Sometimes, dead is better. At least, that is what Jud Crandall would say. The iconic character—originated in Stephen King’s seminary Pet Sematary novel before being depicted onscreen by Fred Gwynne and John Lithgow—finally has his origin story explored at great depth in co-writer/director Lindsey Anderson Beer’s directorial debut, Pet Sematary: Bloodlines. I used to genuinely think there was no such thing as a bad Pet Sematary movie, up until 2019’s remake proved me very wrong. Perhaps the material is just that much more palatable through a female lens. Thankfully, Bloodlines presents a major step in the right direction, and slides much more comfortably in line with the bleak tone of King’s novel than the misguided remake. Set in 1969, Bloodlines doubles down on darkness over camp to decidedly interesting results.
Teenage Jud (Jackson White) is destined to be the first Crandall to leave Ludlow, Maine in centuries. Jud and his girlfriend, Norma (Natalie Alyn Lind), are about to depart for the Peace Corps, and both look forward to ditching Ludlow in their rearview. Jud narrates, proving occasional insights and reciting direct lines of Pet Sematary dialogue. Gone is any attempt at a wonky Maine accent, or trying to emulate Gwynne’s masterful rendition; instead, this Jud speaks like an average American teenager. As the duo prep for travel, a dog they discover on the side of the road derails them. The only correct thing to do is to take the feral dog back to his owner, Timmy, who just so happens to have freshly returned from Vietnam. Timmy’s father (David Duchovny) remains fiercely protective over his peculiar son.
The Crandalls history with the ancient burial ground of the Mic Mac Indians goes deep into the roots of his family tree. A pact made generations earlier has been passed down, leading a tight-knit group of Ludlow citizens to be something of protectors to this disturbing rite. The sour ground said to revive the dead gets used a couple of times in Bloodlines, but its importance feels less emphasized than it did in King’s novel. This Pet Sematary is more interested in becoming a semi-slasher than in exploring deep, often troubling questions of life and death that made the original so seminal. In a way, this works as a benefit rather than a detriment. A hospital-set chase scene is the film’s most engaging sequence. With potential future entries in the series, one has to wonder if they are all destined to be this dark and dreary rather than the campy route taken by 1992’s underrated Pet Sematary Two. Some nasty body horror rears its head too, specifically in a moment when the flesh slides off a “resurrected” person’s foot.
Visually, this prequel directly links with the 2019 remake in both the look of the burial ground, and in the creepy ritualistic masks. One of the only things I actually liked about that entry was its visual language. Yet, it is still quite the shame here that the Wendigo again evades depiction. Elements teased in the previous version are ripe for expansion, but perhaps future entries will allow for this manner of exploration. Bloodlines does go character-first with its sentiment—the friendship between best friends Manny (Forrest Goodluck), Timmy (Jack Mulhern), and Jud lies at the core. In this way, it does feel very in line with King’s sensibilities. Jud also struggles to reconcile his desire to be drafted with the horrors unfolding before him.
Bloodlines takes a small segment from King’s novel wherein Jud warns Louis Creed about the dangers of the Pet Sematary by divulging a story from his younger years, then expands it to feature length. In doing so, the wonderful simplicity of Jud’s recounting has been lost. None of this backstory feels entirely revelatory or necessary to the larger whole. However, Bloodlines justifies its existence by diving into a fractured friendship through the window of a modern slasher. Even if it never feels as grimy as what came before, Pet Sematary: Bloodlines resurrects a familiar story with enough life that one would almost believe its shambling corpse is the real thing.
Pet Sematary: Bloodlines gets unearthed exclusively to Paramount+ on Friday, October 6th, after celebrating its world premiere debut at Austin’s Fantastic Fest 2023.
