Unearthing the Stephen King References in Pet Sematary

The latest adaptation of the Stephen King classic novel, Pet Sematary, has just scared up an impressive $44 million worldwide in its opening weekend, finishing second behind DC’s acclaimed new installment Shazam!, while earning generally mixed reviews from critics and audiences who were polarized by changes to the source material while also noting it as a better adaptation than the 1989 iteration. Very much like its superpowered competitor, the horror project was littered with references to other same-universe stories from the legendary author, as well as to films based on his works, so let’s dig deep and unearth the various King references hidden in the latest version of Pet Sematary.

Pet Sematary is based on the seminal horror novel by Stephen King which follows Dr. Louis Creed (Jason Clarke), who, after relocating with his wife Rachel (Amy Seimetz) and their two young children from Boston to rural Maine, discovers a mysterious burial ground hidden deep in the woods near the family’s new home. When tragedy strikes, Louis turns to his unusual neighbor, Jud Crandall (John Lithgow), setting off a perilous chain reaction that unleashes an unfathomable evil with horrific consequences.

Paramount Pictures‘ adaptation is directed by Dennis Widmyer and Kevin Kolsch (Starry Eyes) and is written by Jeff Buhler, the showrunner for Syfy’s horror science fiction series, Nightflyers, based on the George R.R. Martin novella. Lorenzo di Bonaventura (1408, Transformers) is producing along with Mark Vahradian and Steven Schneider (Insidious).

WARNING: SPOILERS LIE AHEAD FOR Pet Sematary

Pet Sematary Easter Eggs

Cujo

During Ellie's birthday party as the kids and Louis play hide-and-seek, Jud can be overheard in the background talking about a big Saint Bernard that got rabies. This is in reference to Stephen King's 1981 novel and its 1983 adaptation in which a large Saint Bernard is bitten by a bat and contracts rabies, going on a murderous rampage.
The Shining

During one of Rachel's terrifying visions of her sister Zelda's death in her childhood home's dumbwaiter, blood comes pouring down from the closed door. The scene is eerily reminiscent of the chilling scene from the 1980 adaptation of King's The Shining, in which Wendy Torrance sees gallons of blood pouring out from the hotel's elevators.
IT

One of King's most notable traits in his writing is the inclusion of references to towns from previous stories, with Castle Rock and Derry, Maine being the most prominent. As Rachel races back home to find out what is wrong with Louis, a highway sign can be seen saying Derry, where the acclaimed novel IT is set, is only 20 miles away.
Ludlow

Though King normally creates fictionalized towns for his stories, a notable exception is the small town of Ludlow, Maine, in which not only is Pet Sematary set, but also the 1989 novel The Dark Half and its 1990 film adaptation.
Torrance

One of the plot changes featured in the new King iteration was the youngest Creed family member, Gage, being cursed with the ability to see and hear the spirit of Victor Pascow, crying out his name in the middle of the night in a manner very similar to Danny screaming Redrum in the 1980 version of The Shining.
Graveyard Shift

During a late night conversation early in the film with Rachel, Louis states moving to Ludlow to become the lead physician is better than having to work the "graveyard shift" back in Boston. The line is a subtle reference to the 1970 short story and 1990 film adaptation of the same name.
Torrance

While driving through town at the beginning of the film, a sign can be seen for D. Torrance Realty, a subtle reference to the young protagonist from King's The Shining novel and subsequent adaptations.