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Based on a chapter in Stephen King’s 1983 novel, Pet Sematary: Bloodlines acts as a prequel to the 2019 remake and delves into the story Jud Crandall (John Lithgow) tells Louis Creed (Jason Clarke) about “that Baterman boy.” In the film, writer-director Lindsey Anderson Beer (Sierra Burgess Is a Loser) and co-writer Jeff Buhler (Pet Sematary, Jacob’s Ladder) show us the origins of Jud’s iconic wise words of warning, “Sometimes dead is better.”

Warning: Some spoilers ahead for Pet Sematary (both 1989 and 2019 adaptations, and the novel).

It’s 1969, and young Jud Crandall (Jackson White) can’t wait to leave the small town of Ludlow, Maine. Shortly after he and his girlfriend Norma (Natalie Alyn Lind) hit the road to start a life elsewhere, a bird slams into the windshield, forcing them to pull over. Adding to the startling inconvenience, they come across a dog looking worse for wear. From here, it’s all downhill for the lovebirds and their fellow Ludlowites. 

If you’re familiar with any version of Pet Sematary, then you know the tale of Timmy Baterman (Jack Mulhern), a casualty of the Vietnam War (WWII in the book) buried by his father Bill (David Duchovny) and resurrected by the “sour” land. Timmy’s story is one that has provoked curiosity for years, and to see it finally fleshed out is exciting. King tweeted his seal of approval, noting the filmmakers made some changes but still delivered a good adaptation: “The screenplay takes a few liberties, but it’s a fine story. David Duchovny is excellent. The secret, as always, is caring about the characters.”

In an interview with IGN (which is pretty spoiler-y, so read at your own risk), Lindsey Anderson Beer revealed some of the changes she made to the Pet Sematary lore, namely the indigenous curse and a Wendigo.

Referring to Jud’s childhood friend Manny (Forrest Goodluck) and his sister Donna (Isabella Star LaBlanc), two newly invented characters, Beer said, “Central to subverting the trope of the ‘mystical Indigenous’ was creating POV characters who were Mi’kmaq…I deeply believe that underrepresented groups need more say in their own stories.”

Diehard King fans (and fandoms in general) notoriously do not like big deviations from their beloved source material. Switching up the established mythology is a risky move but Beer’s reasoning behind it makes sense. 

Bloodlines mostly focuses on Jud learning that not only is there something incredibly wrong with his old friend, but there are also evil forces in the woods. The older townspeople of Ludlow, including Jud’s parents Dan (Henry Thomas) and Kathy Crandall (Samantha Mathis), manage to keep dark secrets for a long time, though they fail to be subtle since they like to communicate through uneasy glances.

Finally learning the truth affects Jud’s relationship with his father, but with a zombie-like cannibal on the loose, there’s not much time to dwell on it. 

Jackson White is a good choice for a young Jud. He’s a strong lead able to balance the protectiveness and vulnerability of the character, which we also saw in Lithgow. White also works well with King adaptation alumni Thomas (Desperation, Gerald’s Game, Doctor Sleep) and Mathis (Salem’s Lot, Under the Dome).

The legendary Pam Grier plays Majorie, the mailwoman mentioned in King’s novel. She’s a more fleshed-out character than before, being a part of the town secret-keepers. However, Grier was underused and not given enough to do, which is a shame because her casting is likely a big draw for some movie-goers. 

The most memorable performance comes from Jack Mulhern as the undead Timmy. The actor gives a subtlety to his madness that’s more chilling than something more feral. His character is at the center of the story, but we don’t get enough time with just him and his grief-stricken father.

Bloodlines owes a lot of its eeriness to the setting, the kind of rural atmosphere that makes you feel like you need a shower. It’s not Texas Chainsaw Massacre level, but characters are almost always sweating. Rarely do the bees and flies stop buzzing, so to say the crystal-clear sound design was effective would be an understatement. Nothing is more unsettling than the sound of Timmy’s bones cracking with every movement. Thankfully, the scares aren’t as obnoxious and Blumhouse-y as the trailer depicts.

I wouldn’t say either adaptation of Pet Sematary is thrilling. We go from a relatively happy family trying to feel at home on their new property (despite creepy cemeteries and a dead pet), to a family suffering immense grief after a child’s shockingly tragic death. Bloodlines brings a different kind of horror, one that lives in the seconds of fear and panic felt right before the horrific accident. They both pack their own uniquely effective punch. 

Pet Sematary: Bloodlines tells the Jud Crandall backstory fans of the novel have wanted for years, expanding his character beyond the mysterious old man who makes contradictory decisions and delivers exposition with doom-laden warnings. While I’m not sure it’ll live up to their expectations, it’s still an intriguing horror film worth watching.

Aside from a couple of visual references and callbacks, it’s not necessary to watch the 2019 remake before you check out the prequel. But it’ll make for a good double feature.

Pet Sematary: Bloodlines premiered September 23, 2023, at Fantastic Fest, and begins streaming October 6 on Paramount+.