'Pet Sematary: Bloodlines' Trailer

David Duchovny has spent some of his career investigating supernatural mysteries as Agent Fox Mulder on ‘The X-Files’.

So, it somehow seems fitting that he’d pop up as one of the cast in the new prequel to classic Stephen King tale ‘Pet Sematary’. His exact role in the movie, which has switched release plans from theaters to streaming service Paramount+, is unknown, but from the looks of the first trailer, he certainly is aware of the dangerous, mystical powers of the graveyard in the small town from the book.

The new movie is being billed as “an untold chapter” from King’s tome, and marks the directorial debut of Lindsey Anderson Beer, who also co-wrote the script.

What’s the story of ‘Pet Sematary: Bloodlines’?

Jackson White as Jud Crandall appearing in 'Pet Sematary: Bloodlines,' streaming on Paramount+, 2023. Photo Cr: Philippe Bosse/Paramount Players.

In 1969, a young Jud Crandall (Jackson White) has dreams of leaving his hometown of Ludlow, Maine behind, but soon discovers sinister secrets buried within and is forced to confront a dark family history that will forever keep him connected to Ludlow. Banding together, Jud and his childhood friends must fight an ancient evil that has gripped Ludlow since its founding, and once unearthed has the power to destroy everything in its path…

Who else appears in ‘Pet Sematary: Bloodlines’?

(L to R) David Duchovny as Bill and Jack Mulhern as Timmy appearing in 'Pet Sematary: Bloodlines,' streaming on Paramount+, 2023. Photo Cr: Philippe Bosse/Paramount Players.

The cast also features Forrest Goodluck, Jack Mulhern, Henry Thomas, Natalie Alyn Lind, and Isabella Star LaBlanc, Pam Grier and, as mentioned, David Duchovny.

What’s the history of ‘Pet Sematary’?

On the set of 'Pet Sematary: Bloodlines,' streaming on Paramount+, 2023. Photo Cr: Philippe Bosse/Paramount Players.

King’s original novel was originally published in 1983. It follows a doctor named Louis Creed and his family, who move from Chicago to Ludlow. When the family’s cat is killed by a speeding truck on the highway near their home, Louis’ older neighbor Judd Crandall suggests burying the animal in a local, strange pet cemetery (the famous “Sematary” mis-spelling is by the locals).

Church then seems to come back… But he’s not quite the same. And when Louis’ son Gage is also killed on the road, he makes the somewhat questionable decision to bury him in the same mystical plot of land. And terror ensues…

The book has been adapted a few times –– most famously in 1989 by director Mary Lambert (that movie itself spawned a sequel, ‘Pet Sematary II’, also directed by Lambert and released in 1992). In 2019, Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer were behind the remake of the original story, working from a script by Jeff Buhler.

Buhler would go on to write the early drafts of ‘Bloodlines’, with Beer taking over when she came on to direct.

Lindsey Anderson Beer talks ‘Pet Sematary: Bloodlines’

On the set of 'Pet Sematary: Bloodlines,' streaming on Paramount+, 2023. Photo Cr: Philippe Bosse/Paramount Players.

In an interview with IGN, Beer outlined her thinking on the movie:

“Making a prequel allowed me to do not just Jud’s origin story, but Ludlow’s origin story, and show how the burden of this evil affects every townsperson. Something just doesn’t add up about Ludlow, and its history. I wanted to make this film because it was a prequel, which allowed me to give fans and new audiences something they hadn’t seen before –– both within the world of ‘Pet Sematary’, and hopefully in horror films in general. I wanted to make a film that surprises people.”

‘Pet Sematary: Bloodlines’ will be on Paramount+ on October 7th. Spooky season is here, people.