PET SEMATARY (2019) Movie Review (SPOILERS)

This classic Steven King horror revolves around the Creed family's descent into madness after moving to a small Maine town from Boston. It's beautiful, lush, and secluded while Dr. Louis Creed explores an exciting new career opportunity.

Something evil lurks deep within the woods. A demonic presence that offers the impossible. The tempting grounds can bring the dead back to life. Its sweet smell lures in people in spite of its dangerous reputation. However, like the grounds and the town, nothing is as it seems.

The corpses may walk and talk, but they are hollow. Void of life. Void of joy. Void of a soul. The dead return to the world possessed by an undeniable evil. They prey on the Creed's chronic fear of death. The simple act of teaching their children to grieve in a healthy way seems beyond their ability. One would think a doctor would know better, but he is too selfish.

Louis and Rachel are presented with several opportunities to embrace the inevitability of death. Instead, they opt to take the easy road each time. They fail their children. They fail themselves.

Blessed by death, his body remains untainted by the cursed grounds. His soul is allowed to descend. He then serves as a messenger from the other side. He warns the family about the dangers of the grounds. He encourages them to embrace death.

The death of a simple pet would be a perfect lesson to teach the children. He is hit by a truck, a common situation that is out of their control. It would ease them into the cruelties of the world with minimal trauma. Louis and Rachel have the perfect opportunity to use tragedy as a teaching tool. However, they cannot accept death. They are too weak to face their daughter with a tough topic.

The use of the evil ground brings back the cat. However, it becomes hostile. It scratches, growls, and hisses. Its fur is matted and sticky. Its body rots, but it won't let anyone close enough to give it a bath and brush its fur. It has no desire to be improved from its dirty, rotting state. Louis knows he must kill the cat in order to end the dark presence in their house. A simple euthanization. No dice.

Ellie's death, however, is preventable. Though Church's return distracts the girl and lures her into the freeway. If her parents pay attention to either of the children at all, they would keep them out of the dangerous road, especially after they already experience a hit-and-run with the cat. Not only are they negligent, but they also do not learn from their first mistake.

Jud is a complex character. He is the experienced local who teaches the Creeds about the cemetery in the first place. He is at fault for introducing the evil. At the same time, he is the only character who repents for the sin. Unlike Louis, he takes responsibility for his part in the loss of Ellie and he repeatedly warns Louis not to repeat the past. Louis ignores his warning.

Ellie returns much like Church. She is different: void and angry. Her eyes are open. She talks, walks, and even dances. She resents both her parents for the fate she endures. She even tries to teach Louis. She tells him the morbid memories of her own death and offers him the opportunity to accept that he dies. Still, he refuses to accept the truth.

He refuses to set her free.

Time and again, he fails each test. Louis and Rachel opt to take the easy road each time. They cannot - will not embrace death. Thus, he seals his fate and the fate of his family, those who still live. Those who have a chance for long, fruitful lives. One by one, the family falls into the clutches of evil.

As the bodies pile up, he is granted one last opportunity to end the cycle. He ventures back into the cemetery to destroy the abomination that wears the mask of his daughter's face. Once again, he fails.

This time, he dies, murdered by his undead wife. She is murdered by the daughter whose death lies in their neglectful hands while she was distracted by the creature possessing her dead cat.

Four undead bodies are unleashed upon the world, a global disaster waiting to happen. All of this because of one man's immature denial of death's inevitability. There is no escaping death. There is no magical plot of dirt that brings back the dead. There is no easy street or any other magical alternative to tragedy.

There is, however, a promise of life everlasting. Paradise awaits beyond the grave. In order to reach that place, one must first embrace death. Our bodies must die in order for our souls to live. We have one purpose while living on this Earth. To find and spread the salvation of Jesus Christ.

As long as Christ lives in us, we are immune to the lure of the Pet Sematary.