The original 1989 film adaptation of Stephen King’s chilling novel, Pet Sematary, remains a horror classic for many fans, even decades after its release. While the remake offered a fresh perspective, there’s a unique and unsettling charm to the original that continues to captivate audiences. Let’s take a trip behind the scenes of this iconic movie and unearth some fascinating trivia, especially focusing on the talented Pet Sematary 1989 Cast that brought King’s terrifying vision to life.
One interesting casting tidbit is that Bruce Campbell, known for his role in Evil Dead, was considered for the role of Louis Creed. Imagine a different take on the grief-stricken doctor! Speaking of casting, the role of Victor Pascow, the ghost who delivers ominous warnings, was played by Brad Greenquist. Greenquist revealed in interviews the effectiveness of his gruesome makeup – so much so that during lunch breaks, fellow cast and crew members gave him a wide berth! This dedication to visual horror truly set the tone on set.
The seemingly simple role of Church, the family cat, was surprisingly complex. Seven different blue British Shorthair cats were used to portray Church, each trained for specific actions required by the camera. This feline ensemble cast ensured Church’s believability, from affectionate pet to menacing undead creature. And for fans of music, particularly punk rock, there’s another layer to Pet Sematary. Stephen King, a known Ramones enthusiast, sprinkled references to their songs throughout the novel. This connection came full circle when The Ramones themselves performed “Pet Sematary,” which became the film’s iconic end-credits song, perfectly capturing the movie’s dark and rebellious spirit.
From Page to Screen: Stephen King’s Reluctant Masterpiece
Pet Sematary nearly didn’t see the light of day, or rather, the darkness of the movie screen. Stephen King initially shelved the manuscript, deeming it too dark and disturbing for publication. It was thanks to his wife, Tabitha King, who recognized the story’s power, that convinced him to share it with his publisher. Her encouragement gifted the world with what many consider a horror masterpiece and a compelling film adaptation.
The genesis of Pet Sematary itself is rooted in King’s real life. A heartbreaking incident involving his daughter Naomi’s cat, Smuckey, who was tragically killed by a truck, sparked the initial idea. You can even spot Smuckey’s name subtly inscribed on a gravestone in the pet cemetery within the film, a poignant nod to real-life inspiration bleeding into fiction. Creating the Micmac burial ground, a pivotal and unsettling location in the film, was no small feat. Bulldozers were brought in to construct the stone mounds on an actual mountaintop, emphasizing the film’s commitment to tangible and impactful set design.
Child Actors and On-Set Decisions
For the emotionally charged scene where Louis Creed has to euthanize Church, the production prioritized animal safety. While the scene appears graphic, the needle used was a prop, and a veterinarian sedated the cat with a representative from the American Humane Society present to ensure its well-being. This care extends to the child actors as well. While twins Beau and Blaze Berdahl were cast as Ellie Creed, a common practice for child roles in film, director Mary Lambert was so impressed by 3-year-old Miko Hughes that she cast him as Gage, opting against using twins for that role. Hughes’ performance as the resurrected Gage remains one of the most chilling portrayals of evil children in horror cinema. Adding another layer, during the opening cemetery scenes, the children reciting epitaphs include the voice of the late Jonathan Brandis, known to horror fans as Bill Denbrough in It (1990), creating an interesting connection within the Stephen King cinematic universe.
Director Mary Lambert viewed Victor Pascow and Jud Crandall (played masterfully by Fred Gwynne) as symbolic opposites – Pascow the “good angel” trying to warn Louis, and Jud the seemingly friendly neighbor who leads him down a dangerous path. To elicit tears from one of the Berdahl twins for an emotional scene, Lambert initially tried to tap into sad memories. When that didn’t work, she reportedly offered the young actress extra money, highlighting the pragmatic, sometimes unconventional, approaches used on set. The iconic Creed house, with its prominent tree, was meticulously scouted. When the perfect tree was found in a field separate from the ideal house, it was dug up and replanted at the filming location, showcasing the dedication to visual perfection. Even a nightmare sequence with Pascow underwent reshoots because filmmakers felt Dale Midkiff looked “too sexy” shirtless, opting for a fully clothed version to maintain the scene’s unsettling tone. And in a testament to Stephen King’s influence, it was contractually stipulated that Pet Sematary had to be filmed in Maine, King’s home state, adding authenticity and a sense of place to the film’s atmosphere.
Zelda and the Taboos of Horror
For the terrifying role of Rachel’s dying sister, Zelda, Mary Lambert made a bold choice, casting a male actor, Andrew Hubatsek, instead of a 13-year-old girl. Lambert believed a man could deliver the required level of frightening performance that a young girl might not achieve, and this decision contributed significantly to Zelda’s unforgettable and disturbing presence. Many elements within Pet Sematary echo Stephen King’s own life experiences, blurring the lines between fiction and reality. Ellie’s emotional outbursts mirrored King’s daughter’s reactions after Smuckey’s death, his son’s near-miss with a truck mirrored Gage’s fate, and Jud Crandall was inspired by an elderly neighbor. Even the pet cemetery itself was real, located in the woods behind King’s home, solidifying the story’s personal and unsettling origins.
The fleeting shot of Jud’s body after Louis discovers him is brief because a sculpture of Fred Gwynne’s head was used, rather than the actor himself, for that particular shot. Even something as seemingly simple as getting a cat to eat a pork chop for Church’s second death scene proved challenging for Mary Lambert, highlighting the unpredictable nature of filmmaking, even with animal actors. Ultimately, Pet Sematary delves into societal taboos, particularly death, a topic often avoided in polite conversation. Rachel’s discomfort discussing death with her children and Louis’s desperate act of resurrecting Gage instead of accepting death are central to the film’s exploration of grief and denial. The film’s poignant tagline, “Sometimes dead is better,” encapsulates this core theme, resonating with audiences who grapple with loss and the fear of the unknown. Pet Sematary (1989), thanks to its compelling Pet Sematary 1989 cast and behind-the-scenes dedication, continues to be a landmark in horror cinema, prompting us to confront uncomfortable truths about life, death, and what lies beyond.
