SXSW 2019 Review: PET SEMATARY: It’s Back… But Is It The Same?

Sometimes low budget is better. Pet Sematary, in this critic’s opinion, is a constant battle between excessive production and exceptional performances. Every chance to admire the film’s cinematography and editing is also a chance for the film to gloss over genuine suspense.

Objectively, as the second adaptation of a classic Stephen King novel, this 2019 rendition is a handsome addition to the shelf of competent horror filmmaking. If we’re talking about sheer quantity, it certainly has more positives going for it than negatives. But subjectively, the negatives irked me quite a bit.

Something about the film is definitely off, and you’re enjoyment of it really depends on your opinion of King’s novel and its 1989 film adaptation.

 The Directing is Great…

One thing I cannot deny about this new rendition is it looks gorgeous. The camera movement, production design, color palette, and musical score by Christopher Young all come together to present a blockbuster-level adaptation of the story of the Creeds, who move to rural Maine and discover a burial ground deep in the woods that contains horrific power.

Directors Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer (of Starry Eyes) make exceptional use of their locations. From the lone road on the side of the Creeds’ house to the “pet sematary” itself, the film drowns the audience in atmosphere. Left and right, we feel as if we are completely surrounded in trees, which give off a unique sense of claustrophobia. Even if you remove all the nighttime scenes, which are delicately crafted with fog and lighting effects, the film still contains an eerie cloud that looms over its characters. And when the film gets violent, boy, the effects are gnarly.

…But There’s Too Much of It…

Despite all these technical qualities, often times they smear over the more subtle and tragic horrors in the film. A lot of set pieces seem over-decorated and over-produced, if not cliché entirely. The most frustrating thing about the set pieces, for me personally, is I can see the positives and negatives at the same time. Take the fog effect, for example. The nighttime shots look fantastic, thanks to it. At the same time, they create a music video vibe, which strips the scene of any tension or dread. Now the film looks too clean. Too perfect and uniform.

As for the clichés, expecting jump scares is one thing, but seeing the lights flicker right before a jump scare happens is another. It’s strange to me that a lot of mainstream horror titles are somewhat “obligated” to prep its audience for an incoming jump scare. Just scare us!

The Cast is Incredible

The saving grace that keeps Pet Sematary afloat is a wide arrangement of incredible performances. Jason Clarke and the great Amy Seimetz share a delicate chemistry, where their characters have contrasting outlooks on death that later seep into the film’s second and third acts. The script, however, remains in focus on Clarke’s Louis Creed and his relationships with the people around him, from his daughter Ellie (played perfectly by Jeté Laurence) to his strange neighbor Jud (John Lithgow), who has a handful of moments to shine.

Clarke carries the film from start to finish, as we slowly begin to question Louis’ motives and the film’s thematic exploration of grief sinks in. Not only does the film perfectly capture that inevitable descent into hell, but Clarke also embodies the lost soul who would inescapably fall into that void.

Even with Louis being the protagonist, the film offers substantial albeit tangential time to explore Seimetz’ Rachel. Despite Rachel’s backstory not exactly aligning with the narrative of the film, the attention is all on Seimetz’ performance, which can only be described as “petrifying.” She is so incredible in this film, I almost wanted Rachel to be the protagonist instead.

Pet Sematary: Passionately Brought to Life… but is it the Same?

Fans of King’s novel and Mary Lambert’s 1989 adaptation should find a lot to like here. Though it shares many story beats, this Pet Sematary isn’t afraid to change things up. It’s a film that understands its audience and knows what the viewer is expecting. If you thought Stephen King’s original story was dark, somehow Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer made it even darker. And yet, some loyalists might argue the film doesn’t capture the sad, tragic spirit of the novel. At least that’s what I’ve been hearing, but I can see where that stance is coming from.

The production value here is fantastic, yet it definitely obstructed something. When the film looks gorgeous and is produced with high value, a considerable amount of the raw suspense and heartbreak gets lost in the translation. As I’ve said in the beginning, sometimes low budget is better.

At the end of the day, Pet Sematary showcases Kölsch and Widmyer’s dedication and love for the source material from start to finish. It ended up a horror film that I appreciated and admired from a distance, rather than loving it up front with open arms. There’s always a forward momentum in its narrative, accompanied by a stunning cast, and the balance of tone between creepy and dark comedy seemed to work with the audience on opening night. There was so much laughing, it definitely marred my experience. I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that this film will perform better the second time, when I eventually watch it alone.

Did you see Pet Sematary at SXSW? What did you think of the film? Share below!

Pet Sematary premiered at SXSW on March 16, 2019. It will be released in theaters in the US on April 5, 2019. For international release dates, click here.