Uncovering the Intriguing Links Between Pet Sematary: Bloodlines and the 2019 Stephen King Adaptation
Pet Sematary: Bloodlines takes a fresh twist on the recent Stephen King adaptation, offering an intriguing connection that goes beyond a mere prequel Get ready for a chilling exploration into the dark depths of the beloved horror universe
Summary
Pet Sematary: Bloodlines functions as a precursor to the original book instead of a direct sequel to the 2019 film adaptation, as per Lindsey Anderson Beer, co-writer and director.
Expanding on the established character dynamics from previous adaptations, the movie delves into the profound lengths individuals would go to spend another day with a loved one and safeguard those dear to them. Pet Sematary: Bloodlines meticulously maintains the book's distinctive tone, skillfully weaving together character drama, dark comedy, and levity to captivate and engross the audience.
Lindsey Anderson Beer, co-writer and director of Pet Sematary: Bloodlines, provided clarification on the movie's connection to the Stephen King adaptation and its relation to the larger franchise. The film, available on Paramount+, follows the story of a young Jud Crandall who faces obstacles in leaving his hometown after a childhood friend is resurrected at the eponymous location. The talented cast includes Jackson White as young Jud, alongside Forrest Goodluck, Jack Mulhern, Henry Thomas, Natalie Alyn Lind, Isabella Star LaBlanc, Samantha Mathis, Pam Grier, and David Duchovny. In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Beer discussed her approach to adapting the different tones of King's novel and emphasized that Pet Sematary: Bloodlines should be seen as more of a prequel to the original novel rather than a direct sequel to the 2019 movie, despite sharing some creative team members.
Pet Sematary: Bloodlines Flips A Recent King Adaptation
This project initially began as a 2019 prequel, with Jeff Buhler writing the original draft and the producers of the 2019 film involved. However, when I joined the project, I approached it as a prequel to the book rather than any specific film. I focused on thoroughly studying and respecting the themes and tone of the original book. One prominent theme explores the lengths one would go to spend one more day with a loved one and protect those they care about. This theme is showcased in the films through the character of Louis and his child, and I aimed to expand on that concept. In this version, we also see it in the characters of Bill Baterman and his son Timmy, as well as Dan Crandall and his son Jud, where Dan resorts to lying and pushing his son away in an attempt to protect him. The theme is further reflected in the relationship between Jud and Manny as they come together to end their friend's suffering and save each other. Marjorie, played by Pam Grier, represents another facet of this theme as she strives to protect her community. My aim was to expand on this theme by illustrating the burden that this cursed town has placed on all of its inhabitants, spanning generations.
Preserving the tone of the book was also crucial to me. The book primarily focuses on character development, which makes the story even more chilling. The readers genuinely care about what happens to these characters. Additionally, the book incorporates an absurdist inner monologue of Lewis, which adds a touch of dark comedy and levity at times. I found the mishmash of genres in the book fascinating and made it a point to honor that in my adaptation of the film. I wanted to create a dark and scary atmosphere but with moments of levity and bonding between friends. This approach aligned well with my goal of reflecting the pace of war in the movie. The protagonist, Jud, sees this as his own personal war, commencing at the beginning of the film and continuing as he stays to fight in Ludlow. When considering the pacing of war, it entails not just constant action but also moments of calm, tense anticipation, frenetic battles, and bonding with comrades. I kept this in mind while determining the pacing of the film.
Over the past four decades, numerous studios have attempted to adapt Stephen King's stories into films. As a result of the financial success of these original works, many of them have spawned follow-ups. However, not all of these adaptations have been well-received by critics. One notorious example is the ongoing Children of the Corn franchise, which has yet to produce a film that was positively reviewed. Even the sequel to Pet Sematary in 1992 was both a critical failure and a commercial disappointment.
Pet Sematary: Bloodlines acts as a prequel to the original novel and serves as a contrast to the recent successful adaptation of Stephen King's Doctor Sleep. While Doctor Sleep translated King's 2013 novel and served as a sequel to Stanley Kubrick's The Shining movie, Mike Flanagan's project followed an adult Danny Torrance as he confronted his past and helped a young girl with similar abilities fight the True Knot, a vampire-like cult. On the other hand, Pet Sematary: Bloodlines is not based on a specific King novel, but rather adapts a section from the 1983 book where Jud warns Louis Creed about the dangerous powers of the graveyard. Director Beer focused more on the source novel for this film, although connections to the 2019 Pet Sematary, such as the reappearance of Church the cat, were shown in the trailers. Beer has expressed interest in expanding the King universe with more stories, and it would be intriguing to see if John Lithgow makes an audio cameo as Jud to connect the projects together.
