Pet Sematary (Remembering 'Lucky')

I have always been a fan of Stephen King's novels. Some of the best films i have watched are adapted from his stories. Pet Sematary was memorable as it was the first Stephen King novel i read from from start to finish and it will go down as one of his best stories for me and in the author's own opinion - his most scary novel written.

I recalled the time when i finished reading the novel, it left a disturbing and unclean feeling that lingered for a long time and even till now when i revisit the story often with fondness. Beyond the horror was a deeper issue which every human faces and one which the author hits the jugular spot on - dealing with death. My brother once said to me 'everyone must walk that path someday'. In Pet Sematary, the author crosses beyond that path with a disturbing thought - how far would you go to bring back a loved one from the dead? Read the novel and see the trailer for this movie. This film is slated for a 2010 remake release next year on the big screen and i just can't wait really. 'Cemetary' is mispelled as 'Sematary' as this was a place in the story where little children named and buried their pets when they died.

Renowned punk band The Ramones wrote a memorable song of the same name which was used in the film. Listen to it here.

This novel remains very close to my heart with its emotional depth and memorable characters, in particular the protagonist - Louis Creed and his toddler son Gage. The emotional struggles were something me and everyone else could relate to, especially when i still find death somewhat hard to handle. Interestingly, i had recently asked some friends if they would ever try to bring back their loved ones, if ever there was a way to bring them back from the dead, albeit they will return a little less human and stranger than before - the replies were a resounding yes and we agreed unanimously that it is in all human beings that we all long to see our loved ones again even after they are gone. And i also believe it is in all human nature that we are tempted to cross certain boundaries that are perhaps not meant to be crossed at some points in our lives, even to defy death in this instance.

Fred Gwynne who acted as Jud Crandall (Louis Creed's elderly neighbour) mentioned a line in the movie which says 'sometimes dead is better' and commented in an interview :

"Now what he really means by that is when someone dies who is very close to you - let them go, don't try to keep them alive. it's no good for them, its no good for you and its no good for the people around you. and of course that is the mistake that is made in this film, they try to keep their loved ones alive"

I believe there is an element of truth what the actor says but in reality how many of us could actually not keep our loved ones alive in some way or another? During my uncle's recent death, it was just a sight too common. As all of us witness in the gallery as the coffin was pushed into the furnace, i saw his daughters and wife having to be restrained back while wails and cries echoed around sorrowfully. His wife and my grandma are still trying to come to terms with his departure. As all of us live out a finite number of years on this earth, i believe such attachment in our relationships is a natural way of things. Attachment brings with it joy in togetherness and eventual grief when someone close passes away but it is exactly that which makes us inherently human.

I like to think that if ever there was a Pet Sematary that exist somewhere, i will bury all my disappointments in life, failed relationships, missed chances, along with all my loved ones that had passed on and my own heart which i felt was left dead a long time ago, in a hope that they will all come back to me once again...

'Lucky' my family pet dog is fondly remembered in this blog and on this day of his passing 11 years ago. And yes if there is ever a Pet Sematary, i will bury him in and welcome him back into my embrace again, no matter how he turns out to be.

Finally, i can fully understand why Louis Creed says to his dead son in a most poignant and heartbreaking scene,
"Come back to me Gage...come back to us..."

Come back to us Lucky...


'I don't want to be buried in the Pet Sematary
I don't want to live my life again...'

- Pet Sematary (The Ramones)


















Death is a mystery and burial is a secret


'How do i know a good book?

- One in which i first live inside the story and thereafter the story lives inside me forever...