User Reviews

I saw PET SEMETARY when it was released with two of my best friends. Two of us had children about the age of the character Gage at the time and the other a nephew that age. When the film ended all three of us seemed to be in shock. It took a while for any of us to talk to one another and only once we got somewhere to eat dinner. We even went to another movie just to shake off the feelings we had from the film. It doesn't always leave that much of an impression on most viewers but when you have children, especially that same age, it leaves its mark.

I have never gone back to watch the film a second time, not when it came out on VHS or on disc. I still feel a sense of unease when I think about doing so. And yet after watching this film I think maybe it's time that I did so. It won't make viewing it any easier but it will allow me to appreciate the film from a different perspective.

UNEARTHED & UNTOLD is the story of how the film came to be and the creation of it. Beginning with the initial tale of how it was a script that no one wanted to film to a script that was so good and inexpensive that a studio finally gave the go ahead it takes on the journey from there. Once the selection of a director takes place things begin to move at a steadier and quicker pace. That person becomes the visionary that will take the film from the printed page to the screen. It would be a daunting task given that it is based on a book by a famous author, Stephen King, but perhaps even more so knowing he can stop by and watching filming on a daily basis. And yet King allowed director Mary Lambert enough freedom to polish his story into a terrifying film.

Having done only one feature film and mostly music videos prior to PET SEMETARY Lambert did a masterful job of creating a memorable film. She's one of many interviewed for this film to talk about the experiences they had getting the job accomplished. In addition to her story we get that of the actors from the film like Denise Crosby, Dale Midkiff and Miko Hughes. But unlike most documentaries of this sort we also hear from those behind the camera as well.

Not only are those who were in the business for some time before and after interviewed, many of the people who worked on location from the area in Maine where the movie was shot are on hand as well. As a matter of fact it is discussed often here how the state itself was a part of the film, a character if you will. Had they chosen to shoot on a back lot in LA the movie would not have had that same feeling of where the story takes place.

The locals whose houses were used in different scenes are interviewed with stills and some archival footage of them from the time it was made. Locations are shown today that were used in the film, many that look similar but most completely different now. And the fact that locations in different towns were used in sequences that took place in a matter of feet from one another makes for an interesting fact.

Directors John Campopiano and Justin White do a solid job of culminating the information they had on hand with the new footage shot for this film, the end result being an interesting look at the film from start to finish. Sadly, and I'm guessing due to legal or expense issues, there are no clips from the actual film. Those would have looked nice here alongside behind the scenes footage that is included. One would think Paramount would jump at the chance to promote an older title and rekindle an interest in it, if for no other reason than a boost in sales of a stock item. But such is the world today.

Movie lovers and horror lovers will want to give this film a look. When you can get a glimpse of what goes on behind the curtain it's always interesting. Die-hard fans of the film will want to make it a point of adding this to their collection. It will provide a nice bookend with the film for an evening double feature. Synapse has done another great job of providing the film in the best format possible with plenty of extra goodies. If you love PET SEMETARY then make a beeline for the nearest store or online choice you prefer and pick up a copy today.

When I first heard about this documentary through Facebook, I remember being really excited about it. The excitement heightened when I met Denise Crosby and Mary Lambert back at Texas Frightmare Weekend in 2012. I remember going up to Denise and asking about this film, and her reaction was so exciting, and she said "Oh, there's a website! You should go check it out!" It only exhilarated my excitement, and I could not wait for this film to come out. It was worth the wait. Unearthed And Untold: The Path To Pet Sematary gives an in depth look at what it was like to shoot the film based off of one of the most mysterious masterpieces of the Stephen King books-Pet Sematary. The cast interviews are so apparent and so appealing that I actually felt like I was on set, and it was amazing to watch. The cast interviews include almost every cast member from the film. It includes the locals of Maine, and it even includes an interview with the lady that built the Pet Sematary (yes, that's how it's spelled) that inspired Stephen King. Furthermore, the film's cast interviews even included the people who did not have big roles, but some of the roles were very apparent for the film. For example, Andrew Hubastek (Zelda) gives an in depth interview about becoming one of the most terrifying characters in a horror film. Furthermore, my jaw dropped when I saw that the filmmakers interviewed the man that was the reason why the line "Sometimes, dead is better" became so apparent-Peter Strater aka "Timmy Baterman." Even though Fred Gwynne could not be interviewed for obvious reasons, the cast really spoke very highly of him, and I felt his presence was so powerful on this documentary. Unearthed And Untold The Path To Pet Sematary is a true element of talent that was created by two talented young men that are obvious fans of Pet Sematary. I would recommend John Campopiano and Justin White for any documentary because they put their hearts into this, and they definitely gave Pet Sematary the justice it deserves.