeper into the story.  The best thing about this movie is Fred Gwynn as Jud. He is perfect int hat role and when I read the book, my picture of Jud was nearly a mirror image of how he is played by Gwynn. Too bad every other actor in this movie totally sucked. The movie displays one of the worst husband, wife actors I have ever seen in Dale Midciff and Denise Crosby.  The movie doesn't come close to the creepiness level in the book, but still the movie has a couple of images that could be considered creepy. Zelda being number one and that little kid being number two. I can't say the movie particularly scared me, but it was fun seeing the book brought to screen anyway.

• AJ V

  
  A brilliantly creepy horror movie, based on a King story. It's one of those stories where you learn that you should be careful what you wish for, and that you when someone dies, they should stay that way. It's more than just another zombie movie, I love it, and I highly… More
  A brilliantly creepy horror movie, based on a King story. It's one of those stories where you learn that you should be careful what you wish for, and that you when someone dies, they should stay that way. It's more than just another zombie movie, I love it, and I highly recommend it.

• danny d

  
  freaky, was good when i was a kid but doesnt hold up

• Conner R

  
  Just a great demented horror story with no regard for human life. Child and Animal death are usually forbidden in mainstream cinema, but this has it in full. The sets are really interesting, especially the cemetery and burial ground. I love the cynical approach to family, the result… More
  Just a great demented horror story with no regard for human life. Child and Animal death are usually forbidden in mainstream cinema, but this has it in full. The sets are really interesting, especially the cemetery and burial ground. I love the cynical approach to family, the result is beautiful and immensely fun to watch. It sort of has a conflicting opening, but when Gage is plowed down by a Semi it all turns crazy. It's a very original approach to the zombie genre and a shining moment in Stephen King's giant career.

• Anthony L

  
  Might have been my first horror film, I loved it and that kid still scares me!

• Jason O

  
  I'm a big fan of Stephen King movies, and this is one of the absolute best ones in my book!

• Cassandra M

  
  I am a big fan of Stephen King's work, and this film has made me an even greater fan of King. Pet Sematary is about the Creed family. They have just moved into a new house, and they seem happy. But there is a pet cemetery behind their house. The Creed's new neighbor Jud… More
  I am a big fan of Stephen King's work, and this film has made me an even greater fan of King. Pet Sematary is about the Creed family. They have just moved into a new house, and they seem happy. But there is a pet cemetery behind their house. The Creed's new neighbor Jud (played by Fred Gwyne) explains the burial ground behind the pet cemetery. That burial ground is pure evil. Jud tells Louis Creed that when you bury a human being (or any kind of pet) up in the burial ground, they would come back to life. The only problem, is that when they come back, they are NOT the same person, they're evil. Soon after Jud explains everything about the Pet Sematary, everything starts to go to hell. I wont explain anymore because I don't want to give away some of the main parts in the film. The acting that Pet Sematary had was pretty good, but needed a little bit of work. The story was one of the main parts of this movie, mainly because it was so original and gripping. This film features lots of make-up effects that make the movie way more eerie, and frightening. One of the most basic reasons why this movie sent chills up my back, was in fact the make-up effects. There is one character in this film that is truly freaky. That character is "Zelda." This particular character pops up in the film about three times to be precise. Zelda is Rachel Creed's sister who passed away years before, but Rachel is still haunted by her. The first time Zelda appears in the movie isn't generally scary because she isn't talking or anything, but the second time is the worst, and to be honest, the second time scares the living **** out of me. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this movie, it is almost perfect. Pet Sematary delivers great scares, some pretty good acting, first rate plot, and mesmerizing make-up. This is truly one of most favourite horror films of all time.

• Luke B

  
  Pet Sematary is let down by some very conflicting performances. Midkiff just seems bored and boring. Crosby came off as confrontational and cruel. The little girl was very OTT. At least Fred Gwynne gave a likable performance. The story is typical horror but fails to ask "Who… More
  Pet Sematary is let down by some very conflicting performances. Midkiff just seems bored and boring. Crosby came off as confrontational and cruel. The little girl was very OTT. At least Fred Gwynne gave a likable performance. The story is typical horror but fails to ask "Who would do this?". When you consider that Gwynne knows the animals come back as violent creatures, why would he endanger this family? The last third is actually fairly shocking and depressing, but the overall dated aspects just harm the build up too much. A film where a new interpretation would be most welcome.

• Tsubaki S

  
  They don't make fun crappy films like this anymore.

• Curtis L

  
  I found this movie to be great for lots of reasons; first it kinda freaked me out a bit. Second it had a zombie kid and cat. Third the zombie kid is scary and kills people in awesome ways. Fourth it has great dialog like "Sometimes dead is better" and my favorite… More
  I found this movie to be great for lots of reasons; first it kinda freaked me out a bit. Second it had a zombie kid and cat. Third the zombie kid is scary and kills people in awesome ways. Fourth it has great dialog like "Sometimes dead is better" and my favorite "It's Thanksgiving for cats...but only ones that are back from the dead. Play dead! BE DEAD!" Awesome.

• Ross C

  
  The story was best told in book form, but I liked the way it was visualised in the movie, especially with ST:TNG's Denise Crosby.

• Nani V

  
  The book freaked me out! The movie didn't as much, but, it was still pretty good.

• Tim S

  
  102 of the most affecting and horrific minutes in cinema. What's so horrifying about this film is how tragic and heartbreaking it is.

• James A

  
  A great movie with memorable lines. Some bad acting doesnt even ruin it.

• Dean M

  
  Bit weird of Stephen King's pet graveyard horror flick. The only truly horrific things there are the dialogue and acting.

• Gordon A

  
  Little known but classic

• Lafe F

  
  One of the few Stephen King movies which is scary! Be it Zelda, the dead student, the rotten black cat or the spooky baby - this gave me the creeps. Fred Gwynne is great as the neighbour who tells the tales of the Pet Sematary. Great spooky stuff! It gives me the shivers each time.

• xGary X

  
  Stephen King adaptations all have the same handicap; Stephen King is actually a bit crap. This workmanlike chiller has a decent premise, but it all feels a bit cheap and amateurish. The Ramones are good though...

• Megan S

  
  This movie really scared the crap out of me when I was younger.

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