Milestone Years
- 35th Anniversary: April 21, 2024
- 40th Anniversary: April 21, 2029
- 50th Anniversary: April 21, 2039
Inspiration Behind the Movie
Stephen King based Pet Sematary on a real-life experience. While living in Maine, his family’s cat was killed on a busy road, and a nearby pet cemetery (misspelled “sematary” by local children) inspired the eerie concept. King wrote the novel as a way of exploring grief and the unsettling question: “What if you could bring a loved one back?”
You Might Not Know
- Stephen King makes a cameo. He appears as the minister at Missy Dandridge’s funeral.
- Fred Gwynne’s accent was authentic. Best known for The Munsters, Gwynne perfected his Maine accent to play the wise but doomed Jud Crandall.
- The role of Zelda was played by a man. Andrew Hubatsek portrayed Rachel’s terrifying, spinal disorder-afflicted sister to make the character even more unsettling.
- The Creed family’s cat had multiple stand-ins. The role of Church the cat was played by several different felines trained for specific scenes.
- Mary Lambert fought to keep the novel’s tragic ending. The studio wanted a more hopeful conclusion, but Lambert insisted on keeping King’s bleak and haunting finale.
Food Ideas
- Graveyard Dirt Cups – Chocolate pudding with crushed Oreos (“dirt”) and little bone candy or gummy worms. You could even add tiny tombstone cookies!
- Dead Man’s Fingers – Hot dogs wrapped in crescent roll dough (like mummy dogs), with almond “nails” on the ends.
- Tombstone Sandwiches – Cut sandwiches (PB&J, ham & cheese) into tombstone shapes and pipe “RIP” with black icing.
- Creepy Cat Cupcakes – Black cat-themed cupcakes with licorice tails and candy eyes.
- Bloody Pawprint Cookies – Sugar cookies with red icing pawprints (you can even lightly drizzle with raspberry syrup for “blood”).
Release Date: April 21, 1989
Summary:
When the Creed family moves to a quiet rural town, they discover a mysterious pet cemetery near their home—and beyond it, an ancient burial ground with the power to bring the dead back to life. After tragedy strikes, grief drives them to make a terrifying decision, unleashing unimaginable horror. Based on Stephen King’s chilling novel, Pet Sematary explores death, loss, and the dangers of tampering with forces beyond our understanding.
Genre(s) and MPAA Rating: Horror, Thriller, R
Key Cast Members:
- Dale Midkiff
- Denise Crosby
- Fred Gwynne
- Miko Hughes
- Brad Greenquist
Ways to Celebrate
- Stephen King Horror Night – Watch Pet Sematary along with The Shining or It.
- Cemetery Walk Challenge – Visit an old cemetery during daylight for a spooky atmosphere.
- Pet Costume Contest – Dress up pets in “undead” or horror-themed outfits.
- DIY “Pet Sematary” Sign – Create a wooden sign like the one in the movie.
- Write Your Own Horror Short Story – Inspired by King’s themes of loss and resurrection.
Filming Locations
- Ellsworth & Hancock, Maine – The film was shot in Stephen King’s home state, adding to its eerie authenticity.
- Mount Hope Cemetery (Bangor, Maine) – The real cemetery where several scenes were filmed. King himself once lived nearby.