From director Lindsey Anderson Beer comes Pet Sematary: Bloodlines, the prequel to the 1989 classic Stephen King adaptation that taught us that “sometimes dead is better.”
Set in 1969, a young Jud Crandall has dreams of leaving his hometown of Ludlow, Maine, behind but soon discovers sinister secrets buried within and is forced to confront a dark family history. Banding together, Jud and his childhood friends must fight an ancient evil that has gripped Ludlow since its founding and, once unearthed, has the power to destroy everything in its path.
First, we should talk about casting. Jackson White stars as young Jud, a character made iconic by actor Fred Gwynne’s performance in the original. Jackson doesn’t exactly look like a young Gwynne, but he does give a great emotional performance, so I’m willing to look over it. Henry Thomas stars as Jud’s father, and while he has a tendency to play characters that seem distant, he showed more feeling here. “X-Files” actor David Duchovny captured his character’s desperation and pain. In the film, the role of Timmy, Jud’s friend and Duchovny’s son, was key. His character drove a lot the story, and Jack Mulhern did an absolutely fantastic job. Manny and his sister (Forest Goodluck and Isabella LaBlanc) bring a ton of heart to the story while representing the Native American element.
As for the story, it not only brings up a story that Jud told in the original, it expands on it. What we get is an edge-of-your-seat movie that honors the original, something prequels and sequels rarely do. Honestly, I went into watching Bloodlines expecting a flop. Luckily, I was very wrong. And I feel bad for not going into it with an open mind. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I got into it and how good it was. It has all the hallmarks of a great film. It’s gripping, intense, emotional, and even made me jump a time or two and shows respect to Stephen King’s original vision.
When it comes to the special effects, I was pretty impressed. They are well done and the gore, of which there’s a lot, looks great. They are realistic and there’s enough to please gorehounds while not going over the top, a task that is hard to balance. The characters that rise from the stony burial ground look fantastic, dirty and gray and slightly rotten. I have to give props to the SFX team.
Director Beer delivers an unnerving and heart wrenching story that explores the foundation of Pet Sematary, while answering the questions we’ve always wanted answered. It expands the terrifying tale at the heart of the original. It reminds us that sometimes, “dead is better.” And poses the question how far would you go for someone you love.
To sum it up, Pet Sematary: Bloodlines is most definitely worth watching. It’s got real heart and all the horror you crave. Bravo to director Beer, the cast, and the crew.
Pet Sematary: Bloodlines is set to premiere exclusively on Paramount+ on Friday, October 6, 2023 as part of their “Peak Screaming” Halloween lineup. Be sure to check it out.
