PET SEMATARY: BLOODLINES Upholds Franchise Tradition By Being Rated R

Lindsey Anderson Beer's PET SEMATARY prequel won't be pulling any punches.

By FANGORIA Staff · September 6, 2023, 9:53 AM EDT
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We're just a few weeks away from Fantastic Fest kicking off in Austin, TX, where a slew of exciting new genre titles will be making their big screen debut, including Macon Blair's remake of The Toxic Avenger, Blumhouse's time-traveling slasher comedy Totally Killer, and Gareth Edwards' highly buzzed-about The Creator.

Also included in this year's Fantastic Fest lineup? Lindsey Anderson Beer's Pet Sematary: Bloodlines, a prequel to the Stephen King tale that started it all (and, more specifically, a prequel to Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer's 2019 adaptation of the novel). That screening, to be hosted by FANGORIA's THE KINGCAST, will be the first chance you'll have to see Pet Sematary: Bloodlines before it hits Paramount+ on October 6th.

Anyway, here's the news: according to the good folks over at Bloody Disgusting, Pet Sematary: Bloodlines is maintaining franchise tradition by being given an R-rating for "horror violence, gore, and language." While we remain embargoed on saying too much about Beer's film for the time being, it's probably safe for us to say that it definitely earns that R-rating. Do with that what you will!

For those just joining the Pet Sematary: Bloodlines conversation, here's an official plot synopsis:

“In 1969, a young Jud Crandall 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.”

Also worth noting: Beer's prequel (which marks her directorial debut) has a strong cast, including performances from Pam Grier, Henry Thomas, David Duchovny, Jackson White, Forrest Goodluck, Natalie Alyn Lind, Isabella Star LaBlanc, and Jack Mulhern.

Nothing further to report on Pet Sematary: Bloodlines at this time, but do stay tuned for further updates (We should be getting a new trailer any day now, right?) as they roll in. As mentioned above, Beer's film will hit Paramount+ on October 6th!