The first time that I saw Mary Lambert’s big screen adaptation of PET SEMATARY, it creeped my young mind out. And while I wasn’t fully convinced a remake was something that would work, my position was quickly changed when I caught the latest nightmarish take brought to us by the incredibly talented filmmakers who haunted us with STARRY EYES. Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer have given their unique stamp to Stephen King’s terrifying tale, and frankly, it’s the better version in my humble opinion. Starring Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz, John Lithgow and Jeté Laurence, this is rare example that sometimes dead is perhaps not better. Bring on PET SEMATARY!
Recently, I had the chance to see this film at SXSW. It was an amazing way to experience it, and talk to the cast and crew about this nightmare come to life. First up we spoke to legendary producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura who discussed finally bringing the film to the big screen, and what led him to bring on the incredible directing duo. For both Kölsch and Widmyer, it was a chance to do something very different from their previous efforts. They opened up about their appreciation for King, and they talked about the creepy funeral procession that occurs in the film and how it came to be. In fact, both the producer and director shared their thoughts on this disturbing imagery.
Next up, we spoke to the incredible cast. Lately, horror has proven to be an especially good place for young actors, and Jeté Laurence is a perfect addition to that list. She is terrific here, and she discussed playing the role and bringing a duality to her performance. Frankly, I was a bit thrown off by how young she is and how easily she carried herself during the interview. As for Amy and Jason, the subject of mustaches seemed to be happening, which I stepped right into – seriously, Jason Clarke is a funny and amazingly cool guy. In fact, they both are fantastic. The two also discussed their connection to the movie and happily, Ms. Seimetz shared a bit of love for Mary Lambert, especially thanks to the director’s impressive Madonna videos.
PET SEMATARY is finally here, and it's creepy as hell. This is the kind of flick you will want to see with a huge audience, and you may not want to miss your chance to do so this very weekend.