Stephen King adapted his own bestseller for the big screen with this so-so familial horror film that does manage to get some things right, even if it's not altogether a success. Certainly the premise would hit home for any parent: outliving your children, especially if the child in question dies in such a horrific way as is depicted here.
The Creeds are a young family who move to rural Maine, into a home facing a highway where semis roar at top speed in either direction at all times. Now, this family is led to ruin basically because the dad (Dale Midkiff) and mom (Denise Crosby) are afraid to teach their children about death as a fact of life, and who wimp out to begin with when faced with the concept of death. Their adorable son (three year old Miko Hughes) is mowed down by one of these semis, and the dad has learned that there is a Micmac Indian burial ground within walking distance that has terrible powers of resurrection.
The main characters behave like fools, but we wouldn't have many horror stories without people like this, now would we? The fact that they're not as sympathetic as they could be is one debit, the miscasting of Midkiff and Crosby is another. He in particular is so terrible at times that his performances only serves to induce laughter. A shame, really, because there IS an overall sombre quality to this tale, and an atmosphere of gloom right from the beginning. (Elliot Goldenthals' score plays no small part in the mood.) There are also some enjoyably gnarly makeup effects by Lance Anderson, and the supporting cast sparks some life into the proceedings. Fred Gwynne is a standout as the savvy aged neighbour who realizes what a mistake he's made in telling the dad about the Indian burial ground. (Characters mess about with such places all the time in horror films, and they always pay a heavy price; it's one of the standard plot set-ups in the genre.) Brad Greenquist is also memorable as the mangled spirit who attempts to prevent the dad from doing the wrong thing. And who doesn't feel creeped out by the Zelda character, actually played by a man (Andrew Hubatsek)?
As of this writing, this viewer has not yet seen the 2019 adaptation, so he can't comment on the matter of whether it is a better or worse adaptation of Kings' novel. But with this film, it's a classic example of decent material that doesn't reach its full potential. The finale does have some suspense, and overall uneasiness, but it's hard to be all that emotionally involved. At least this ends on a good note: usage of the Ramones tune "Pet Sematary".
Seven out of 10.
The Creeds are a young family who move to rural Maine, into a home facing a highway where semis roar at top speed in either direction at all times. Now, this family is led to ruin basically because the dad (Dale Midkiff) and mom (Denise Crosby) are afraid to teach their children about death as a fact of life, and who wimp out to begin with when faced with the concept of death. Their adorable son (three year old Miko Hughes) is mowed down by one of these semis, and the dad has learned that there is a Micmac Indian burial ground within walking distance that has terrible powers of resurrection.
The main characters behave like fools, but we wouldn't have many horror stories without people like this, now would we? The fact that they're not as sympathetic as they could be is one debit, the miscasting of Midkiff and Crosby is another. He in particular is so terrible at times that his performances only serves to induce laughter. A shame, really, because there IS an overall sombre quality to this tale, and an atmosphere of gloom right from the beginning. (Elliot Goldenthals' score plays no small part in the mood.) There are also some enjoyably gnarly makeup effects by Lance Anderson, and the supporting cast sparks some life into the proceedings. Fred Gwynne is a standout as the savvy aged neighbour who realizes what a mistake he's made in telling the dad about the Indian burial ground. (Characters mess about with such places all the time in horror films, and they always pay a heavy price; it's one of the standard plot set-ups in the genre.) Brad Greenquist is also memorable as the mangled spirit who attempts to prevent the dad from doing the wrong thing. And who doesn't feel creeped out by the Zelda character, actually played by a man (Andrew Hubatsek)?
As of this writing, this viewer has not yet seen the 2019 adaptation, so he can't comment on the matter of whether it is a better or worse adaptation of Kings' novel. But with this film, it's a classic example of decent material that doesn't reach its full potential. The finale does have some suspense, and overall uneasiness, but it's hard to be all that emotionally involved. At least this ends on a good note: usage of the Ramones tune "Pet Sematary".
Seven out of 10.