Pet Sematary (1989)

Despite the heavy involvement of novelist Stephen King, this adaptation of one of his spookier books is as bloodless as it is blood-spattered. The creepy atmosphere and spiritual dilemmas of the source material get lost in a barrage of family melodrama and mid-grade zombie effects. Meanwhile, Denise Crosby and Dale Midkiff -- not exactly A-listers on the best of days -- get saddled with the flatly realistic direction of TV vet Mary Lambert. Victor Pascow (Brad Greenquist), a disturbing specter who haunts the novel, here becomes comic relief, as cuddly as the ghostly sidekicks of The Frighteners. Meanwhile, the backstory of Crosby's character -- she had a mad, diseased sister whose death continues to torment her -- loses some of its archetypal power thanks to soggy exposition. Fred Gwynne gives the only masterful performance, yukking it up as a New England yokel; he also provides one of the few genuinely spooky notes as his character narrates the story of an earlier resurrection and its disturbing aftermath. Of course, little Miko Hughes is supposed to be pretty scary as undead toddler Gage, but his beyond-the-grave dialogue comes off more campy than frightening. Few horror movies have been as faithful to the plot of a novel while simultaneously getting its tone so wrong. Only the strength of King's original concept gives Pet Sematary any emotional power. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide