‘Pet Sematary: Bloodlines’ Movie Review [Fantastic Fest 2023]: A Prequel That Doesn’t Come Back Right
Photo from Philippe Bosse/Paramount Players
From Jeff Nelson
Stephen King’s Pet Sematary originally creeped onto the silver screen in 1989 before returning for a sequel in 1992. The horror novelist’s work would eventually find its way back with a new adaptation in 2019, which had style but lacked substance. Now, Lindsey Anderson Beer’s Pet Sematary: Bloodlines takes us back in time to witness another generation’s brush with bringing back the dead, but it’s even less effective.
Set in 1969, Jud Crandall (Jackson White) feels trapped in his hometown of Ludlow, Maine, dreaming of achieving more elsewhere in the world. Soon before he departs, he discovers a dark family history that will never allow him to escape the town’s clutches. Jud joins forces with his childhood friends to put an end to the ancient evil that looms over Ludlow and all those he holds dear.
Pet Sematary: Bloodlines sets itself apart by following locals who have always lived nearby the soil with the unnatural power to bring the dead back to life, rather than new residents, although the infamous burial ground isn’t widely discussed. Jud is on the brink of autonomous adulthood, although his past continues to urge him to remain in place, as everything he’s ever known is in danger. We’re familiar with Jud’s words of warning to future protagonist Louis Creed about the town’s secrets, but this is where it all began for the supporting character.
The original Pet Sematary story explores personal stakes through Louis’ desperation and grief. In the prequel, Jud’s dramatic link is an indirect one, largely surrounded by Ludlow’s horrors, rather than directly engaged with them. His personal stakes lack urgency, making him substantially less dramatically compelling than characters directly reconciling with grief and loss that are more deserving of the spotlight.
A resident named Bill (David Duchovny) goes to extreme measures to keep his family together, although the land’s consequences impact him a bit differently than they do Louis. It’s preferable that the prequel doesn’t follow the same footsteps as the original, but it still needs to succeed in its own right.
Pet Sematary: Bloodlines generally lacks tension and scares, never quite pushing the viewer to the edge of their seat. The cast is filled with familiar faces, including Henry Thomas, Samantha Mathis, Pam Grier, and Duchovny, all of whom are serviceable. However, this trip into Ludlow lacks the overall atmosphere of the two previous adaptations.
Pet Sematary: Bloodlines is an unnecessary prequel that doesn’t add much to the mythos. Jud is a character worth further exploration, but he’s detached from much of the horror and drama, making him a rather dull perspective character. Everything around him is more interesting, but even the pockets of compelling moments aren’t enough to carry the whole film.
Rating: 2/5
Pet Sematary: Bloodlines played at Fantastic Fest 2023 on September 23rd, 2023, before streaming on Paramount+ on October 6th, 2023.
