And the road leads to nowhere..... (Pet Sematary (DVD))

Member Name: Beggar James

Product:	Pet Sematary (DVD)
Date:	18/05/01 (93 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great plot, very well made, creepy, plenty of action and gore

Disadvantages: Bleak

This is a bleak, nihilistic adaption of one of Stephen King's best and most enduring novels. Directed by Mary Lambert, this film truly stands out amongst the chaff of 80s horror flicks as a genuinely creepy, atmospheric riff on the reanmination of loved ones.

The story starts as doctor Luis Creed moves with his wife and two young children into a large new country house, located next to a road which is plagued by the passage of huge trucks. A kindly old man across the road welcomes them, and tells them the legend of the 'Pet Sematary' deep within the woods behind their house. Whilst the family are away, the pet cat is run over, and to spare his young daughter grief, Luis is shown another burial ground even further in the wilderness, one which is said to have the power to bring the dead back to life. However, those who come back are changed, and although they retain some vestiges of their original selves, they have the stench of evil upon them. Tragedy strikes the family when the young toddler, Gage is killed by a truck. Driven near-insane by grief, Luis decides he has olny one course of action. The consequences are horrifying....

'Pet Sematary' is definitely one of my favourite King novels, mainly because of the interesting plot, and it's a relief that the film stays true to its source. Few films horror films have bothered to tackle the emotional effects that the death of a loved one can have on those who remain behind. This film really invests in its characters, and as a result, the viewer is genuinely affected as the horror unfolds. It as to be said that as a result of this, the film is both dark and depressing, so if that's not what you're looking for, then watch out.

The film is well above average in most respects. Both the acting and script are good, and this accentuates the emotional impact of the story. The direction is great, and Lambert really generates a creepy atmosphere. The sets are well design
ed, and they echo perfectly King's descriptions of the creepy graveyards. There are even a few good jump-scares, and folks not used to watching horror films have been known to feel a fair bit of fear whilst watching this flick.

There is plenty for genre fans to enjoy. There is plenty of gore on show, especially towards the end, when psycho kid Gage grabs his daddy's scalpel and goes about his bloody business. The film is never boring, and has just about the right amount of action to balance with the creepy, gradually building atmosphere of horror.

Overall, I strongly advise any horror fans to check this out. It's a great example of genre film making which impresses on every level. It's a bleak examination of death and the harsh realisation that sometimes, dead is indeed better.

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