Pet Sematary is a horror novel by Stephen King, first published in 1983. The novel tells the story of Louis Creed, a doctor who moves to a small town in Maine with his wife Rachel and their two young children, Ellie and Gage. The Creeds soon learn that there is a pet cemetery in the woods behind their house, and that it has a dark and sinister history.

What is Pet Sematary About?

The Pet Cemetery

The pet cemetery is said to be haunted by the spirits of the animals that have been buried there. These spirits are able to bring the dead back to life, but only at a terrible cost. The animals that are resurrected are often twisted and deformed, and they are driven by a insatiable hunger for flesh.

Louis Creed's Family

Louis Creed's family is soon caught up in the nightmare of the pet cemetery. When Ellie's cat, Church, is killed by a car, Louis buries it in the pet cemetery. Church returns from the dead, but he is now a monstrous creature that tries to kill Ellie.

When Gage is killed by a truck, Louis buries him in the pet cemetery as well. Gage also returns from the dead, but he is even more monstrous than Church. Gage kills Louis and Rachel, and then he sets out to kill Ellie.

The Ending

Ellie is able to escape from Gage, and she eventually kills him with a silver stake. However, the damage has been done. Louis and Rachel are dead, and Ellie is traumatized by the events that have transpired. The pet cemetery has claimed another family, and its dark legacy continues.

Themes

Pet Sematary explores several themes, including the power of grief, the dangers of trying to cheat death, and the corrupting influence of evil.

The novel also raises questions about the nature of good and evil, and the role of free will in our lives. These are complex and challenging themes, and they make Pet Sematary a thought-provoking and disturbing novel.