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Dale Midkiff, Fred Gwynne, Denise Crosby, Brad Greenquist, Michael Lombard ... see more see more... , Blaze Berdahl , Miko Hughes , Susan Blommaert , Mara Clark , Chuck Courtney , Kara Dalke , Liz Davies , Andrew Hubatsek , Kavi Raz , Peter T. Stader , Stephen King , Mary Louise Wilson , Eleanor Grace Courtemanche , Lila Duffy , Matthew August Ferrell , Donnie Greene , Mary R. Hughes , Dorothy McCabe , John David Moore , Chuck Shaw , Lisa Stathoplos , Elizabeth Ureneck , Richard Collier

A doctor dabbles in magical resurrection with horrific consequences in this supernatural thriller adapted from the novel by Stephen King. When Dr. Louis Creed (Dale Midkiff) and his family move from C... read more read more...hicago to an old farmhouse in rural Maine, their only concern is the busy highway that flanks their new home. Louis' family -- wife Rachel (Denise Crosby), daughter Ellie (Blaze Berdahl), and toddler Gage (Miko Hughes) -- soon meet kindly old duffer Jud Crandall (Fred Gwynne), who introduces them all to the local attractions, including a pet cemetary built on the remains of a Native American burial ground. When Rachel and the kids head off to visit Louis' in-laws, Ellie's cat gets flattened by a truck. Jud counsels Louis to bury it in the old Indian portion of the cemetary; the next day, it returns from the dead, carrying with it the stink of the earth and a decidedly bad attitude. Shortly thereafter, Louis is tempted to use the cemetary's magical powers again when his son suffers a tragic accident. A snarling kitty, it turns out, is nothing compared to the horror of a little boy with no soul and a taste for scalpels. In addition to adapting his own novel for the screen, writer King appeared in a brief cameo as the minister presiding over Gage's funeral. Director Mary Lambert would return with Pet Sematary Two. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

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63% liked it

92,691 ratings

Critics

50% liked it

18 critics

R, 1 hr. 43 min.

Directed by: Mary Lambert

Release Date: April 21, 1989

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DVD Release Date: September 19, 2000

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Stats: 4,342 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (4,342)

  • TheDudeLebowski65
    March 29, 2012
    TheDudeLebowski65
    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 ch... read moreeck 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.
  • blkbomb
    October 14, 2011
    blkbomb
    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 m... read morey 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.
  • ajv2688
    March 14, 2011
    ajv2688
    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 recomme... read morend it.
  • sanjurosamurai
    January 15, 2011
    sanjurosamurai
    freaky, was good when i was a kid but doesnt hold up
  • ythelastman89
    June 4, 2010
    ythelastman89
    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 res... read moreult 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.
  • SirPant
    September 24, 2009
    SirPant
    Might have been my first horror film, I loved it and that kid still scares me!
  • stormyweather980
    September 10, 2009
    stormyweather980
    I'm a big fan of Stephen King movies, and this is one of the absolute best ones in my book!
  • matertenebraum
    July 27, 2009
    matertenebraum
    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 b... read morey 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.
  • kiriyamakazou
    April 10, 2009
    kiriyamakazou
    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 woul... read mored 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.
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    October 13, 2008
    DragonEyeMorrison
    They don't make fun crappy films like this anymore.

View All Pet Sematary Reviews

Critic Reviews

Dustin Putman
October 16, 2008
Dustin Putman, DustinPutman.com

Haunting, sorrowful and reverberatingly eerie. Above all, Pet Sematary is a remarkably mature and thought-provoking look at the mysterious nature of death and the complexity of the grieving process. Full Review

Steve Crum
November 3, 2007
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Typically creepy Stephen King fodder.

Scott Weinberg
November 15, 2006
Scott Weinberg, DVDTalk.com

A true-blue bruise of a horror flick, packed with unsettling images, shocking demises, and a wonderfully apt sense of macabre humor. Full Review

Rich Cline
June 29, 2005
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall

corny thriller

Staci Layne Wilson
January 28, 2005
Staci Layne Wilson, StaciWilson.com

A ghost, a zombie cat, a murderous toddler, and Herman Munster... What's not to love? Full Review

Andreas Samuelson
November 11, 2004
Andreas Samuelson, Slasherpool

Could have been better, but still worth to take a look Full Review

James Sanford
March 5, 2004
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette

Eeeek! A junky book becomes a dreadful movie

Fred Topel
July 14, 2003
Fred Topel, About.com

Great Stephen King movie. Some true scares, lots of gore, and a hint of morality. Are you responsible for the reanimated dead?

Brian Mckay
March 19, 2003
Brian Mckay, eFilmCritic.com

Fairly effective adaptation of the Stephen King thriller.

Gerry Shamray
December 12, 2002
Gerry Shamray, Sun Newspapers of Cleveland

Another awful Stephen King adaption.

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Facts

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    • Jud Crandall: Do you know what a graveyard is? It's when the dead speaks!
    • Victor Pascow: The burrier wasn't ment to be crossed.
    • Jud Crandall: Sometimes dead is better.
    • Gage Creed: I played with mommy ... Now I want to play with you!
    • Zelda: I'm coming for you Rachael... and this time... I'll get you...gage and I will get you...for letting us die... Haha.
    • Jud Crandall: [pulls out and opens buck knife] Gage... I've got something for you.
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Pet Sematary Trivia

  • In the movie pet sematary, what Ramones song plays on the truck drivers radio?  Answer »
  • In Stephen King's "Pet Sematary" the old man across the street also stared on an old sit com. What was the name of that old sit com?  Answer »
  • "Sometimes dead is better" is taken from which horror film?  Answer »
  • In what movie did Stephen King play a minister?  Answer »
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