MOVIE REVIEW: PEt Sematary
We’re dipping back into horror this week with one of the darker Stephen King adaptations: Pet Sematary (1989). It’s creepy, sad, and filled with that “small-town nightmare” vibe King does so well. This isn’t your typical monster movie — it’s a slow-burn tragedy about grief, death, and how far a person will go to undo the unthinkable.
Story – 7.5 🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖
The Creed family moves to a quiet town in Maine (because it’s always Maine), right next to a busy road and a mysterious pet cemetery in the woods. After a tragic accident, Louis Creed learns about an ancient burial ground beyond the cemetery — a place where the dead don’t stay dead.
The plot is simple but heavy. It’s really about grief and denial more than anything else. Some moments feel dated or a little cheesy now, but the emotional core still hits hard. It builds slowly, but when things go bad, they go really bad.
Monsters/Villains – 7.8 🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖
There’s no classic monster here — the real villain is death itself... and the idea that you can beat it. But if we’re talking actual scares: Church the cat is nightmare fuel after he comes back, Zelda (Rachel’s sick sister) is one of the scariest things ever put on film, and Gage... well, Gage will haunt you.
This movie proves you don’t need a big creature or killer to be terrifying — just one scalpel-wielding toddler will do.
Actors/Characters – 7.4 🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖
Dale Midkiff is solid as Louis, though a little stiff at times. Denise Crosby gives a more emotional performance as Rachel, especially with the Zelda flashbacks.
But the real standouts? Fred Gwynne as Jud Crandall — his “sometimes dead is better” line is iconic. And little Miko Hughes as Gage pulls off one of the creepiest child performances in horror history.
Overall – 7.5 🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖
Pet Sematary is a bleak, eerie tale that gets under your skin. It’s not perfect — some effects are dated, and the acting’s a bit uneven — but the mood, story, and emotional weight make it a standout. It’s less about jump scares and more about slow, creeping dread.
