 “Sometimes dead is better” I have loved this film since I first watched it as a child. It was one of those films that really stuck with me after viewing. It terrified me when I was younger. There is still one scene (Gage cutting Jud’s Achilles tendon) that I can’t watch as it really freaks me out. I was shocked, well really I shouldn’t be, when I realised that Pet Sematary is now thirty years old. It really doesn’t seem like that long ago I was expecting my dearly departed pets to return from the ground and haunt me. I have to say, it looks wonderful. The work gone into making the imagery and detail pop is obvious. It’s very clear, very bright and, thankfully, none of the effects have been ‘modernised’ (I hate that). There are some new features including an interview with director Mary Lambert, and a look at the original film from the perspective of the new cast and crew of 2019’s Pet Sematary. I thoroughly enjoyed re-watching Pet Sematary. It had been a while since I had seen it last, and thankfully, it has not lost any of its charm. It’s a tragic film, the Creed family are torn apart after the devastating loss of their son, Gage (Miko Hughes). When the family cat was killed in the road, family friend and neighbour Jud (Fred Gwynne) introduces Louis Creed (Dale Midkiff) to an ancient Micmac burial ground, up on land past the pet cemetery. Jud, with a tragic case of well-meaning poor judgment, instructs Louis to bury the cat, Church, here while reciting the story about his pet dog coming back to life after being buried there. He explains that Church might be different, but it will mean that Ellie (Blaze Berdahl) won’t have to suffer the grief of losing her beloved pet. Church is subsequently resurrected and then returns the Creed household a changed cat.  Filled with grief when Gage is horrifically hit and killed by a truck after wandering into the road, Louis digs his son’s body up and re-buries him at the Micmac site. Jud attempted to stop him by telling Louis about local boy Timmy Bateman who was killed and buried there, and how Timmy came back as some sort of zombie. Louis, distraught with the loss of Gage refuses to listen. Gage of course returns changed, just like Church and Timmy Bateman. He then proceeds to ‘play with’ and murder Jud, followed his mother Rachel (Denise Crosby). Louis, after realising that Gage has returned (and that he has taken a scalpel), rushes over to Jud’s house only to find him, and his wife, dead. He battles with the evil Gage, killing him, and then burning Jud’s house down. Louis, blinded by grief and madness following all this tragedy, takes Rachel’s body to the burial site and buries her. Telling himself that it will be ok this time. Rachel returns, and (off camera) kills Louis. The 2019 re-imagining is obviously well timed for release on the 30th anniversary. I welcomed the features on the Blu-ray that shared a glimpse of the 2019 film and I was pleased see the new guys showing so much love and respect for the original. I am always worried with remakes, re-imaginings and such that they are trying to completely leave the original behind. I often feel like there is a lack of respect as it were, and that they feel they can do a much better job (it’s often a tragedy of cinema). With this, I am confident that they truly love the original and that they will do it justice. I am actually going to see 2019 version this evening (05/04/2019), so I’m sure I will have some comments on that too. But this is all about the 1989 version, and what a wonderful film it is. I know it’s not to everyone’s taste, it may be a bit lacking in scares, or be a little cheesy for some. But for me, it’s a wonderful film. It’s a window into eighties horror, with all the props and the gory make up as well as the idealistic family with the perfect house in the country (well close). It isn’t even that long ago really, 30 years; I was a mere 7 when this was released. It has aged really well, it doesn’t have that feel to it, you know what I mean, the feeling that you are watching an old historical documentary. Some shows and programmes from even just the seventies seem ancient, like a view into the history books.  I was particularly impressed with the look of Victor Pascow (Brad Greenquist). I felt that the work they have put into this Blu-ray really worked especially well for making the make up of the deceased Victor look especially grotesque. I felt that this is the best that it has looked. They have done an amazing job cleaning the film up and enhancing the colour and effects. If you have never seen the original, then there is no more perfect a time. This Blu-ray release is £8.00 on Amazon, it’s a bargain. It’s packed with new features, as well as the original commentary with Mary Lambert. The film itself has never looked better in my opinion, and of course, it’s all about the Pet Sematary at the moment with the recent release of the 2019 re-imagining. Get yourself a copy, sit down with some snacks and revisit an eighties classic. You won’t be disappointed. Film - 5/5 Special features – 5/5 Lesley-Ann Be sure to check out our Film Review page tomorrow, when we have a review of the remake of Pet Sematary  Run Time: 102 minutes Director: Mary Lambert Release: 25th Marth 2019 Starring: Dale Midkiff, Fred Gwynne, Denise Crosby, Brad Greenquist, Michael Lombard Blu-ray special features:
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