Pet Sematary 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Pet Sematary 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman March 24, 2019

Paramount and Best Buy have collaborated on a store exclusive SteelBook release for the hit 1989 film 'Pet Sematary,' which the studio has released to the 4K format, fully restored in preparation of the new film's arrival to theaters. This SteelBook is one of the visually busier on the market, but it's quite nice and holds a couple of surprises when compared to the wide release UHD. See the 'Special Features and Extras' section of the review below for more on the SteelBook's look and feel.

For a full film review, please click here; note that this link points to Paramount's original Blu-ray release from 2012.

Pet Sematary 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For a full 4K UHD/Dolby Vision video review, please click here.

Pet Sematary 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For a full UHD audio review, please click here.

Pet Sematary 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Note: Describing parts of the SteelBook necessitate spoiling major plot points of the movie.

This SteelBook is part of the "Mondo" collection. It ships with a transparent plastic slipcover that does have some printed material on the front: the Mondo SteelBook logo on the bottom left and a tab denoting what's included on the top left, as well as some clouds that blend in with a similar visual at the same spot on the SteelBook proper. The sides are blank but the rear does include a fairly complex presentation that includes a summary, a "sometimes dead is better" quote, the UPC, a list of bonus features, a few images from the film, tech specs, a billing block, and a few other assorted items. It's legible off the SteelBook but works best when slipped over the SteelBook with a dark background underneath it.

The SteelBook's front cover is rather involved. The film's title appears in yellow-gold scrawl at the bottom, fading to the surrounding black. The most prominent image is of a cat. Its eyes flank a bright full moon. Its tongue takes the shape of a casket, which appears to be full of blood, drizzling down towards the film's title. A few teeth protrude, giving the illusion that the animal, probably Church, is hissing. Gravestones appear in an arc along the middle axis. A man, more than likely Louis Creed, is digging towards the coffin, inside of which is a tiny body. There's some more going on, including some trees appearing along the edge, the cat's facial fur, and some concentric circles that probably in some way represent the Micmac burial ground. The rear side is a little less cluttered and interesting. Part of the cemetery appears to fold over, sloping downwards towards the bottom-left. A tall tree extends along the height of the right-hand side. A few more trees appear along nearby land cutting the middle. Foggy, cloudy cover creeps up along the path and along the entire right-hand side. The spine features the film's title in that same scrawl towards the top. A bloody scalpel appears at the bottom. The word "SteelBook" is superimposed on top of the handle inside square blocks.

Inside, the Digital copy code is tucked under the left-hand side tabs. The two discs, one UHD and one Blu-ray, are on the right hand side, staggered-stacked. It's in here that buyers will find a small special treat. The discs offer unique artwork that is not found on the comparatively bland, lifeless prints on the wide release discs. The UHD features the film's title, again in that yellow-gold scrawl. A bloody scalpel, clearly the same one Gage uses late in the movie, appears at about a 45-degree angle on the disc. The Blu-ray again features the same title but with Gage's bloody shoe on it, the only thing viewers see after the boy is tragically struck by a truck in the movie. The inner print is a two-panel spread featuring Jud's burning house and a silhouette of Louis carrying Rachel's body away. Most of the action is taking place on the left hand side. Some smoke, a few trees, and a bloody red sky appear in support on the right.

For full coverage of the on-disc supplemental features, please click here.

Pet Sematary 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This reviewer is not often a fan of "busy" SteelBooks, but this one is an exception. The front (supported by the rear), inner print image, and the disc artwork come together to tell the movie's story. It's very well thought out and translates extremely well to the popular packaging format. Very highly recommended.