The prequel could also dig into the mythology of the Pet Sematary in an interesting way. It was teased by Jud in Pet Sematary that the land was, as Louis put it, “sour” which lead the local indigenous tribes to flee and leave warnings. It’s also hinted that the Pet Sematary is haunted by a Wendigo, a Native American myth, like in the original novel. In the novel Timmy Baterman is actually possessed by the Wendigo when he returns, which is what allows him to know people’s deepest darkest secrets.
Assuming the film includes Jud and his once friend Manny working together to figure out the truth about Timmy and the Wendigo, this could be an opportunity to explore Manny’s Native American heritage and the folklore of the Wendigo in an interesting and respectful way, Instead of simply turning the film into a ghost story.
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A key part of the story in the short, The Tale of Timmy Baterman, is the mystery of how Timmy Baterman’s house burned down. In the novel, after Timmy’s father realized the true evil that was brought back in place of his son, he kills both himself and his son and burns the house down. In the short who exactly is responsible for the fire is left a bit more ambiguous, which could mean that the characters in the film are actually responsible
In Pet Sematary Jud reveals to Louis that his own childhood pet was resurrected, but came back bad and was put down by his father when it attacked his mother. Could this event or something similar be connected to whatever pulls Timmy, Manny, and Jud apart or something even darker? And considering Jud and Norma are stuck in Ludlow, the question becomes why? What keeps them here and how is it connected to their mysterious past and the events in the film?
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The Pet Sematary prequel looks to be just as terrifying and intriguing as the 2019 film. A town full of dark secrets and hidden origins Ludlow is ripe for exploration and the tragedy of Timmy Baterman as well as the history of Jud Crandall is the perfect place to dig in. The Pet Sematary prequel will be directed by Lindsey Beer who, according to Deadline, wrote the latest script based on Jeff Buhler’s draft. The Pet Sematary prequel will be produced by Mark Vahradian and Lorenzo di Bonaventura and is scheduled to begin filming in August with a Paramount Plus premier.
What do you think about these story details and character descriptions for the Pet Sematary prequel? Are you excited to see the history of Jud Crandall, Timmy Baterman’s horrifying tragic tale, and the mythology of the Pet Sematary? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or on our social media and check back with The Illuminerdi for more Pet Sematary prequel and horror news.
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