Pet Sematary (sometimes referred to as Stephen King's Pet Sematary) is a 1989 horror film adaptation of the Stephen King novel of the same name. Directed by Mary Lambert, the film stars Dale Midkiff as Louis Creed, Denise Crosby as Rachel Creed, Blaze Berdahl as Ellie Creed, Miko Hughes as Gage Creed, and Fred Gwynne as Jud Crandall. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Mary Lambert (born ?) is an American director. ... Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author of over 200 stories including over 50 bestselling horror novels. ... Dale Alan Midkiff, born July 1, 1959, is an American actor from Chance, Maryland. ... Frederick Hubbard Gwynne (July 10, 1926 – July 2, 1993) was a 6 ft 5 in (1. ... Denise Michelle Crosby (born November 24, 1957, in Hollywood, California) is an American actress who is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Security Chief Tasha Yar on the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Blaze Autumn Berdahl (born September 6, 1980) is an American actress best known for her role as Lenni Frazier in the childrens television series Ghostwriter. ... Elliot Goldenthal, born on May 2, 1954, in Brooklyn, New York City, is an American composer of contemporary music and has written works for concert hall, theater, dance and film. ... Information in this article or section has not been verified against sources and may not be reliable. ... is the 111th day of the year (112th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Horror Movie redirects here. ... Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author of over 200 stories including over 50 bestselling horror novels. ... This section has been identified as trivia. ... Mary Lambert (born ?) is an American director. ... Dale Alan Midkiff, born July 1, 1959, is an American actor from Chance, Maryland. ... Denise Michelle Crosby (born November 24, 1957, in Hollywood, California) is an American actress who is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Security Chief Tasha Yar on the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. ... Blaze Autumn Berdahl (born September 6, 1980) is an American actress best known for her role as Lenni Frazier in the childrens television series Ghostwriter. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Frederick Hubbard Gwynne (July 10, 1926 – July 2, 1993) was a 6 ft 5 in (1. ...

Stephen King wrote the screenplay himself, having become frustrated with how his novels were represented in film adaptations, and appears briefly in the film as a minister at a funeral.

Synopsis

The plot revolves around the corporeal reanimation of deceased pets and humans in an abandoned Mi'kmaq burial ground outside the town of Ludlow, Maine. The Creed family moves into a new home and befriends their new neighbor, Jud Crandall, who tells them about a pet cemetery and the burial grounds nearby. Corporeal reanimation is the theoretical concept of reanimating a dead organism, restoring its living functions and enabling it to move and to freely interact with the world of the living as it did when it was alive. ... The Mikmaq The Mikmaq (; (also spelled Míkmaq, Migmaq, Micmac or MicMac) are a First Nations people, indigenous to northeastern New England, Canadas Atlantic Provinces, and the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec. ... Graves at Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York A cemetery is a place (usually an enclosed area of land) in which dead bodies are buried. ... Ludlow is a town located in Aroostook County, Maine. ... A Pet cemetery is a place where dead pets are buried. ...

The movie vs. the book

The movie is more faithful to the novel's story line and structure than is common for novel-to-movie adaptations in the horror genre. Even so, several plot elements, such as Louis's troubled relationship with his in-laws, his sorrow after Gage's death and his consequent justifications for resurrecting his son, were either combined, truncated or dropped entirely due to the limitations of a movie-length script. The repeated line from the book about "Oz the Gweat and Tewwible" was replaced by repeated appearances of Pascow and Zelda. In addition, the movie glosses over the concept of the Wendigo in the forest, and completely skips over the implication that there is a singular, specific intelligence which guides the resurrected creatures and speaks through them. Additionally, there is the particular omission of one of the book's more disturbing implications: that this intelligence, by way of Gage's body, has eaten parts of Rachel in addition to killing her ("something had been at her"). The term dramatic structure refers to the parts into which a short story, a novel, a play, a screenplay, or a narrative poem can be divided. ... A plot device is a person or an object introduced to a story to affect or advance the plot. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

The role of Steve Masterton, an employee at Louis's medical center and the only character whose future is disclosed, is greatly reduced in the film. His only appearances are when the people bring Pascow into the infirmary and at Gage's funeral. The film also omitted Norma Crandall, Jud's wife, and changed some of the dates; for instance, the year that Jud claims to have buried his dog Spot is changed from 1914 to 1924.

The ending of the film has a significantly different tone from that of the novel. In the novel there is a certain level of ambiguity pertaining to the resurrected Rachel; she is not seen by her husband, but merely felt when she places a decaying hand on his shoulder and says in a rather gravelly voice "Darling..." However, in the film, a far more graphic and violent ending is depicted. The resurrected Rachel returns, in a state of decay (bloody, oozing, partially skeletal) and kisses her husband before brutally dispatching him with a large carving knife. (This last action is not shown, but the sound effect that accompanies it over the end credits has a certain morbid finality, underscored by Louis's guttural scream.)

Cast & crew

Produced by Mitchell Galin, Richard P. Rubinstein, and Tim Zinneman. Directed by Mary Lambert. Stephen King wrote both the novel and the screenplay for the movie. The soundtrack was composed by Elliot Goldenthal. Mary Lambert (born ?) is an American director. ... Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author of over 200 stories including over 50 bestselling horror novels. ... Elliot Goldenthals score to the film Pet Sematary; one of his earliest and effectively chilling. ... Elliot Goldenthal, born on May 2, 1954, in Brooklyn, New York City, is an American composer of contemporary music and has written works for concert hall, theater, dance and film. ...

Cast
Dale Midkiff .... Louis Creed
Fred Gwynne .... Jud Crandall
Denise Crosby .... Rachel Creed
Brad Greenquist .... Victor Pascow
Michael Lombard.... Irwin Goldman
Miko Hughes .... Gage Creed
Blaze Berdahl .... Ellie Creed
Susan Blommaert .... Missy Dandridge
Mara Clark .... Marcy Charlton
Kavi Raz .... Steve Masterton
Mary Louise Wilson .... Dory Goldman
Andrew Hubatsek .... Zelda
Matthew August Ferrell .... Jud as a child
Lisa Stathoplos .... Jud's mother
Stephen King .... Minister
Elizabeth Ureneck .... Rachel as a child
Chuck Courtney .... Bill Baterman
Peter Stader .... Timmy Baterman
Beau Berdahl .... Ellie Creed II
Dale Alan Midkiff, born July 1, 1959, is an American actor from Chance, Maryland. ... Frederick Hubbard Gwynne (July 10, 1926 – July 2, 1993) was a 6 ft 5 in (1. ... Denise Michelle Crosby (born November 24, 1957, in Hollywood, California) is an American actress who is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Security Chief Tasha Yar on the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Blaze Autumn Berdahl (born September 6, 1980) is an American actress best known for her role as Lenni Frazier in the childrens television series Ghostwriter. ... Kavi Raz is an Indian-born British actor, writer, director and producer. ... Mary Louise Wilson— (b. ... Andrew Hubatsek is an associate ensemble director of Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble actor who performed in and directed such shows as On the Westward Trail and Y1K, Life in the Year 1000. ... Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author of over 200 stories including over 50 bestselling horror novels. ...

2006 DVD

On September 26, 2006, Paramount released a Special Collector's Edition DVD. It features:

• Commentary by Director Mary Lambert
• Documentary: Stephen King's Pet Sematary: Stephen King Territory
• Documentary: Stephen King's Pet Sematary: The Characters
• Documentary: Stephen King's Pet Sematary: Filming the Horror

The documentaries feature interviews with Dale Midkiff, Brad Greenquist, Denise Crosby, Stephen King, director Mary Lambert, Fred Gwynne, and other members of the cast and crew. Dale Alan Midkiff, born July 1, 1959, is an American actor from Chance, Maryland. ... Denise Michelle Crosby (born November 24, 1957, in Hollywood, California) is an American actress who is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Security Chief Tasha Yar on the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. ... Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author of over 200 stories including over 50 bestselling horror novels. ... Mary Lambert (born ?) is an American director. ... Frederick Hubbard Gwynne (July 10, 1926 – July 2, 1993) was a 6 ft 5 in (1. ...

Reception

Despite an initially positive reception by many eminent critics, Pet Sematary generated mostly mixed reviews, and was considered to be a moderate box office hit of that year, taking in $16 million in its first week at the North American box-office. The controversial nature of the film may have led to some of its alleged "unviewability", and Pet Sematary remains to this day banned in several countries. Nevertheless, it has recently developed an ardent cult following. 'This is the first screenplay that Stephen King has adapted from one of his own novels, ' wrote Films and Filming, in November 1989 'and while it is a generally competent effort, there some absolute howlers in the dialogue...There is also a taut Halloween-style ending that almost justifies the preceding hour and a half. But ultimately there are still too many unanswered questions.' Fear magazine wrote 'The viewer is made to feel personal grief with some realism, and that's something which most horror film-makers have never handled or been willing to handle.' Mary Lambert was quite protective of her work "Pet Sematary is about a love of a father for his child that is obsessive to the point of breaking certain taboos, passing certain boundaries that shouldn't be passed. I think I brought a sense of mystery and mysticism to the story that they were looking for. There are certain aspects of this story that take it beyond just another horror movie." This article does not discuss cult in its original sense of religious practice; for that usage see Cult (religious practice). ... Halloween (also known as John Carpenters Halloween) is a 1978 American independent horror film set in the fictional Midwest town of Haddonfield, Illinois on Halloween. ...

Trivia

• Tom Savini turned down a chance to direct this film.

• George A. Romero was the first choice to direct this film but was unavailable, due to a scheduling conflict. By this point he had already done several storyboard treatments and scouted locations for the film. When asked later what he would have done different in regards to the adaptation, he commented "I would have done it BETTER." *Romero was also considered to direct three other King films: Salem's Lot (1979 TV mini-series), The Stand (TV miniseries) and It (1990 film). He would however direct King related films Creepshow and The Dark Half (film) which coincidentally took place in the same fictional town as Pet Sematary: Ludlow, Maine. He would also contribute a script based on King's short story "Cat From Hell" to the 1990 anthologhy horror film Tales from the Darkside: The Movie. King and Romero are good friends and King has dedicated his novels Christine and Cell to him.

• Bruce Campbell from the Evil Dead Trilogy fame was the first choice to play Dr. Louis Creed.

• Christina Ricci tried out for the role of Ellie Creed but lost out to Blaze Berdahl and her twin sister Beau.

• Stephen King demanded that the film be shot on location in his home state of Maine, where the novel takes place.

• The author of the novel and the screenwriter, Stephen King, makes a cameo appearance as the priest, saying mass/last rites at Missy Dandridge's funeral in the film.

• Seven cats (British Shorthair) were used to play the cat Winston Churchill/Church.

• The character of Zelda was played by a man, Andrew Hubatsek, after they had a hard time finding a woman who looked emaciated enough for the role.

• Elliot Goldenthal's opening theme has often been compared to the theme for The Amityville Horror (1979 film), particularly in how it utilizes a choir of children. The theme from that particular film was used in an early trailer for the film. Goldenthal has mentioned in interviews that his professional relationship with director Mary Lambert was difficult and that she was not very articulate in describing what she wanted.

• Test audiences felt that the film's climax was too ambiguous and unsatisfying, so the studio asked Lambert to make it more graphic. Lambert did exactly this, but a shot of a three inch pincer-bug emerging from Rachael's ear was deemed too extreme.

• The Ramones were mentioned several times in the novel and recorded an original song for the end credits. Their song "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" is also featured as a truck leaves a mill en route to a fatal encounter with young Gage.

• This film was #32 on Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments.

• If you look closely on the truck Rachel gets a ride in, the stand has the number 666

Thomas Vincent Savini (born November 3, 1946) is an American actor, stunt man, director and award-winning special effects and makeup artist. ... George Andrew Romero (born February 4, 1940) is an American director, writer, editor and actor. ... Salems Lot was a 1979 tv mini-series based on Stephen Kings vampire novel, Salems Lot. ... The Stand is a 1994 television miniseries based on the novel The Stand by Stephen King. ... It (also referred to as Stephen Kings It) is a 1990 horror mini-series based on the Stephen King novel of the same name. ... Creepshow is a classic 1982 anthology horror movie directed by George A. Romero (of Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead fame), and written by Stephen King (The Shining, Misery, The Stand). ... The Dark Half is a 1993 horror film adaptation of the Stephen King novel of the same name. ... Tales from the Darkside is an anthology TV series from the 1980s produced by George A. Romero. ... Christine is a horror novel by Stephen King, published in 1983. ... Cell is an apocalyptic horror novel published by American author Stephen King in January 2006. ... For the former baseball player of the same name, see Bruce Campbell (baseball). ... -1... Christina Ricci (born February 12, 1980) is a Golden Globe and Emmy Award-nominated American actress. ... Blaze Autumn Berdahl (born September 6, 1980) is an American actress best known for her role as Lenni Frazier in the childrens television series Ghostwriter. ... Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author of over 200 stories including over 50 bestselling horror novels. ... Official language(s) None (English and French de facto) Capital Augusta Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 39th  - Total 33,414 sq mi (86,542 km²)  - Width 210 miles (338 km)  - Length 320 miles (515 km)  - % water 13. ... Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author of over 200 stories including over 50 bestselling horror novels. ... Peter Jackson in The Fellowship of the Ring (top), The Two Towers (middle) and The Return of the King (bottom). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... The Anointing of the Sick is one of the sacraments of the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and some Protestant churches. ... The British Shorthair is a domesticated cat that is said to resemble a teddy bear. ... Andrew Hubatsek is an associate ensemble director of Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble actor who performed in and directed such shows as On the Westward Trail and Y1K, Life in the Year 1000. ... Elliot Goldenthal, born on May 2, 1954, in Brooklyn, New York City, is an American composer of contemporary music and has written works for concert hall, theater, dance and film. ... The Amityville Horror was a 1979 film based on the book of the same name by Jay Anson. ... The Ramones (L-R, Johnny, Tommy, Joey, Dee Dee) on the cover of their debut self-titled album (1976), cementing their place at the dawn of the punk movement. ... Sheena Is a Punk Rocker is a song by legendary punk rock group Ramones, appearing on their third LP Rocket to Russia in 1977. ... This article is about the U.S. cable network. ...

External links

• Pet Sematary at the Internet Movie Database
• Pet Sematary at Yahoo!Movies
• Pet Sematary at RottenTomatoes.com