Common Sense Media Review
By Charles Cassady Jr.
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Book-based Stephen King horror tale is scary and violent.
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Why Age 15+?
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Pet Sematary
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 18 parent reviews
Based on 59 kid reviews
Kids say the film features intense themes of violence and grief, highlighting both gory scenes and deeply upsetting moments, such as a child being hit by a truck and the haunting return of the dead. Opinions vary widely; some find it an underrated classic and a gripping adaptation of a popular novel, while others criticize its predictability, unlikable characters, and disturbing imagery, deeming it inappropriate for younger audiences.
- gory violence
- disturbing themes
- mixed reviews
- inappropriate for children
- strong language
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In PET SEMATARY, young doctor Louis Creed (Dale Midkiff) moves with his family to rural Maine, ominously near a dangerous, truck-traveled highway. After his daughter's beloved tomcat is killed in a hit-and-run, an elderly neighbor informs Louis of an incredible local secret. Hidden near the town's pet cemetery lies an ancient Indian burial ground with paranormal powers; the deadburied in its stony soil actually come back to life. Even with warnings from the ghost of one of his patients, Louis resurrects the cat -- but the once-friendly feline is hostile and menacing. Despite this disappointing result, another wrenching family tragedy leads the tormented Louis back to the burial ground. Again and again.
Is It Any Good?
This isn't the worst adaptation of a Stephen King book ever made, but considering how bad others are that isn't a compliment you'd want for your tombstone. Without the writer's sympathetic, explanatory prose filling in the back story and motivations (and Stephen King as a scriptwriter has never been as strong as Stephen King the novelist), the plotline plods from one rather cheap shock to another, some of them just arbitrary nastiness that have little to do with anything (like a sickly woman suddenly deciding to hang herself).
As a basic, icky, unvarnished scare show Pet Sematary renders some of the creepiness effectively in Halloween-spookhouse fashion. The angle about undead pets and kids has something of the Goosebumps vibe, and sex and nudity are absent. You can't say any of that about the vile sequel Pet Sematary 2, which carries over none of the characters from this feature, just the burial ground.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the characters' motivations in Pet Sematary. Should a grieving person try to bring a loved one back, at any cost?
If you've read the book, which version of the story is better? Why?
What's the appeal of horror stories?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 28, 1989
- On DVD or streaming : September 26, 2006
- Cast : Dale Midkiff , Denise Crosby , Fred Gwynne
- Director : Mary Lambert
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 103 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : November 2, 2022
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