Review of Pet Sematary (2019) by Tryasummersault — 16 Apr 2019

8.1/10 This new updated adaptation is an intensely ominous vision of King's original story with brutal emotional depth, and some ambitiously interesting changes. The original 1989 pet sematary film is a very solid film and captured King's book decently, but this new one gives it deeper emotional depth and endless unsettling atmosphere. There are some huge ambitious changes to the story that some purists are unaccepting of, though honestly work more effectively after you give it more thought. The plot follows mostly the same other than those altered aspects. However they didn't exactly go into some of the intricate details of the backstory/showing the burial ground/wendigo as well as they could've though it was touched on somewhat.

Jason Clarke is completely dedicated to the role and carries the momentum well. Jete Lawrence gives an outstandingly delicate/devious dichotomy performance as well and will be a fantastic actress. John Lithgow was also very solid as the new Judd. The camerawork is flawless and builds the tension extremely. The wilderness settings/visuals where the sematary and ancient burial grounds are were portrayed spectacularly. They definitely had an eye for detail and created the set with passion in order to paint a picture of what source material imagined. The soundtrack was also fantastic in adding to the overall tone.

Overall I think this film is suffering from more stubborn purists that are afraid to accept change, so they hate the film illogically. This is easily one of the most emotional horror's I've ever seen and has been way too slandered out of nostalgia.