Horror History: Kölsch & Widmyer’s PET SEMATARY is Now 2 Years Old
Josh Millican
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Two years ago today, the second cinematic adaptation of Stephen King’s Pet Sematary hit US theaters. Mary Lambert’s Pet Sematary (1989) was certainly given a run for its money as indie directors Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer (Starry Eyes) gave the source materials some unexpected twists.
Related Article: How Sweet to Walk on Sour Ground! PET SEMATARY Set Visit, Part 1: The Directors Speak
On a personal note, 2019’s Pet Sematary marked my first set visit for Dread Central, and it remains one of the most amazing experiences of my life! Filmed outside Montreal, I’ll never forget the opportunity to meet the cast and filmmakers while having access to key areas of the set–including the titular “Sematary” (which was fantastic!).
Related Article: Is Jud Crandall Actually a Villain in PET SEMATARY 2019? Set Visit Part 2: Reading Between the Lines
This version of Pet Sematary stars Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz, John Lithgow, and Jeté Laurence. If it’s been a while, or if you’ve yet to experience this terrifying re-adaptation, check out the trailer and synopsis below.
Pet Sematary Synopsis:
Dr. Louis Creed and his wife, Rachel, relocate from Boston to rural Maine with their two young children. The couple soon discovers a mysterious burial ground hidden deep in the woods near their new home. When tragedy strikes, Louis turns to his neighbor Jud Crandall. This sets off a perilous chain reaction that unleashes an unspeakable evil with horrific consequences.
Pet Sematary Trivia:
During Ellie’s birthday party, Jud can be heard in the background saying, “There was a big Saint Bernard… killed four people”. This is an obvious reference to Cujo (1983), another movie based on a Stephen King novel. (Source)
Related Article: “Dark F***ing Movie!” PET SEMATARY Set Visit Part 3: Conclusion
Animal trainer Melissa Millett revealed that a total of five cats, all rescues, play Church. But ultimately one of them dropped out after getting scared on the set. The crew accommodated the feline actors were in five trailers, along with their human trainers. But they had to keep one in a separate trailer because it did not get along with its castmates. Millett noted, “The only good working cat is a happy cat…They were quite spoiled”. The film crew even built an area near the trailers, nicknamed a “catio”. This was where the hard-working kitties could play and relax between takes.
The cats spent two months in training for the shoot, which took around 10 weeks. Aside from a cranky cat, the rest got along with each other and stars Jason Clarke and John Lithgow. The crew snagged homes for the quintet of feline stars after the shoot. The movie’s animal coordinator adopted two, Millett found homes for another two with friends and kept one herself. (Source)
Are you a also fan of 2019’s Pet Sematary? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! You can also carry on the convo with me personally on Twitter @josh_millican.
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