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[SXSW Review] ‘Pet Sematary’ Will Grasp Even the Stonier of Horror Fan Hearts

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Sematary

The adaptation of Stephen King’s terrifying novel, Pet Sematary first made its way onto screens in 89 with Mary Lambert’s moody, and terrifying vision. And guys, that adaptation absolutely scared the hell out of in my youth. Zelda was a big reason for many sleep deprived nights. It was effective, and while it didn’t tackle a lot of stuff from the book it painted the broad strokes effectively well. 

But we aren’t here to talk about that, I just mention it in contrast to our current adaptation of Pet Sematary from Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widyer, the guys behind the wonderfully, creative and terrifying, Starry Eyes

There is a lot to dig into here but for those who are unfamiliar, Pet Sematary centers around the Creed family as they relocate to Maine. Upon arrival they discover that a burial ground on their land is the source of a great darkness with the power to reanimate whatever is buried there. 

The Creed family and their neighbor Jud (John Lithgow) are all superb and really live and breathe in their portrayal. Jason Clarke in particular effectually emotes many choices that would have played out in Louis Creed’s head in terms of the book. Amy Seimetz is an anchor for so many of the big emotional turns and absolutely nails each turn in her haunted depiction. But it has to be Jeté Laurence’s enormously haunting duality that really seals the deal on how great this cast is as an ensemble. 

For those familiar with 89’s Pet Sematary, the first half of this new adaptation is pretty on the nose with those scenes. Which I can totally get behind, but there is some kind of rushed force behind the pacing of the scenes. Something that makes it feel a little bit less authentic rather than allowing itself to play around in King’s world. 

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At it’s midpoint the film, leaves behind the 89 adaptation and stretches its legs beginning with a major change from both the book and the pervious adaptation. I won’t spoil that here, but if you haven’t had it spoiled yet, I implore you not to watch the second trailer. 

From the big change at its center, Pet Sematary becomes a mixed bag, partly exploring elements of King’s book that weren’t explored in Lambert’s film, and a twist that leaves us with something that feels all too familiar from films like The Ring, The Grudge and assorted possession films. 

There are also moments of the film that feel as though the edges were padded in order to not get too dark and to not entirely go there. Some of the handling of Church the cat, Gage and especially Zelda are not fully taken to the dark levels that Lambert’s adaptation traveled. The choices for Zelda especially leave a lot to be wanted. 

That isn’t too say those elements are totally done wrong because some of the scenes that are mixed in are positively haunting. I.e. a father sleeping next to a dead child or a recently reanimated child dancing in the family living room. There definitely is something that feels part familiar in a safe studio vein and then part creative Kölsch and Widmyer. 

Laurie Rose (Kill List, Free Fire, Overlord) is one of my favorite cinematographers working today and his work is again freaking mind blowing. He understands a haunting composition and offers them throughout creating menace in subtext while allowing enough room in the frame for the audience’s imagination to explore. His work here is again perfect. 

Added to Rose’s work Christopher Young scores the whole affair. That came as a complete and welcome surprise as the dude has done everything from Hellraiser to Drag Me to Hell. Entirely iconic, and proves that his genre soundscape sensibilities are still very much intact. 

As we all know at this point from King’s material “They don’t come back the same,” and well they don’t get remade the same either. Kölsch and Widmyer partly take things in a new direction and while there is that onemajor change, the reward is getting to explore elements of the book we hadn’t seen on screen before. Their vision is very much executed through their use of dark comedy, seething drama and and the ability to create fear without relying on cheap jump scares. 

Pet Sematary gets to the root of King and then slowly turns the screw. Despite some of its genre trope familiarities, it travels enough sour ground to successfully reach the stoniest horror fan hearts. It is entertaining from frame one and does a great job of creating an ending that is worth the entire price of admission alone.  

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‘Strange Darling’ Featuring Kyle Gallner and Willa Fitzgerald Lands Nationwide Release [Watch Clip]

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‘Strange Darling,’ a standout film featuring Kyle Gallner, who is nominated for an iHorror award for his performance in ‘The Passenger,’ and Willa Fitzgerald, has been acquired for a wide theatrical release in the United States by Magenta Light Studios, a new enterprise from veteran producer Bob Yari. This announcement, brought to us by Variety, follows the film’s successful premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2023, where it was universally praised for its creative storytelling and compelling performances, achieving a perfect score of 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes from 14 reviews.

Strange Darling – Movie Clip

Directed by JT Mollner, ‘Strange Darling‘ is a thrilling narrative of a spontaneous hookup that takes an unexpected and terrifying turn. The film is notable for its innovative narrative structure and the exceptional acting of its leads. Mollner, known for his 2016 Sundance entry “Outlaws and Angels,” has once again employed 35mm for this project, cementing his reputation as a filmmaker with a distinct visual and narrative style. He is currently involved in adapting Stephen King’s novel “The Long Walk” in collaboration with director Francis Lawrence.

Bob Yari expressed his enthusiasm for the film’s upcoming release, scheduled for August 23rd, highlighting the unique qualities that make ‘Strange Darling’ a significant addition to the horror genre. “We are thrilled to be bringing nationwide theatrical audiences this unique and exceptional film with terrific performances by Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. This second feature from talented writer-director JT Mollner is destined to become a cult classic that defies conventional storytelling,” Yari told Variety.

Variety’s review of the film from Fantastic Fest lauds Mollner’s approach, saying, “Mollner shows himself to be more forward-thinking than most of his genre peers. He’s clearly a student of the game, one who studied his forebears’ lessons with adroitness to better prepare himself to put his own mark on them.” This praise underlines Mollner’s deliberate and thoughtful engagement with the genre, promising audiences a film that is both reflective and innovative.

Strange Darling

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Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Barbarella’ Revival Forges Ahead

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Sydney Sweeney Barbarella

Sydney Sweeney has confirmed the ongoing progress of the much-anticipated reboot of Barbarella. The project, which sees Sweeney not only starring but also executive producing, aims to breathe new life into the iconic character that first captured audiences’ imaginations in the 1960s. However, amid speculation, Sweeney remains tight-lipped about the possible involvement of celebrated director Edgar Wright in the project.

During her appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Sweeney shared her enthusiasm for the project and the character of Barbarella, stating, “It is. I mean, Barbarella is just such a fun character to explore. She really just embraces her femininity and her sexuality, and I love that. She uses sex as a weapon and I think it’s such an interesting way into a sci-fi world. I’ve always wanted to do sci-fi. So we’ll see what happens.“

Sydney Sweeney confirms her Barbarella reboot is still in the works

Barbarella, originally a creation of Jean-Claude Forest for V Magazine in 1962, was transformed into a cinematic icon by Jane Fonda under the direction of Roger Vardim in 1968. Despite a sequel, Barbarella Goes Down, never seeing the light of day, the character has remained a symbol of sci-fi allure and adventurous spirit.

Over the decades, several high-profile names including Rose McGowan, Halle Berry, and Kate Beckinsale were floated as potential leads for a reboot, with directors Robert Rodriguez and Robert Luketic, and writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade previously attached to revive the franchise. Unfortunately, none of these iterations made it past the conceptual stage.

Barbarella

The film’s progress took a promising turn approximately eighteen months ago when Sony Pictures announced its decision to cast Sydney Sweeney in the titular role, a move that Sweeney herself has suggested was facilitated by her involvement in Madame Web, also under Sony’s banner. This strategic decision was aimed at fostering a beneficial relationship with the studio, specifically with the Barbarella reboot in mind.

When probed about Edgar Wright’s potential directorial role, Sweeney adeptly sidestepped, merely noting that Wright has become an acquaintance. This has left fans and industry watchers speculating about the extent of his involvement, if any, in the project.

Barbarella is known for its adventurous tales of a young woman traversing the galaxy, engaging in escapades that often incorporate elements of sexuality—a theme Sweeney seems eager to explore. Her commitment to reimagining Barbarella for a new generation, while staying true to the character’s original essence, sounds like the making of a great reboot.

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‘The First Omen’ Almost Received an NC-17 Rating

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Set for an April 5 theater release, ‘The First Omen’ carries an R-rating, a classification that was almost not achieved. Arkasha Stevenson, in her inaugural feature film directorial role, faced a formidable challenge in securing this rating for the prequel to the esteemed franchise. It seems the filmmakers had to contend with the ratings board to prevent the film from being saddled with an NC-17 rating. In a revealing conversation with Fangoria, Stevenson described the ordeal as ‘a long battle’, one not waged over traditional concerns such as gore. Instead, the crux of the controversy centered around the depiction of the female anatomy.

Stevenson’s vision for “The First Omen” delves deep into the theme of dehumanization, particularly through the lens of forced birthing. “The horror in that situation is how dehumanized that woman is”, Stevenson explains, emphasizing the significance of presenting the female body in a non-sexualized light to address themes of forced reproduction authentically. This commitment to realism nearly landed the film an NC-17 rating, sparking a prolonged negotiation with the MPA. “This has been my life for a year and a half, fighting for the shot. It’s the theme of our film. It’s the female body being violated from the inside outwards”, she states, highlighting the importance of the scene to the film’s core message.

The First Omen Movie Poster – by Creepy Duck Design

Producers David Goyer and Keith Levine supported Stevenson’s battle, encountering what they perceived as a double standard in the ratings process. Levine reveals, “We had to go back and forth with the ratings board five times. Weirdly, avoiding the NC-17 made it more intense”, pointing out how the struggle with the ratings board inadvertently intensified the final product. Goyer adds, “There is more permissiveness when dealing with male protagonists, particularly in body horror”, suggesting a gender bias in how body horror is evaluated.

The film’s bold approach to challenging viewers’ perceptions extends beyond the ratings controversy. Co-writer Tim Smith notes the intention to subvert expectations traditionally associated with The Omen franchise, aiming to surprise audiences with a fresh narrative focus. “One of the big things we were excited to do was to kind of pull the rug out from under people’s expectations”, Smith says, underscoring the creative team’s desire to explore new thematic ground.

Nell Tiger Free, known for her role in “Servant”, leads the cast of “The First Omen”, set for release by 20th Century Studios on April 5. The movie follows a young American woman dispatched to Rome for church service, where she stumbles upon a sinister force that shakes her faith to its core and reveals a chilling plot aimed at summoning evil incarnate.

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