(L to R) David Duchovny as Bill and Jack Mulhern as Timmy appearing in ‘Pet Sematary: Bloodlines,’ streaming on Paramount+, 2023. Photo Cr: Philippe Bosse/Paramount Players.
Though it originally seemed to be targeting a theatrical release via the Paramount Players label, it appears the studio’s plans for ‘Pet Sematary: Bloodlines’ have evolved. The prequel movie will now be debuting as part of Paramount+’s Peak Screaming strand later this year.
Directed by Lindsey Beer (making her directorial debut after working as a writer on the likes of ‘Chaos Walking’ and Netflix’s ‘Sierra Burgess Is a Loser’), this will serve as the prequel to the 2019 remake of Stephen King’s classic.
The new movie is being billed as “an untold chapter” from King’s tome.
“Death is different here”
In 1969, a young Jud Crandall has dreams of leaving his hometown of Ludlow, Maine behind, but soon discovers sinister secrets buried within and is forced to confront… Read the Plot
What’s the story of ‘Pet Sematary: Bloodlines’?
Jackson White as Jud Crandall appearing in ‘Pet Sematary: Bloodlines,’ streaming on Paramount+, 2023. Photo Cr: Philippe Bosse/Paramount Players.
In 1969, a young Jud Crandall (Jackson White) has dreams of leaving his hometown of Ludlow, Maine behind, but soon discovers sinister secrets buried within and is forced to confront a dark family history that will forever keep him connected to Ludlow. Banding together, Jud and his childhood friends must fight an ancient evil that has gripped Ludlow since its founding, and once unearthed has the power to destroy everything in its path…
Who else appears in ‘Pet Sematary: Bloodlines’?
Henry Thomas as Dan appearing in ‘Pet Sematary: Bloodlines,’ streaming on Paramount+, 2023. Photo Cr: Philippe Bosse/Paramount Players.
The cast also features Forrest Goodluck, Jack Mulhern, Henry Thomas, Natalie Alyn Lind, and Isabella Star LaBlanc, Pam Grier and David Duchovny.
What’s the history of ‘Pet Sematary’?
On the set of ‘Pet Sematary: Bloodlines,’ streaming on Paramount+, 2023. Photo Cr: Philippe Bosse/Paramount Players.
King’s original novel –– which he considers his scariest –– was originally published in 1983. It follows a doctor named Louis Creed and his family, who move from Chicago to Ludlow. When the family’s cat is killed by a speeding truck on the highway near their home, Louis’ older neighbor Judd Crandall suggests burying the animal in a local, strange pet cemetery (the famous “Sematary” mis-spelling is by the locals).
Church then seems to come back… But he’s not quite the same. And when Louis’ son Gage is also killed on the road, he makes the somewhat questionable decision to bury him in the same mystical plot of land. And terror ensues…
The book has been adapted a few times –– most famously in 1989 by director Mary Lambert (that movie itself spawned a sequel, ‘Pet Sematary II’, also directed by Lambert and released in 1992). In 2019, Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer were behind the remake of the original story, working from a script by Jeff Buhler.
On the set of ‘Pet Sematary: Bloodlines,’ streaming on Paramount+, 2023. Photo Cr: Philippe Bosse/Paramount Players.
Kölsch and Widmyer ruled themselves out of working on future films around the time ‘Bloodlines’ was first touted, with Widmyer telling Polygon:
“If you were going to do more, you’d probably do backstory stuff. I’d be really interested to see how somebody would do a sequel to this movie. It probably won’t be us.”
Buhler would go on to write the early drafts of ‘Bloodlines’, with Beer taking over when she came on to direct.
‘Pet Sematary: Bloodlines’ will be on Paramount+ on October 7th, setting it up ready for Halloween.
‘Pet Sematary: Bloodlines,’ streaming on Paramount+, 2023.
(L to R) Isabella Star LaBlanc as Donna and Forrest Goodluck as Manny appearing in ‘Pet Sematary: Bloodlines,’ streaming on Paramount+, 2023. Photo Cr: Philippe Bosse/Paramount Players.
Pam Grier as Majorie appearing in ‘Pet Sematary: Bloodlines,’ streaming on Paramount+, 2023. Photo Cr: Philippe Bosse/Paramount Players.
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