Upcoming 97% RT Horror Movie Is Inspired By A Story That Drives Stephen King’s Scariest Book

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A highly-rated horror film expected to be a standout in 2026 draws its inspiration from the same source material as Stephen King’s most frightening novel. It currently has a remarkable 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

It’s hard to say which Stephen King book is the most frightening, but King himself has often said that Pet Sematary is one of his scariest. He was so disturbed while writing it that he actually stopped midway, fearing its publication. He finished it only because he had a publishing contract, and later confessed the story felt too personal and bleak.

Though Stephen King’s Pet Sematary feels strikingly original in its exploration of loss and the dangers of getting what you want, it actually draws inspiration from a story published 124 years ago. That same classic tale is now the basis for a highly anticipated horror film coming out in 2026.

Stephen King’s Pet Sematary & Curry Barker’s Obsession Are Inspired By Monkey’s Paw

Curry Barker’s film, Obsession, is already generating buzz as a potential standout horror movie of 2026. Following an early screening, critics have given it overwhelmingly positive reviews, and it currently boasts a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The story centers around a man deeply in love who tries to win over his crush after accidentally damaging a strange object called the One Wish Willow.

Stephen King’s Pet Sematary quickly shows the horrifying results of reckless wishing. While not simply a story about the dangers of getting what you want, it explores the familiar idea of “be careful what you wish for” by depicting the disastrous consequences of trying to bring people back from the dead.

The similarities between the movie Curry Barker and Stephen King’s story aren’t accidental. Both are inspired by the classic horror short story, The Monkey’s Paw, originally published in 1902. In fact, Stephen King’s Pet Sematary directly references the story when the character Louis Creed specifically thinks about it.

A chill of fear washed over Louis as he was suddenly reminded of the story of the monkey’s paw.

Curry Barker recently told Variety that the idea for his film, Obsession, came from a Simpsons episode where Bart finds a monkey’s paw and everything goes wrong.

Stephen King’s Pet Sematary feels more traditionally horrifying, similar to The Monkey’s Paw, because both stories center on loss and death. Obsession, however, offers a uniquely frightening and romantic take on the original tale, highlighting the idea that some wishes are best left unmade.

Despite being different stories, Pet Sematary and Obsession both show that trying to change what’s meant to happen usually leads to worse problems than the ones you were trying to avoid.

Pet Sematary’s Movies Have Been Underwhelming, But Obsession Looks Perfect

Despite Stephen King calling Pet Sematary one of his most frightening novels, most of the movies and related projects based on it haven’t been very successful. The 1989 film has gained a dedicated fan base over time, but it received mixed reviews when it was first released. While it made money in theaters, it’s generally not considered one of the best adaptations of King’s stories.

The follow-up film, Pet Sematary Two, was poorly received by critics and didn’t perform well at the box office.

So, they remade Pet Sematary in 2019, and honestly, it did well at the box office despite critics not really loving it. Sadly, even a prequel couldn’t save the series and give Stephen King’s original story the treatment it deserved. It’s a shame, because that book is genuinely brilliant!

Although Pet Sematary is remembered for the chilling story it first told, the movie and TV versions haven’t usually been as scary or impactful.

As a horror fan, I’m really excited about Curry Barker’s Obsession. From what I’ve seen, it thankfully doesn’t seem to fall into the trap of bad Stephen King adaptations – which is a huge relief! The early trailers are genuinely creepy and memorable, and critics are loving it so far. If it keeps this up, Obsession could easily be the best horror film of 2026 – I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

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2026-03-22 06:49