10 Worst Stephen King Film Adaptations
2. Pet Semetary 1989
Pet Sematary is one of the most disturbing novels that King has written and published, earning a place in King's own drawer for a while after completion, as he was worried it was too dark. His fears were not unfounded as it depicts a sort of horror that was rare even in his novels. The death of child is something that should be handled with grace - this novel handles it with mind-numbing terror and doesn't hold back.
Adapting this particular work was always going to be hard. How graphic should it be? How much detail about the aftermath should be retained? Is this a story that anyone really wants to watch? These questions aside, the movie fails on many fronts. The budget, like many King adaptations, was low and it shows. Dale Midkiff, who is probably a very nice person, but snoozes his way through the film, barely emoting or reacting to anything around him.
Milo Hughes is cute as ever as Gage, but is absolutely ridiculous as the evil Wendigo (not his fault!). Zelda remains the enduring image from the film, gaunt and twisted, rushing toward the screen. But what should have been one of the darkest and most disturbing King films becomes a disappointing mess, not even saved by the great Fred Gwynne.
The remake, while offering better performances, falls for some of the same issues - the story is horrific. It's uncomfortable. It's depressing. It's supposed to be. Too many moment of levity break the mood and both films suffer because of it.