Summary
Stephen King's Pet Sematary, published in 1983, is widely regarded as one of the author's most chilling and disturbing works. The novel, which explores themes of grief, loss, and the consequences of tampering with death, was nominated for a World Fantasy Award for Best Novel in 1984. King himself has stated that of all his novels, Pet Sematary is the one that genuinely scared him the most.
The book's enduring popularity has led to multiple adaptations, with the most famous being the 1989 film directed by Mary Lambert. This adaptation, for which King wrote the screenplay, starred Dale Midkiff, Fred Gwynne, and Denise Crosby. Despite mixed reviews, the film was a commercial success and has since become a cult classic in the horror genre.
In 2019, another adaptation of Pet Sematary was released, directed by Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer. This version, starring Jason Clarke and John Lithgow, took some creative liberties with the source material while still maintaining the core themes of the novel. The continued interest in adapting this story for the screen is a testament to the lasting impact of King's original work.
Plot
Dr. Louis Creed moves his family to the rural town of Ludlow, Maine, after accepting a position as director of the University of Maine's campus health service. They befriend their elderly neighbor Jud Crandall, who shows them a pet cemetery in the woods behind their home. Louis experiences strange occurrences, including a vivid dream about a deceased student warning him of danger beyond the pet cemetery.
When the family cat Church is killed by a truck, Jud leads Louis to an ancient Mi'kmaq burial ground beyond the pet cemetery. Louis buries Church there, and the cat returns to life the next day, though changed and aggressive. Months later, tragedy strikes when Louis's young son Gage is killed by a speeding truck. Consumed by grief, Louis considers using the burial ground to bring Gage back, despite Jud's warnings about the dire consequences of such an act.
Jud shares the cautionary tale of Timmy Baterman, a local man who buried his son in the ancient grounds after he died in World War II. The resurrected Timmy terrorized the town with malevolent behavior before his father was forced to kill him again. Despite this warning, Louis exhumes Gage's body and buries him in the Mi'kmaq grounds. Gage returns as a violent, murderous version of himself, killing both Jud and Louis's wife Rachel.
Driven to madness by grief and guilt, Louis euthanizes both Gage and Church with morphine injections. In a final desperate act, he carries Rachel's body to the burial ground, convinced that burying her quickly will yield better results. The novel concludes with Rachel's reanimated corpse returning to the house, placing a cold hand on Louis's shoulder as he sits alone.
Themes
Death and grief
Consequences of tampering with nature
Parental love and loss
The power of ancient burial grounds
The blurred line between life and death
The corrupting influence of grief
The dangers of unchecked desire
Setting
Pet Sematary is set in the early 1980s, reflecting the era in which Stephen King wrote the novel. The story takes place in the rural town of Ludlow, Maine, a fictional location that embodies the quintessential New England small town atmosphere. This setting provides a stark contrast between the idyllic facade of rural life and the dark, supernatural forces that lurk beneath the surface.
At the heart of the story is the Creed family's new home, situated near a dangerous highway frequented by speeding trucks. This seemingly innocuous detail becomes a pivotal element in the narrative. Behind their property lies a wooded area that houses two significant locations: the “pet sematary,” a misspelled sign marking a children's pet cemetery, and beyond that, an ancient Mi'kmaq burial ground with mysterious powers.
The juxtaposition of the modern world, represented by the Creeds' home and the nearby university where Louis works, against the primal and supernatural elements of the woods and burial ground, creates a tension that permeates the entire story. This clash between civilization and the unknown forces of nature and death is central to the novel's exploration of grief, loss, and the consequences of tampering with the natural order.
Characters
Louis Creed: The main protagonist, a doctor who moves his family to rural Maine. Louis struggles with grief and moral dilemmas after tragic events unfold. He becomes increasingly obsessed with the power of the ancient burial ground, leading to devastating consequences for his family and community.
Rachel Creed: Louis's wife, who is haunted by the childhood trauma of her sister Zelda's death. Rachel is protective of her children and initially resistant to discussing death with them. Her past experiences make her particularly vulnerable to the horrors that unfold in their new home.
Jud Crandall: The Creeds' elderly neighbor who becomes a father figure to Louis. Jud introduces Louis to the pet cemetery and the ancient burial ground beyond it. Despite his good intentions, Jud's actions set in motion a series of tragic events that he ultimately regrets.
Ellie Creed: Louis and Rachel's young daughter, who forms a strong bond with her cat, Church. Ellie is perceptive and asks difficult questions about death, forcing her parents to confront their own beliefs and fears.
Gage Creed: The Creeds' toddler son whose death becomes the catalyst for the story's main conflict. Gage's resurrection and subsequent actions serve as a horrifying example of the burial ground's malevolent power.
Victor Pascow: A college student who dies in an accident and appears to Louis as a ghost. Victor serves as a warning figure, trying to prevent Louis from using the burial ground's power.
Church: Ellie's cat, who is killed and then resurrected using the burial ground. Church's changed behavior after his return foreshadows the more sinister consequences of resurrection.
Zelda Goldman: Rachel's sister who died from spinal meningitis during childhood. Zelda's painful death continues to haunt Rachel and influences her attitude towards mortality.
Quick facts
The novel was inspired by King's real-life experience of burying his daughter's cat after it was killed by a truck near their home.
King has stated that of all his novels, Pet Sematary is the one that genuinely scared him the most.
The misspelling of “cemetery” as “sematary” in the title was intentional, based on a real misspelled sign King saw.
King initially didn't want to publish the book, believing it was too dark and disturbing.
The character of Jud Crandall was partly based on King's real-life neighbor in Orrington, Maine.
The novel was nominated for a World Fantasy Award for Best Novel in 1984.
King wrote the screenplay for the 1989 film adaptation and had a cameo as a minister.
The Ramones recorded the song “Pet Sematary” as the theme for the 1989 film.
In the 1989 film, Zelda (Rachel's ill sister) was played by a male actor to make the character more unsettling.
A limited 30th-anniversary edition of the novel was released in November 2013 by PS Publishing.
About the Author
Stephen King is one of the most prolific and popular American authors of the past 50 years. Born in 1947, King began writing at a young age and published his breakout novel Carrie in 1974. He has since written over 60 novels and hundreds of short stories, primarily in the horror, fantasy, and suspense genres. Many of King's works have been adapted into successful films and TV series, including The Shining, It, The Shawshank Redemption, and The Green Mile.
King is known for his vivid characterization, detailed world-building, and ability to tap into primal human fears. His writing often explores themes of small-town life, childhood trauma, addiction, and the supernatural. While primarily associated with horror, King has demonstrated versatility across genres, writing everything from crime thrillers to literary fiction. He has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the National Medal of Arts in 2014.
Beyond his writing career, King is an outspoken advocate for various social and political causes. He has been vocal about gun control, environmentalism, and tax policy. King is also known for his philanthropy, regularly donating to libraries, fire departments, and arts organizations in his home state of Maine. He has been married to fellow author Tabitha King since 1971, and they have three children together, including writers Joe Hill and Owen King.
While King announced his retirement in 2002, he has continued to publish new work regularly. King remains a prolific writer and influential figure in American popular culture, with no signs of slowing down his literary output.
