Pet Sematary
Paramount Pictures | Release Date: April 5, 2019
5.4
USER SCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 301 Ratings
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Positive:
102
Mixed:
136
Negative:
63
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2
Rebecca31Apr 10, 2019
"Sometimes dead is better", you said it John Lithgow, sometimes dead is better. Stephen King's IT was such a raving success Hollywood might just have caught on to the fact that done properly, King will rake in the money. So let's bring out"Sometimes dead is better", you said it John Lithgow, sometimes dead is better. Stephen King's IT was such a raving success Hollywood might just have caught on to the fact that done properly, King will rake in the money. So let's bring out the endless stream of remakes, next on the list is Pet Sematary. Arguably King's darkest book, I know if it could give me nightmares then it has to be terrifying and after seeing what they've done with IT then Pet Sematary should take its place among all the other great horrors. The 1989 original wasn't anything special and it has not aged well but now there should be no reason why this remake can't be a terrifying horror, so can someone please tell me how in 2019 they got this film so spectacularly wrong?

Dr. Louis Creed (Jason Clarke), his wife Rachel (Amy Seimetz) and two children move from the big city into rural Maine. And in proper horror movie cliché fashion they discover a mysterious burial ground deep in the woods near their new home and tragedy ensues. Now the trailer may have shown the next series of events but I'm not going to mention it as I consider it a spoiler, all I'll say is avoid the trailer if you haven't already. What can I say about Pet Sematary? It's not scary, it has no atmosphere and I hated the ending. The acting isn't terrible but that's about the only good thing I can say. John Lithgow can do no wrong, Jason Clarke and Amy Seimetz are doing their best but that doesn't change the fact that it's a horror movie that won't scare you. The jump scares are endless but you can see them coming a mile away, so not once did I actually jump. Part of its failure has to be due to the movies own trailer. You know that tiny preview that's supposed to give you a taste. A TASTE of what the film is about. Not a giant chomp of the film. Not every major plot point, twist, and death. I don't know enough about the process to know whose job this is but whoever you are, damn son you messed up. Far too many movie trailers are guilty of showing too much, to the point where many people avoid trailers altogether, although this isn't always possible. Believe me when I say if you've any interest in seeing Pet Sematary at all (but maybe you should reconsider that decision) and have yet to see the trailer, avoid at all costs because it's essentially a summary of the entire film. 

There are some books that just won't translate well onto the big screen and maybe Pet Sematary is one of them. The first adaptation wasn't great and this is somehow worse. I know a lot of King's films have not been adapted well but I also know that there are exceptions to this and Pet Sematary 2019 should have been one of them. A giant disappointment, not recommended, read the book instead.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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1
mik534Apr 6, 2019
I found this movie to be quite boring. The pacing was all over the place--slow as molasses in some parts and then jumping ahead leaving me to make assumptions about what had happened. I really didn't feel invested in any of theseI found this movie to be quite boring. The pacing was all over the place--slow as molasses in some parts and then jumping ahead leaving me to make assumptions about what had happened. I really didn't feel invested in any of these characters, which all seemed to lack important character development. In spite of that, the acting was better than good. The suspense level was non-existent and I felt the tension was minimal. Very disappointed. If anything good has come out of my experience, it is the fact that after seeing the disappointing original film and seeing this disappointing film, I've decided that maybe it's time I just read the book.… Expand
4 of 5 users found this helpful41
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3
moviemitch96Apr 6, 2019
I don't read much, so I haven't read the Stephen King novel, but I had really liked the original film from 1989, as it had some genuinely creepy moments and imagery throughout, so I was hoping for some good frights from this one too. ButI don't read much, so I haven't read the Stephen King novel, but I had really liked the original film from 1989, as it had some genuinely creepy moments and imagery throughout, so I was hoping for some good frights from this one too. But sadly, this turned out to be far more ridiculous than I expected! Not scary in the slightest, predictable, slow-moving pace, and an absolutely terrible ending! The only decent aspect were some of the performances, particularly from Jason Clarke and John Lithgow, but other than that this was pretty silly and stupid overall. Can't at all recommend.… Expand
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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2
imthenoobApr 7, 2019
The only redeemable thing about this film is Lithgow's performance. The rest of the cast stuck out like sore thumbs. The over-reliance on jump scares was annoying and I wasn't a fan of the ending at all. Also, I didn't care for how theyThe only redeemable thing about this film is Lithgow's performance. The rest of the cast stuck out like sore thumbs. The over-reliance on jump scares was annoying and I wasn't a fan of the ending at all. Also, I didn't care for how they revolved a decent part of the film about the wife's backstory when she's, at best, a secondary character and never really front and centre until the very end.… Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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1
RudygerApr 7, 2019
Stupid movie based on a stupid book. Please stop overrating Stephen King. This guy is a good writer for synopsis. He finds tremendously awesome pitches, but can't hold a story to the end.
3 of 7 users found this helpful34
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3
tropicAcesApr 5, 2019
Horrible pacing, nonsensical plot and over-reliance on jump scares. Waste of time and King’s material
3 of 8 users found this helpful35
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0
lisabrooks07Apr 7, 2019
Waste of money! Do not see this movie it leaves you confused with a bad taste in your mouth. Watch the old pet cemetery movies, this is total **** And is a disgrace to the original movie. Good bye seventy one dollars and some cents. BecauseWaste of money! Do not see this movie it leaves you confused with a bad taste in your mouth. Watch the old pet cemetery movies, this is total **** And is a disgrace to the original movie. Good bye seventy one dollars and some cents. Because that's what me and a group of friends lost. For this poop movie.… Expand
3 of 11 users found this helpful38
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3
Daniel_EndureApr 5, 2019
Pet Sematary takes its viewers on a long, eerie, and far too familiar road when it comes to the horror genre. This should have been seen coming though - its very concept (bringing the dead back to life) doesn't quite hold up in this day inPet Sematary takes its viewers on a long, eerie, and far too familiar road when it comes to the horror genre. This should have been seen coming though - its very concept (bringing the dead back to life) doesn't quite hold up in this day in age. Been there, done that - wouldn't recommend.… Expand
1 of 4 users found this helpful13
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1
Nobilis1984Apr 7, 2019
Was ist das für eine Adaption? Ich kann damit gar nichts anfangen. Alle Darsteller sind gut aber sind Opfer des lahmen Drehbuchs. Der Regisseur bietet lahme Standardkost. Diese Verfilmung ist für die Tonne. ---------------------
What kind ofWas ist das für eine Adaption? Ich kann damit gar nichts anfangen. Alle Darsteller sind gut aber sind Opfer des lahmen Drehbuchs. Der Regisseur bietet lahme Standardkost. Diese Verfilmung ist für die Tonne. ---------------------
What kind of Adaptation is that? I can't do anything with it at all. All the Performers are good but are Victims of the lame Script. The Director offers lame Standard Food. This Film adaptation is for the Ton.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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0
HorrorseekerAug 29, 2019
Based on the terrifying novel by master of Horror Stephen King himself the film doesn't have the chops for what it's trying to offer and the directors couldn't get real with the Horror aspects of the film the film is filled with jump-scaresBased on the terrifying novel by master of Horror Stephen King himself the film doesn't have the chops for what it's trying to offer and the directors couldn't get real with the Horror aspects of the film the film is filled with jump-scares slow pacing and driving away from it's respected source material… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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3
danilo_hyuugaMay 11, 2019
parece um filme de zumbi. Todo mundo quer voltar a vida... o demônio fica fazendo edo tensei o tempo todo, é a família toda até o/a igreja, pois na legenda tava confusa quanto ao gênero do gato, cada hora era um sexo diferente, ou seja,parece um filme de zumbi. Todo mundo quer voltar a vida... o demônio fica fazendo edo tensei o tempo todo, é a família toda até o/a igreja, pois na legenda tava confusa quanto ao gênero do gato, cada hora era um sexo diferente, ou seja, bisexual. NÃO RECOMENDO !!! NÃO ASSISTAM NO CINEMA!! ASSISTAM EM CASA COMENDO UM X RYU COM PEPSI E BATATA FRITA.#spoiler… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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3
beebo42Jul 16, 2019
A pointless remake of an already mediocre movie, based on what boils down to a Stephen King zombie novel. There's no scares here. And even for a relatively short movie (by today's standards) it still manages to plod along for the first hourA pointless remake of an already mediocre movie, based on what boils down to a Stephen King zombie novel. There's no scares here. And even for a relatively short movie (by today's standards) it still manages to plod along for the first hour or so and get bogged down with pointless side stories.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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1
djtripmixMar 24, 2020
What a steaming pile of **** Let me reiterate "What a steaming pile of ****
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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0
meydianarizki21Oct 31, 2020
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. .Pet Sematary: Yet another remake that should never have happened
Most Stephen King adaptations have been fantastic and there are so very very many of them. He still has dozens of great books awaiting a movie adaptation, so why do we keep getting these second rate remakes of existing adaptations?

I loved the 1989 original, it was an incredibly constructed genuinely great film so I was skeptical upon hearing about a remake. As usual, my fears were very justified.

Starring the ultra bland Jason Clarke this goes down different roads than both the book and the original, it teases following the source material multiple times then suddenly goes in a different direction. I didn't appreciate this at all, throughout the entire film I was waiting for it give me a reason for it's existence. It never did.

John Lithgow is a great actor and can consider me a fan, but for this role he's no Fred Gwynne. Fred Gwynne put in an iconic cult performance, Lithgow I'm sorry to say simply couldn't compare and his accent was terrible.
The movie is another example of needless senseless remakes/reboots that simply aren't needed. There are countless tales just begging to get the big screen treatment, so why do we keep getting force fed the same ones? And why are they consistently worse than the last?

Pet Sematary brings absolutely nothing of value to the table, it's an inferior adaptation just sparkly thanks to the higher budget. I'd rather watch the highly disappointing Pet Sematary 2 (1992) than this again.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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3
theredskyDec 5, 2019
I’ve never read the original novel nor watched the 1989 film but man was this bland. This film is barely over an hour and a half but it feels like two. Pet Sematary is an incredibly boring film. There were aspects I liked about the film butI’ve never read the original novel nor watched the 1989 film but man was this bland. This film is barely over an hour and a half but it feels like two. Pet Sematary is an incredibly boring film. There were aspects I liked about the film but they get buried under this snooze fest. Most of the acting is pretty bad except from Jason Clarke and John Lithgow. Both do a good job but they don’t really bring anything new to the table. Jete Laurence and Amy Seimetz were pretty bad in this film. Clarke and Lithgow were able to make the terrible script work for them but Laurence and Seimetz fell victim to it. It also doesn’t help that their characters aren’t that great and aren’t fleshed out a lot. The make-up effects are pretty great when they are used but they aren’t used in scenarios where they should have been used. If someone gets hit by a huge trailer there probably should be a little bit of blood not no blood at all. It removes all tension from the scene. They could have just shown some blood and no body. They would have left it up to the imagination of the viewer to think about what that person's mangled body looked like. The music and cinematography are incredibly bland and generic. The music sounded like stock horror music and the cinematography was basic and boring. The film has a swamp set that they decided to use a green screen background for and it’s really noticeable. The editing is not terrible but it’s not good either. It just felt weird compared to the other films I have seen this year. The concept of Pet Sematary is definitely intriguing but this film takes that concept and makes it seem very dull. I was bored out of my mind when I was watching it and was on the verge of falling asleep. I need to watch the original version now to get this out of my mind. Overall, Pet Sematary has an interesting premise based on already existing material but the bad acting, bland cinematography, weak script, and just being uninteresting bring the film way down.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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1
AmadorF3Apr 10, 2019
It does not entertain in the slightest. There is too much slow walking through spooky paths with the sudden jumpscare to try to get you. The characters are just plain stupid. There was only one redeeming part for me which was that the cat wasIt does not entertain in the slightest. There is too much slow walking through spooky paths with the sudden jumpscare to try to get you. The characters are just plain stupid. There was only one redeeming part for me which was that the cat was played by 4 different cats. Save your money and watch the original, read the book, or literally do anything else with the 2 hours of your life.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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1
Vlac75Jul 9, 2019
The original wasn't exactly going to go down in history as the best movie ever, but at least it managed to evoke a decent atmosphere & broke your heart while giving a 'what-if' scare.
This p.o.s. of a remake was simply....stupid. CharactersThe original wasn't exactly going to go down in history as the best movie ever, but at least it managed to evoke a decent atmosphere & broke your heart while giving a 'what-if' scare.
This p.o.s. of a remake was simply....stupid. Characters you have a hard time caring about, jump scares, everything feels both fake & rushed. Ugh. No thanks.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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1
Bagoli_roliAug 31, 2019
It tried to do something slightly different with the story, however this movie failed to be scary and became a corny mess. Its almost as if the makers were to scared of the source material. I don't know it just felt like a chore to watch.It tried to do something slightly different with the story, however this movie failed to be scary and became a corny mess. Its almost as if the makers were to scared of the source material. I don't know it just felt like a chore to watch. While writing this I remembered Zelda, so it gets a point.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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2
MamaK71Jan 1, 2020
While the visuals and cinematography were stunning it couldn’t save this remake. I was disappointed and left feeling like there just wasn’t enough to tie the story together. The actors did a great job in their performances, the story just sucked.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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0
malditomailoApr 6, 2020
the worst horror movie i have ever seen. obvious jump scares, bad acting by the mom, stupid scenes, no real silences.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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2
jmleeOct 20, 2020
I'll give 2 as an effort. I prefer the original version over this.

I would be best if they use the alternate ending so that it will be align with the book.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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2
HellHoleHorrorFeb 16, 2022
This is a really disappointing and dull remake of a classic film. The tone is much more serious and has more emotional impact but suffers because it is much more boring and too depressing. There is nothing really memorable about this version.This is a really disappointing and dull remake of a classic film. The tone is much more serious and has more emotional impact but suffers because it is much more boring and too depressing. There is nothing really memorable about this version. It’s like so many other unimaginative remakes like Total Recall (2012), Robocop (2014) and A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010). There are whole sections of the film where nothing happens, just small amounts of character development. I’ll give them some credit, the characters are relatable, but they are dull! Obviously, the technical aspects are good, the film looks and sounds great and the acting is top-notch. Shame about the pacing and characters. Watching this just made me want to watch the original again.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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3
CarlElmoreNov 22, 2022
This just wasn't interesting at all. I can barely remember anything from this.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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