Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dark, violent remake focuses on emotions over gore.
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Pet Sematary
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 23 parent reviews
Based on 58 kid reviews
Kids say that while the film has some effective jump scares and matches the emotional intensity of Stephen King's story, it is overall not as terrifying as expected, with many suggesting it serves as a decent introduction to horror for younger viewers. The movie features significant gore and violence, making it likely unsuitable for younger children, though some consider it appropriate for responsible teens around 12 or 13 who can handle horror themes and some strong language.
- scary but mild
- suitable for teens
- strong gore
- emotional intensity
- not for kids
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In PET SEMATARY, doctor Louis Creed (Jason Clarke) and his family -- wife Rachel (Amy Seimetz), daughter Ellie (Jeté Laurence), and toddler Gage -- move from Boston to a small town in Maine, hoping to "slow down" a bit. Unfortunately, their new house is near a trucking route, and huge vehicles speed by without warning. Rachel and Ellie also discover a pet cemetery in the woods not far from their home. Then a young man whose life Louis fails to save appears to Louis with a warning. Meanwhile, Rachel is haunted by visions of her dead sister. After the family's cat, Church, is killed on the road, a friendly neighbor, Jud (John Lithgow), offers to help. He takes Louis behind the pet cemetery to a special, sinister burial ground. Before long, Church returns, but he's not quite himself. And now that Louis knows about that dark place, he must decide what's right the next time tragedy strikes.
Is It Any Good?
Coming 30 years after the original 1989 movie adaptation, this remake is effectively unsettling, focusing on the characters and their understandable emotions rather than on overt gore and FX. Based, like the first movie, on Stephen King's 1983 novel and directed by Dennis Widmyer and Kevin Kölsch (Starry Eyes), Pet Sematary begins with legitimate discussions about death. The Creeds discuss whether 9-year-old Ellie is mature enough to learn about death, and they argue about the possibility of an afterlife; Rachel believes there's something, but Louis is certain that life simply ends, and that's it. This simple idea establishes that death is actually meaningful in this story, and it also helps deepen the characters.
Pet Sematary is a little slow to get going because of this, but it also means that the first payoff -- the creepy, matted Church returning to the house -- has more impact when it actually comes. Co-writers Matt Greenberg (1408) and Jeff Buhler (The Midnight Meat Train) throw in an interesting twist, differing from the novel and original movie, and the directors concentrate on atmosphere and sound design (including a chilling score by the great Christopher Young). But this is arguably the darkest story King ever wrote (he was initially reluctant to have it published), and its effect is more unsettling than it is thrilling. Some horror fans will appreciate this remake's above-average craftsmanship, but others will miss the sillier, slasher-y quality of the original.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Pet Sematary's violence. How gory was the movie? What effect did it have? Were you shocked or thrilled? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
How scary is the movie? What's the appeal of scary movies?
How does this version compare to the original, if you've seen it? Or to the novel?
Is the movie's message about meddling with forces beyond one's control relevant (or scary) today?
Would you choose to bring back a loved one or a beloved pet if you could? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 5, 2019
- On DVD or streaming : July 9, 2019
- Cast : Jason Clarke , John Lithgow , Amy Seimetz
- Directors : Kevin Kölsch , Dennis Widmyer
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Animals , Fantasy
- Run time : 101 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : horror violence, bloody images, and some language
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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