Pet Sematary's New Movie; Hey Ho, Let's Go!
Sorry for spoilers but I've got to get the new adaption of Pet Sematary off my chest. If you don't want spoilers then skip this post.
I went to see this yesterday with a friend that had also just recently read the book. We thought it would be fun to compare and contrast the differences and similarities between book and movie. I used to do this all the time with my students when I was an 8th grade English teacher back in the states. It always led to fun discussions and critical thinking.
My friend and I were not prepared for the incredible changes that this movie provided. For one I love horror movies. They're my jam. If I hadn't read the book I feel like I wouldn't have missed out on anything and would've thought that it was a fun ride. However, I did read the book, and because of that I was disappointed in the films third act delivery. Basically when all of the horror is supposed to happen...
Before I get to what I didn't like let me talk first about what I did.
I liked what the new film did with Rachel's sister Zelda. The past trauma of her sister's death and the surrounding sickness that children are not normally privy to. I liked how, in the movie, Zelda dies in the dumbwaiter, and mostly that is because Rachel didn't want to face her sister by herself, and subsequently causes Zelda's death. Once they move to the new house the power (wendigo?) of the Micmac burial ground picks up on and uses this against Rachel. Some of the best jump scares in movie have to deal with Zelda and Rachel.
I also liked how they used Victor Pascow showing him more than what was in the book. He was creepy and lurking, and I liked how Gage could see him but Rachel couldn't.
Now, getting to what I didn't agree with or they kept out which I think made the film lacking.
Jud Crandall: They needed to show the friendship between Jud and Louis more. Their bond and friendship is glossed over. Jud's stories and warnings needed to be in the film. I enjoy ever scene that Jud was in in the book. Heck, Jud was one of my favorite Characters! But in the movie...he's half of what his character should have been. Though I did enjoy his death scene in the movie, the gore was obviously better, but in the book it was more of a punch in the face. Gage telling him the truths of his wife Norma. I also missed all of Jud's quotes! There was just two: "The soil of a man's heart is stonier; a man grows what he can and tends it," and "Sometimes, dead it better."
Little God Swamp: these should have been incredibly eerie and creepy scenes (both of them) and I think the the film makers missed out on some really good suspense and growing horror. The one good think they had going for them was the shadow of the wendigo in the mist, which I would have like to see lurking around more.
Ellie: Ellie as dead Ellie was (still?) Ellie instead of something else. So to me, it wasn't as terrifying when she came back. She was just more pissed off than anything. Just a vengeful Ellie instead of a demon or wendigo or whatever. In the book I felt like it was scarier to have something else, an all knowing thing inside of a little boys body vengefully going after the people that had tried to stop it from coming back.
Lastly, the movie lost me when everyone became an undead family in the course of just a few hours. Walking together to get Gage and burning down Jud's house. What are they just going to pretend their not dead now? Or are they as a family going to go on a murder spree? Who knows.
These are just my thoughts though. Still a fun movie to watch.
I went to see this yesterday with a friend that had also just recently read the book. We thought it would be fun to compare and contrast the differences and similarities between book and movie. I used to do this all the time with my students when I was an 8th grade English teacher back in the states. It always led to fun discussions and critical thinking.
My friend and I were not prepared for the incredible changes that this movie provided. For one I love horror movies. They're my jam. If I hadn't read the book I feel like I wouldn't have missed out on anything and would've thought that it was a fun ride. However, I did read the book, and because of that I was disappointed in the films third act delivery. Basically when all of the horror is supposed to happen...
Before I get to what I didn't like let me talk first about what I did.
I liked what the new film did with Rachel's sister Zelda. The past trauma of her sister's death and the surrounding sickness that children are not normally privy to. I liked how, in the movie, Zelda dies in the dumbwaiter, and mostly that is because Rachel didn't want to face her sister by herself, and subsequently causes Zelda's death. Once they move to the new house the power (wendigo?) of the Micmac burial ground picks up on and uses this against Rachel. Some of the best jump scares in movie have to deal with Zelda and Rachel.
I also liked how they used Victor Pascow showing him more than what was in the book. He was creepy and lurking, and I liked how Gage could see him but Rachel couldn't.
Now, getting to what I didn't agree with or they kept out which I think made the film lacking.
Jud Crandall: They needed to show the friendship between Jud and Louis more. Their bond and friendship is glossed over. Jud's stories and warnings needed to be in the film. I enjoy ever scene that Jud was in in the book. Heck, Jud was one of my favorite Characters! But in the movie...he's half of what his character should have been. Though I did enjoy his death scene in the movie, the gore was obviously better, but in the book it was more of a punch in the face. Gage telling him the truths of his wife Norma. I also missed all of Jud's quotes! There was just two: "The soil of a man's heart is stonier; a man grows what he can and tends it," and "Sometimes, dead it better."
Little God Swamp: these should have been incredibly eerie and creepy scenes (both of them) and I think the the film makers missed out on some really good suspense and growing horror. The one good think they had going for them was the shadow of the wendigo in the mist, which I would have like to see lurking around more.
Ellie: Ellie as dead Ellie was (still?) Ellie instead of something else. So to me, it wasn't as terrifying when she came back. She was just more pissed off than anything. Just a vengeful Ellie instead of a demon or wendigo or whatever. In the book I felt like it was scarier to have something else, an all knowing thing inside of a little boys body vengefully going after the people that had tried to stop it from coming back.
Lastly, the movie lost me when everyone became an undead family in the course of just a few hours. Walking together to get Gage and burning down Jud's house. What are they just going to pretend their not dead now? Or are they as a family going to go on a murder spree? Who knows.
These are just my thoughts though. Still a fun movie to watch.
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