Set in the summer of '69, "Bloodlines" wove a new creative twist into how this iconic horror story has been told over the years.
The original book by Stephen King is still gold. And the 1989 "Pet Sematary" movie that first adapted it is unmatched. I also liked what they did in the 2019 version, which took creative liberties as well.
In "Pet Sematary: Bloodlines" (a prequel, fyi), it was intriguing to see them cover the Vietnam War (indirectly, that is) and establish family connections in ways that foreshadowed what was to come.
The town of Ludlow, in Maine - where many of Stephen King's terrifying tales have been based - was in full focus. That eerie graveyard in the woods from which the buried don't return as themselves continued to captivate.
Three big artists were part of the cast, namely David Duchovny (as Bill Baterman), Pam Grier (as Marjorie Washburn), and Henry Thomas (as Dan Crandall). All three gave 'fresh' performances that made them stand out.
That said, the 'young blood' enriched the story in great ways. Jackson White (as Judson Crandall), Natalie Alyn Lind (as Norma), Jack Mulhern (as Timmy Baterman), Forrest Goodluck (as Manny Rivers), Isabella LaBlanc (as Donna Rivers) all did remarkable work making "Pet Sematary: Bloodlines" feel dark and ominous.
In this prequel, Timmy Baterman died overseas and his body was returned to his father who then did the unthinkable. Bill Baterman brought his son back from the dead using that dratted burial site.
The young man's friends started to see something was wrong, but could do nothing about it. The supernatural burial site apparently twisted Timmy's soul into a murderous shape, and he was out for blood.
Around this time, Dan Crandall was quietly doing all he could to get his son Judson safely out of Ludlow, after doctoring the young man's medical tests so he wouldn't be able to enlist in the war.
One thing led to another and dark facts came to light, dragging everyone into a truth that was best left buried, and better dead.
I was especially thankful they didn't cover any cheesy 'teen romance' angles. In a genre like this, that has been done to death. Instead, the team diligently set their sights on telling the story slowly but properly.
What I most appreciated was the attention to detail. This was a tumultuous time in American history and many were divided about the war in Vietnam. Between the old-school soundtracks and slow-burn storytelling, "Bloodlines" managed to subtly highlight the cross-era creep factor in ways I genuinely enjoyed.
They also dramatized a fictional historical event going back to 1674 featuring the town's founder, Ludlow (played by Noah Labranche). These sequences were fascinating. They contained an 'origin story' for the Native-American burial ground present at the heart of this tale. This location later became known as the 'pet sematary'. It was originally used to bury animals which the Native-Americans considered sacred.
One generation after the next - the Crandalls, Washburns, Batermans, Bensons, and Andersons - kept a record of evil events, passed down through written journals or other means. In this movie, the latest in the Ludlow families lineup were getting acquainted with the deadly truth their parents, and their ancestors, feared.
In some of the key scenes, the team used an actual trained animal - Hendrix, the canine - and a practical puppet instead of resorting to CGI. Some blood-curdling "Cujo" style moments occurred with this dog. The non-CG approach was a good decision that made "Pet Sematary: Bloodlines" feel like a movie shot back in the day.
"Bloodlines" was definitely far from original. This story has made more than a few rounds among fandoms and pop culture itself. But it was nevertheless interesting to watch the way in which they took this latest remake of one of the creepiest classics ever written.
They gave each character sufficient attention and gradually built up the horror, finishing on a remarkable note with connections to the family showcased in the 1989 movie.
Some of the characters' motives could've been explored in more detail, including the element of accountability, but that omission took little away from the overall plot.
The way the writers took King's original concept and made the 'returnees' feel as though they were possessed by an unknown entity that enjoyed playing with its 'food' and knew things about its targets that it couldn't possibly have known... It enriched "Pet Sematary: Bloodlines" with unnerving campfire-horror-story finesse.
Before long, there was more than one 'walking dead'. One might even go so far as to say the sematary was learning to feed itself. "Aim for the eyes."
I, for one, couldn't help but be dragged into the plot. The story felt familiar yet different, and that only made me anticipate the scares even more.
"Sometimes, dead is better."
The original book by Stephen King is still gold. And the 1989 "Pet Sematary" movie that first adapted it is unmatched. I also liked what they did in the 2019 version, which took creative liberties as well.
In "Pet Sematary: Bloodlines" (a prequel, fyi), it was intriguing to see them cover the Vietnam War (indirectly, that is) and establish family connections in ways that foreshadowed what was to come.
The town of Ludlow, in Maine - where many of Stephen King's terrifying tales have been based - was in full focus. That eerie graveyard in the woods from which the buried don't return as themselves continued to captivate.
Three big artists were part of the cast, namely David Duchovny (as Bill Baterman), Pam Grier (as Marjorie Washburn), and Henry Thomas (as Dan Crandall). All three gave 'fresh' performances that made them stand out.
That said, the 'young blood' enriched the story in great ways. Jackson White (as Judson Crandall), Natalie Alyn Lind (as Norma), Jack Mulhern (as Timmy Baterman), Forrest Goodluck (as Manny Rivers), Isabella LaBlanc (as Donna Rivers) all did remarkable work making "Pet Sematary: Bloodlines" feel dark and ominous.
In this prequel, Timmy Baterman died overseas and his body was returned to his father who then did the unthinkable. Bill Baterman brought his son back from the dead using that dratted burial site.
The young man's friends started to see something was wrong, but could do nothing about it. The supernatural burial site apparently twisted Timmy's soul into a murderous shape, and he was out for blood.
Around this time, Dan Crandall was quietly doing all he could to get his son Judson safely out of Ludlow, after doctoring the young man's medical tests so he wouldn't be able to enlist in the war.
One thing led to another and dark facts came to light, dragging everyone into a truth that was best left buried, and better dead.
I was especially thankful they didn't cover any cheesy 'teen romance' angles. In a genre like this, that has been done to death. Instead, the team diligently set their sights on telling the story slowly but properly.
What I most appreciated was the attention to detail. This was a tumultuous time in American history and many were divided about the war in Vietnam. Between the old-school soundtracks and slow-burn storytelling, "Bloodlines" managed to subtly highlight the cross-era creep factor in ways I genuinely enjoyed.
They also dramatized a fictional historical event going back to 1674 featuring the town's founder, Ludlow (played by Noah Labranche). These sequences were fascinating. They contained an 'origin story' for the Native-American burial ground present at the heart of this tale. This location later became known as the 'pet sematary'. It was originally used to bury animals which the Native-Americans considered sacred.
One generation after the next - the Crandalls, Washburns, Batermans, Bensons, and Andersons - kept a record of evil events, passed down through written journals or other means. In this movie, the latest in the Ludlow families lineup were getting acquainted with the deadly truth their parents, and their ancestors, feared.
In some of the key scenes, the team used an actual trained animal - Hendrix, the canine - and a practical puppet instead of resorting to CGI. Some blood-curdling "Cujo" style moments occurred with this dog. The non-CG approach was a good decision that made "Pet Sematary: Bloodlines" feel like a movie shot back in the day.
"Bloodlines" was definitely far from original. This story has made more than a few rounds among fandoms and pop culture itself. But it was nevertheless interesting to watch the way in which they took this latest remake of one of the creepiest classics ever written.
They gave each character sufficient attention and gradually built up the horror, finishing on a remarkable note with connections to the family showcased in the 1989 movie.
Some of the characters' motives could've been explored in more detail, including the element of accountability, but that omission took little away from the overall plot.
The way the writers took King's original concept and made the 'returnees' feel as though they were possessed by an unknown entity that enjoyed playing with its 'food' and knew things about its targets that it couldn't possibly have known... It enriched "Pet Sematary: Bloodlines" with unnerving campfire-horror-story finesse.
Before long, there was more than one 'walking dead'. One might even go so far as to say the sematary was learning to feed itself. "Aim for the eyes."
I, for one, couldn't help but be dragged into the plot. The story felt familiar yet different, and that only made me anticipate the scares even more.
"Sometimes, dead is better."