Opinions on upcoming pet semetary movie.?

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Gerald

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Sep 8, 2011
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I haven't seen the directors' earlier films Absence and Starry Eyes, so it's hard to say. I only saw Holidays, an anthology film, but I don't recall their segment on Valentine's Day was one of the best films in it. And they did an episode from the tv-series of Scream, which overall I enjoyed a lot and which is coming back for a (belated) third season.

I'm most intrigued as to the meaning of the animal masks shown in the trailer. It gives it all a very different feel and it's an element that's clearly not from the novel.The local children seem to be burying their pets dressed as animals themselves, but it's hard to tell why. It gives it a much more ritualistic feel. Is it just devotion to the animals or is there more to it?

It's impossible to say on the basis of one trailer how good it will be. Apart from the masks the trailer looks fairly standard, it does look shot in the way that's typical for American horror, with the usual flash cuts and jumpscares. Also the pet cemetery itself looks fairly identical to the one in the earlier film.
My guess would be it will be okay, but not truly great. Kind of standard, although I hope it will be great of course.
 

Gerald

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Sep 8, 2011
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I just want to know WHY? Why must everything be re-made nowadays?

Clearly money is a big part of it. Because of It people are very King-aware right now, so they're trying to profit off that.
There also is this idea that films and the ideas in them need to be updated for the current time and for a new generation. They seem to feel that every generation needs their own version of a film, and that a new generation can't simply watch the older film - probably because they can't identify with it: where are the mobile phones, where are the pc's, where is Twitter and Facebook? So they capitalize on that: it's not your parents' film anymore, but your own, modern version.

I think for directors it's attractive because they get to do their favourite films from the past, but put their own slant on it. But then some stick to close to the original, like the remake of Carrie, and others introduce new elements that aren't very special or don't work. A lot of the remakes feel rather superficial: they look slick and modernized, but there's little depth to them.
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
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I haven't seen the directors' earlier films Absence and Starry Eyes, so it's hard to say. I only saw Holidays, an anthology film, but I don't recall their segment on Valentine's Day was one of the best films in it. And they did an episode from the tv-series of Scream, which overall I enjoyed a lot and which is coming back for a (belated) third season.

I'm most intrigued as to the meaning of the animal masks shown in the trailer. It gives it all a very different feel and it's an element that's clearly not from the novel.The local children seem to be burying their pets dressed as animals themselves, but it's hard to tell why. It gives it a much more ritualistic feel. Is it just devotion to the animals or is there more to it?

It's impossible to say on the basis of one trailer how good it will be. Apart from the masks the trailer looks fairly standard, it does look shot in the way that's typical for American horror, with the usual flash cuts and jumpscares. Also the pet cemetery itself looks fairly identical to the one in the earlier film.
My guess would be it will be okay, but not truly great. Kind of standard, although I hope it will be great of course.
....I don't think there's more to it than the ritualism you suggest......something passed down through the juvenile grapevine-plus, it allows non-King fans to "get" that this is a ceremony and has been going on for some unknown time......
 

Gerald

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Sep 8, 2011
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The Netherlands
....I don't think there's more to it than the ritualism you suggest......something passed down through the juvenile grapevine-plus, it allows non-King fans to "get" that this is a ceremony and has been going on for some unknown time......

The thing is though they wear the masks at night too. like here:

Pet Sematary (2019)

Why would they bury the animals at night and not during the day as is usual for a regular burial?

I also wonder who the character Marcella is. I don't remember it from the book. I expect it's a substitute for the character Missy in the first film, who I think also wasn't in the book, unless I forgot her.
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
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Cambridge, Ohio
The thing is though they wear the masks at night too. like here:

Pet Sematary (2019)

Why would they bury the animals at night and not during the day as is usual for a regular burial?

I also wonder who the character Marcella is. I don't remember it from the book. I expect it's a substitute for the character Missy in the first film, who I think also wasn't in the book, unless I forgot her.
...more atmospheric at night...and the mood more somber and even macabre....
 

do1you9love?

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Feb 18, 2012
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The thing is though they wear the masks at night too. like here:

Pet Sematary (2019)

Why would they bury the animals at night and not during the day as is usual for a regular burial?

I also wonder who the character Marcella is. I don't remember it from the book. I expect it's a substitute for the character Missy in the first film, who I think also wasn't in the book, unless I forgot her.
And another thing I noticed in the most recent trailer that is not in the book...
It's Ellie that gets hit by the truck and comes back! :facepalm_smiley:
 

Steffen

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Aug 9, 2015
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I was really excited when the new film was announced because this is one of the few King books that I think deserves a second go in cinemas. As the cast and crew started coming together, I must say I haven't seen anything that truly wows me. I'm at the stage now where it's cautious optimism. And no, I don't mean to be one of those jerks that condemn a film before I even see it, but here are my thoughts based on the confirmed news and trailers I've seen.

1. I'm not impressed with the choice of directors. I tried watching their debut film, Starry Eyes, and ended up fast-forwarding through most of it because it was simply boring. I can't see anything in that film that makes me think they're a good fit for adapting one of King's classic novels of terror. My personal preference for directing duties would have been James Wan or Andy Muschietti.

2. The cast is bland. I like John Lithgow fine, but overall, the cast doesn't have anyone that really stands out. Jason Clarke is miscast - they should have cast someone younger. One key part of the story is that of a young father dealing with the love (and loss) of his son. Clarke as a performer is good, but he doesn't really stand out in anything I've seen him in.

3. I like the hint of pagan ritual with the animal masks. I don't think there's anything more to it than that.

4.
Killing Ellie instead of Gage. The directors said the reason for this is Gage is basically an infant, and there's only so much emotion you can get out of an infant in this story, considering you'd have to grin him back as a CGI or animation creation. I can see their point but still, I'm not buying that. I also think it was a mistake to give this "twist" away in the trailer, as it will potentially discourage a lot of die-hard fans from supporting the movie at the box-office.

All this being said, I will state now that I hope to be proven wrong and that this film is a success, because I really love this book. I hope there's an emotional and horrifying film to see in theatres come April. Let's see how it goes.
 

Doc Creed

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Nov 18, 2015
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I was really excited when the new film was announced because this is one of the few King books that I think deserves a second go in cinemas. As the cast and crew started coming together, I must say I haven't seen anything that truly wows me. I'm at the stage now where it's cautious optimism. And no, I don't mean to be one of those jerks that condemn a film before I even see it, but here are my thoughts based on the confirmed news and trailers I've seen.

1. I'm not impressed with the choice of directors. I tried watching their debut film, Starry Eyes, and ended up fast-forwarding through most of it because it was simply boring. I can't see anything in that film that makes me think they're a good fit for adapting one of King's classic novels of terror. My personal preference for directing duties would have been James Wan or Andy Muschietti.

2. The cast is bland. I like John Lithgow fine, but overall, the cast doesn't have anyone that really stands out. Jason Clarke is miscast - they should have cast someone younger. One key part of the story is that of a young father dealing with the love (and loss) of his son. Clarke as a performer is good, but he doesn't really stand out in anything I've seen him in.

3. I like the hint of pagan ritual with the animal masks. I don't think there's anything more to it than that.

4.
Killing Ellie instead of Gage. The directors said the reason for this is Gage is basically an infant, and there's only so much emotion you can get out of an infant in this story, considering you'd have to grin him back as a CGI or animation creation. I can see their point but still, I'm not buying that. I also think it was a mistake to give this "twist" away in the trailer, as it will potentially discourage a lot of die-hard fans from supporting the movie at the box-office.

All this being said, I will state now that I hope to be proven wrong and that this film is a success, because I really love this book. I hope there's an emotional and horrifying film to see in theatres come April. Let's see how it goes.
Yep, I agree with all your points except for number three. I won't be watching this one. I'm hopeful for the Josh Boone projects, though. I think he is a true fan of the books and wants to create the most faithful adaptations he can.
 

Hill lover35

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Jan 8, 2017
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Yeah, that’s my biggest quip with this. Just another Jump-scare-orgy gore-fest for the bargain bin.

I was o.k. With that change but after finishing the book I am not shure about this at all, plus she is older as well. I am really mixed about this movie adaption..... I am afraid the chemistry of the actors will not be thier. I have not seen the original as I don’t whant to until I see the new one, but I am not shure about this
 

do1you9love?

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Feb 18, 2012
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I was o.k. With that change but after finishing the book I am not shure about this at all, plus she is older as well. I am really mixed about this movie adaption..... I am afraid the chemistry of the actors will not be thier. I have not seen the original as I don’t whant to until I see the new one, but I am not shure about this
Since you finished the book, I would say, watch the one one first, then decide IF you want to watch the new one.

I'll watch in, but it will be on Netflix or DVD, not the theater.
 

Gerald

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Sep 8, 2011
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The Netherlands
Yep, I agree with all your points except for number three. I won't be watching this one. I'm hopeful for the Josh Boone projects, though. I think he is a true fan of the books and wants to create the most faithful adaptations he can.

Josh Boone is also attached to Revival, with Russell Crowe starring. I'm not sure who Russell Crowe is supposed to play though, Jamie Morton or Charles Jacobs. I find it hard to imagine Russell Crowe in anything by King, but I wouldn't really call him one of my favourite actors. Although he's not someone I can't stand either, he is just not someone I imagine when reading something by SK.

Unfortunately I haven't seen Starry Eyes, but the trailer makes it look that it's full on, gory horror. There is a blu-ray, but it's quite expensive. I don't think the film ever played here in cinemas.
 

Gerald

Well-Known Member
Sep 8, 2011
2,201
7,168
The Netherlands
I was o.k. With that change but after finishing the book I am not shure about this at all, plus she is older as well. I am really mixed about this movie adaption..... I am afraid the chemistry of the actors will not be thier. I have not seen the original as I don’t whant to until I see the new one, but I am not shure about this

I would say, watch the first adaptation. It was written by SK himself and filmed according to his wishes. Although there are clear differences with the book, just don't expect to get exactly the book. Although: would people be satisfied if something is exactly the book? Because then the film wouldn't hold any surprises or anything new. I thought the first film captured the atmosphere of the book at least, and based on the trailer this does too and seems to expand more on the book.
 

Doc Creed

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Nov 18, 2015
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United States
The thing is though they wear the masks at night too. like here:

Pet Sematary (2019)

Why would they bury the animals at night and not during the day as is usual for a regular burial?

I also wonder who the character Marcella is. I don't remember it from the book. I expect it's a substitute for the character Missy in the first film, who I think also wasn't in the book, unless I forgot her.

Josh Boone is also attached to Revival, with Russell Crowe starring. I'm not sure who Russell Crowe is supposed to play though, Jamie Morton or Charles Jacobs. I find it hard to imagine Russell Crowe in anything by King, but I wouldn't really call him one of my favourite actors. Although he's not someone I can't stand either, he is just not someone I imagine when reading something by SK.

Unfortunately I haven't seen Starry Eyes, but the trailer makes it look that it's full on, gory horror. There is a blu-ray, but it's quite expensive. I don't think the film ever played here in cinemas.
I can see Crowe as the preacher. Maybe he will play Jacobs.
 

Wayoftheredpanda

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May 15, 2018
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I was o.k. With that change but after finishing the book I am not shure about this at all, plus she is older as well. I am really mixed about this movie adaption..... I am afraid the chemistry of the actors will not be thier. I have not seen the original as I don’t whant to until I see the new one, but I am not shure about this
What changing? Ellie being the one who dies? I, on the other hand, along with others, am not. Ellie surviving the events of Pet Sematary is pretty important to the overall structure, so killing her off is gonna collapse the card house of a plot Pet Sematary is built on.
 
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Gerald

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Sep 8, 2011
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...more atmospheric at night...and the mood more somber and even macabre....

I have the feeling there's more to it. Would you stay at night in the woods after you buried your pet. Most would go home.
Also in the trailer they present the masks in a menacing way, like one of the kids looks suddenly around towards the camera. And there are also shots where they seem to wear the mask inside a house. It's just that the trailer puts a lot of emphasis on them, so it gives me the idea there's more to it than just pay respect to the animals. And who would wear a mask to a pet burial really? That is just is creepy no matter what.