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When it comes to films operating in the Stephen King universe, 1992’s PET SEMATARY TWO is a rare breed. In an effort to capitalize on the success of Mary Lambert’s original film, Paramount eagerly began pursuing a sequel. But there was of course an inherent problem with that plan—there is no sequel to Stephen King’s PET SEMATARY. Similar to THE RAGE: CARRIE 2, the impatient exec’s-behind-desks couldn’t bother waiting for King to spit out a continuation of the Creed family’s tragic tale and simply hired someone else (Richard Outten to be precise) to write a new dark tale of about the curious impermanence of death in Ludlow, Maine. However, if our collective time spent in the Micmac burial grounds has taught us anything it’s that things don’t always return the same.
Although once again hiring the talented Mary Lambert back to direct PET SEMATARY TWO, there were a lot of changes made both narratively and stylistically that resulted in the film feeling significantly separate from its predecessor. For one, the story revolves around a completely new family unit and set of Ludlow residents, with the corresponding cast to match. Another is the dark humor injected into the heart of the film through its writing. Subsequently executed with remarkable efficacy by the incomparable Clancy Brown, PET SEMATARY TWO conveys a notably more light-hearted atmosphere of dark fun. And yet, despite these major departures from King’s original story, nothing makes PET SEMATARY TWO feel miles down the road from the Creed’s residence as resolutely as its score and soundtrack.
Now, before we get too deep in the weeds, let it be known that this is not a piece criticizing or attacking the sonic world of PET SEMATARY TWO. On the contrary, while strikingly different in tone and style from the original film, the music of PET SEMATARY TWO becomes the glue that holds the rest of the film together. Not only does it highlight the youthful element that its young cast brings to the table, it also adds a healthy dose of edge with a well-curated selection of insert songs. Sneaking across the finish line ahead of films like THE CROW, SINGLES, TRAINSPOTTING, SPAWN, and JUDGEMENT NIGHT, PET SEMATARY TWO boasts a trailblazing soundtrack filled with killer grunge and alt-rock deep cuts.
When it came time to handle the score for PET SEMATARY TWO, the choice was made by Lambert specifically to hire composer Mark Governor. After collaborating years previously on one of her short films, Lambert was convinced that Governor had the chops to bring her vision of a more youthful and edgy version of Ludlow to life. Not surprisingly, the studio folks were hesitant. A relatively unknown name in the mainstream world, producers were hoping for someone with a bit more big-budget film experience under their belt. Along with that fact, the rock-infused score that Lambert was envisioning stood in direct contrast to composer Elliot Goldenthal’s more traditional score for the original film. Ultimately standing her ground, Lambert was able to convince the studio that Governor was the man for the job.
By juxtaposing electric guitars, icy synths, reverberating low hums, and the original song “Love Never Dies” featuring Traci Lords, Governor brought Lambert’s vision to life. Not only did it allow the film to straddle the line between the late ’80s and early ’90s sound, but it also coincided with the new characters introduced on-screen; especially the character of Jeff Matthews. Portrayed by Edward Furlong fresh off his star-making TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY role, Jeff is an outsider in Ludlow. Along with being the new kid in town, Jeff is also the son of a recently deceased famous actress. Understandably filled with grief and teenage angst, the presence of these heavier electronic instruments plays beautifully off his emotional state and position in town.
Supporting Governor’s score and Jeff’s character at every turn is the film’s top-notch soundtrack. Inspired by conversations between Lambert and Governor over their shared love of modern music, PET SEMATARY TWO features a host of bands with fresh new sounds. At least, fresh by a 1992 standard anyways. With bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains topping the charts, the choice to introduce a similar sound into PET SEMATARY TWO was a smart move indeed. And while licensing “Smells Like Teen Spirit” may have been a little outside of PET SEMATARY TWO’s budget, that doesn’t mean that the tracks they did secure aren’t complete bangers.
Similar to Governor being chosen as the film’s composer, Lambert’s fingerprints are all over the film’s soundtrack too. Along with familiar ’90s acts like Dramarama, The Jesus & Mary Chain, and the Ramones, there were also several slightly lesser-known (but completely incredible) female-fronted bands included as well. Having expressed admiration for these specific bands to Governor in the past, the usage of songs from L7, Lulabox, and The Nymphs makes perfect sense. More than just a peek into what Lambert might have included on a personal mixtape, the inclusion of songs featuring female voices effectively contributes a much-needed nuance into a heavily male-character-dominated film. On top of that, the songs peppered throughout the film genuinely feel like songs that Jeff and his classmates would turn up on the local radio.
As the years have passed since PET SEMATARY TWO’s initial release, the interesting mix of artists included on the soundtrack continues to age like a fine wine. With so many films (both past and present) recycling familiar songs and greedily nipping at current tracks topping the charts, it remains refreshing to see a more sincere and curated approach. It also, unintentionally, dates the film in a most magical way. Not only marking a shift in the wider popular music landscape, it stands as a testament to the wealth of incredible music that was being created in the early ’90s. Despite the mainstream pop-culture effort to drown out the contributions of so many talented artists with heavy doses of nostalgia and simplified narratives, PET SEMATARY TWO still offers an alternative.
To get a little personal perspective into this time period and the band’s involvement with the film, I reached out to Sam Merrick, the guitar player for The Nymphs. In a Daily Grindhouse exclusive, Merrick had this to say about The Nymphs presence within the film:
“PET SEMATARY TWO was The Nymphs’ second experience with the movies. The first, BAD INFLUENCE, required a lot of interaction, we pitched songs and played the role of The Nymphs in the movie. Our involvement in PET SEMATARY TWO was more mysterious. It seemed to materialize from the ether, at the least expected time, right as The Nymphs were fragmenting in different directions. PET SEMATARY TWO grouped us in a nice package along with formidable bands from the era (and Traci Lords), almost like a consolation – funny how The Nymphs’ swansong was a contribution to a cemetery soundtrack, on the way to their own grave.”
In the same way that PET SEMATARY TWO’s very existence remains a scarce commodity in the world of Stephen King, so does its music in the larger world of ’90s soundtracks. Not only did Governor’s rock-infused approach to the score fly in the face of what was expected from a large studio production, but it also stood in direct contrast to the film that birthed its very existence. Add in the interesting array of alternative radio deep cuts and the combination results in something truly unique.
More than just a hallmark of its time, PET SEMATARY TWO provides an intimate snapshot of popular music through a very specific lens. While initially received (very) poorly, PET SEMATARY TWO’s popularity continues to breathe and churn, slowly gaining strength beneath the weight of time. In part due to some incredible on-screen performances, I have to think the other part is due to the often overlooked, but unquestionably awesome score and soundtrack. It just goes to prove, for some things—and some movies—death really is only the beginning.
Tags: Clancy Brown, Dramarama, Edward Furlong, L7, Lulabox, Mark Governor, Mary Lambert, Movie Scores, Movie Soundtracks, pet sematary, Pet Sematary 2, Richard Outten, Sam Merrick, Screamquels, sequel, Soundtracks, Stephen King, The Jesus & Mary Chain, The Nymphs, The Ramones, Traci Lords
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