Why the 2019 Pet Sematary remake chose to exhume a classic horror story
In short: Stephen King's 1983 novel has been adapted twice, but the 2019 version directed by Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer took a distinct path. By shifting the tragedy from the son to the daughter, the filmmakers explored the terrifying consequences of grief and the ancient, malevolent forces lurking in the woods.
The 2019 adaptation of Pet Sematary, produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Steven Schneider, arrived three decades after the first film version. Development was a long process that began in March 2010 with screenwriter Matt Greenberg. After years of shifting creative teams and potential directors, Paramount Pictures officially greenlit the project in October 2017. Filming eventually took place in Quebec, Canada, between June and August 2018, featuring Jason Clarke as Louis Creed and John Lithgow as his neighbor, Jud Crandall.
The narrative centers on the Creed family, who move to Ludlow, Maine, only to discover a burial ground capable of resurrecting the dead. While the original source material focuses on the death of the young son, Gage, the 2019 film makes a significant departure by having the daughter, Ellie, die and return as a malevolent entity. This change serves as the catalyst for the film's grim exploration of the Wendigo, a spirit believed to inhabit the ancient burial ground. The film suggests that the power to revive the dead comes with a horrific price, as those who return are fundamentally altered and driven by violent impulses.
Upon its release on April 5, 2019, the film grossed $113.1 million worldwide against a production budget of $21 million. Despite its financial success, critical reception was mixed, with an approval rating of 57% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics noted that while the film attempted to take the story in new directions, it often felt like an uneven revival of the source material. The project's focus on the town's dark mythology eventually paved the way for a 2023 prequel, Pet Sematary: Bloodlines, which sought to further explore the origins of the rituals and the history of the burial ground.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Pet Sematary (2019 film)
- Also: Wikidata — Pet Sematary · CC0
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