One of the Best Horror Films of the ‘80s Isn’t Even Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes

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Stephen King excels at creating timelessly terrifying stories, and this was proven with his 1983 novel “Pet Sematary” and its screenplay for Mary Lambert’s 1989 film adaptation of the book. Fans find resonance in the movie’s central ideas about loss and the futility of trying to bypass death. Moreover, the film powerfully explores childhood trauma, leaving a lasting impact on horror fans who watched it during their formative years. However, critics seemed unimpressed with the movie, as suggested by its poor Rotten Tomatoes rating.

Although widely beloved as a horror movie among fans, Pet Sematary has received a relatively low critical acclaim, with only 56% approval on Rotten Tomatoes.

Pet Sematary Is a Standout ‘80s Horror Film Despite Its Abysmal Critical Reception

Back then, in the ’80s, film criticism was quite distinct, predating the internet era and having limited representatives at the table. These critics were often less receptive towards genre films and even looked down upon them. Sadly, many film scholars from that period judged movies like Pet Sematary harshly. It’s a pity because if you approach a movie with an eye for its strengths rather than seeking flaws, it becomes evident that the movie excels more often than not and conveys a timeless message about the dangers of loss.

Similar to the novel, Pet Sematary tells the story of Dr. Louis Creed (played by Dale Midkiff) and his family as they move to a secluded area in Maine for work reasons. After their cat, Church, gets hit by a car near their new home, Louis and his wife, Rachel (Denise Crosby), worry about the emotional impact on their kids, Ellie (Blaze Berdahl) and Gage (Miko Hughes). As a caring but misguided father, Louis decides to use a mystical graveyard to bring Church back to life. However, when Church comes back, he’s hardly the same affectionate pet they knew and loved. Later, their son Gage meets a tragic end, leading Louis to return to that graveyard with devastating results.

In a different phrasing: Critics have pointed out that the movie version of Louis’s story doesn’t fully capture the complexity of his grief as portrayed in the book, presumably to keep the narrative concise. Nevertheless, we argue that the film offers hints that allow viewers to deduce Louis’s motivations. Although the portrayal of his emotional state may not be as intricate, it remains clear why Louis acts as he does. Despite the reduced insight into Louis’s inner thoughts, his grief is still powerfully conveyed in the movie.

In a manner similar to King’s novel, this movie skillfully explores the impact of grief on individuals and how loss often leads us astray from our sound judgement, pushing us towards illogical and reckless behavior. Furthermore, the film subtly warns about the potential hazards of disrupting the delicate equilibrium between life and death, implying that attempting to usurp the role of the divine will only lead to trouble.

In addition to its strong central themes, the film boasts one of the scariest secondary characters from the ’80s horror era: Rachel’s sister, Zelda (played by Andrew Hubatsek). Zelda left a lasting fear in the hearts of many who watched her due to her eerie appearance and gruff noises. Her tragic demise added to the terror. Despite having limited screen time, Zelda made a significant impact, delivering a powerful scare for her brief appearances.

Zelda’s eerie presence not only creates an element of fear but also deepens the storyline by portraying Rachel’s intricate emotions towards death. This character serves as a tool to unveil Rachel’s hidden trauma and its impact on her, linking back to the film’s main theme about the devastating effects of unresolved grief, offering a fresh perspective on the topic.

Though there may be room for improvement, Pet Sematary delivers a potent depiction of grief and skillfully embodies the haunting spirit of King’s novel. Despite garnering acclaim from many horror enthusiasts as one of the most impactful films of the ’80s, this movie is unfortunately overlooked by critics.

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2025-07-28 00:39