Pet Sematary Review: 4 Ups & 4 Downs
6. DOWN: The Pacing
Whilst the pacing feels decidedly great at the beginning of the movie as we zip through exposition, by the time we get to the titular area of undead scariness - the investment just isn't there. Pet Sematary's fast pace means that we don't really get a grip on why everything is happening, with certain elements of the movie falling to the wayside that would have done wonders for some audience investment.
The most disappointing part of this is that the presence in the woods, which I won't spoil here, could be much further compounded on to make the film both different and engaging - as the two small hints we get towards something more than 'ancient indian burial ground' are washed away by the film's snappy pace. There's also never really a feel for how this family spiral in the wake of grief, with Louis Creed switching from rational doctor to supernatural enthusiast in the blink of an eye.
The film doesn't feel too long, or too short admittedly - just that it's more of a skeleton than a fully fleshed experience as we're hurried through each event that we know we're going to see.