Pet Sematary: Bloodlines Blu-ray Review
“Pet Sematary: Bloodlines” is a needless prequel.
Set in 1969, “Pet Sematary: Bloodlines” revolves around the character of Jud Crandall in his younger years. The story begins with Jud and his girlfriend Norma plotting to join the Peace Corps in order to leave the town of Ludlow, Maine behind. Alas, things don’t go as planned as Norma is attacked by a dog that is not acting normal. In fact, things seem very off in general particularly with Timmy who has recently returned home from Vietnam. Timmy used to be close friends with Jud and Manny, but the three have drifted apart. Now, Timmy is quite unstable and begins to wreak havoc on the citizens of Ludlow. The question is why?
After the 2019 “Pet Sematary” remake (which is underrated in my book) hit it big at the box office, a prequel film titled “Pet Sematary: Bloodlines” was greenlit for Paramount+. Director Lindsey Anderson Beer (who also co-wrote the script with Jeff Buhler) attempts to dig into the town’s past, but ultimately some things are indeed better left dead. Now, prequels can work to be sure, but do we really need one about a young Jud that demystifies the town’s dark past? The secrecy of the town and its evil is what makes Stephen King’s original story so effective. It gives it atmosphere. Seeing some cheesy flashback scenes in 1674 and learning about the founding families doesn’t add much to the mythology. Likewise, the story lacks depth here as it essentially becomes a case of Timmy going on a rampage. Visually, the film looks gorgeous thanks to the cinematography by Benjamin Kirk Nielsen, but the story just doesn’t amount to much.
Cast wise, there’s a lot of talented folks here including David Duchovny, Henry Thomas, Pam Grier, Samantha Mathis, Forrest Goodluck, Isabella Star LaBlanc, Jackson White, Jack Mulhern and Natalie Alyn Lind. Jackson White is unfortunately miscast as Jud but luckily everyone surrounding him is on point. Jack Mulhern steals the movie as the genuinely creepy Timmy. Isabella Star LaBlanc shines as Donna and is bound to have a great career ahead of her. Forrest Goodluck livens the movie up as Manny. David Duchovny, Henry Thomas and Pam Grier provide a welcome veteran presence.
Video/Audio:
Presentation: 2.39:1 1080p. How does it look? Viewers can expect a superb hi-def transfer that looks significantly better than the Paramount+ version. Note: This title is also available on 4K.
Audio Track: Dolby Atmos. How does it sound? Note perfect.
Extras:
* Digital copy
* “Origins”- A featurette on this new prequel story with cast and crew interviews and film clips.
* “Fresh Blood” covers the director and the new characters.
* “Death’s Design”- A featurette on the spirals, costumes, and production design.
* “Method To The Madness”- Behind-the-scenes look at Jack Mulhern, the dog, and Isabella LaBlanc.
* “War Comes Home” explores the making of the third act.
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