Pet Sematary (1989) - Quotes

A Family's Encounter with Unthinkable Evil

Taglines: A dark secret. A family tragedy. An unthinkable evil. All from a Stephen King novel so horrific, he terrified himself with it.

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The Importance of Timely Pet Care

Taglines: Don't forget to put out the cat — before the cat puts you out.

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The enduring bond between pets and life

Taglines: A pet isn't just for life.

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The Danger of Burying the Dead

Taglines: Where nothing ever rests in peace...That's why you don't bury a human being there — not in your right mind.

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The Complexity of Life and Death

Taglines: Sometimes dead is better.

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A Magical Place with Dark Consequences

Taglines: A magical place where a child's best friend can live forever — as an adult's worst nightmare. And, if it works for animals...

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Desperation in the Face of Loss

Victor: I'm sorry Louis. I'm very sorry, but don't make it worse! Don't!

Louis: I waited too long with Gage. But with Rachel... it will work this time! Because she just died; she died just a little while ago!

Victor: [fades out of existence] Please, Louis! NOOOOOO!

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Checking on Rachel's Return

Louis: Hello.

Irwin: Hello, Louis. It's Irwin. I just wanted to be sure Rachel got back all right. Louis? Are you there?

Louis: Yes, I'm here.

Irwin: Did she get back all right?

Louis: Yes. She's fine.

Irwin: Well, put her on at that end, and I'll put Ellie on this one. Ellie's very worried about her mother. She's almost in hysterics.

Louis: She's... Rachel's asleep.

Irwin: I suggest you wake her up. Ellie had a dream that her mother was dead.

Louis: Irwin, I can't talk to you right now. (PHONE RINGING) Irwin, I told you I can't talk to you right now.

Gage: [on the phone] I'm at Jud's, Daddy. Will you come over and play with me? First I played with Judd. Then mommy came, and I played with mommy. We played, daddy, we had a awful good time! Now, I want to play with you...

Louis: [Gage laughs wickedly] What did you do? WHAT DID YOU DO!?

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Rachel's Call to Jud from Chicago

Jud: Hello?

Rachel: Hello, Jud. It's Rachel Creed. I'm calling from Chicago.

Jud: Chicago? Is Louis with you?

Rachel: No. We're going to be here a while, and he needed a few days to close things up back there. I just wondered if he was with you.

Jud: No. But if he drops by, I'll tell him to call you.

Rachel: Don't bother, Jud. I'm coming home.

Jud: Rachel, no. You don't want to do that.

Rachel: [dial tone] I have to do it, Jud. Good-bye.

Jud: Rachel! Rachel!

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A Warning from a Ghostly Presence

Rachel: It's okay, Ellie! You just had a bad dream.

Ellie: It wasn't a dream, it was Paxcow! Paxcow says daddy is going to do something really bad!

Rachel: Who is this Paxcow?

Ellie: He's a ghost, a good ghost! He was sent to warn us!

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The Nature of Death and Resurrection

Louis: I'll bite, Jud. What's the bottom of the truth?

Jud: That, sometimes, dead is better. The person that you put up there ain't the person that comes back. It might look like that person, but it ain't that person, because whatever lives on the ground beyond the Pet Sematary ain't human at all.

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Questioning the Cemetery's Dark History

Louis: Has anyone ever buried a person up there?

Jud: Christ on His Throne, NO! Whoever would!?

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A Haunting Promise of Revenge

Zelda Goldman: [cackles] I'm coming for you, Rachel... And this time, I'll get you... Gage and I will both get you, for letting us die...

A Disturbing Reunion and Threatening Promise

Zelda Goldman: Rachel, is that you? I finally came back for you Rachel. I'm going to twist your back like mine, so you'll never get out of bed again... Never get out of bed again...NEVER GET OUT OF BED AGAIN! NEVER GET OUT OF BED AGAIN!!!

Consequences of Grief and Blame

Irwin Goldman: [at Gage's funeral; to Louis; punches Louis] I knew this would happen. I told her when you were first married you'd have all the grief you can stand and more, I said. Now look at this. I hope you rot in hell! Where were you when he was playing in the road? You stinkin shit! You killer of children!

Ownership and Attachment to Pets

Ellie Creed: [crying, after Church dies] But he's not God's cat, he's my cat... let God get His own if He wants one... not mine.

The Barrier of the Sour Ground

Victor Pascow: The barrier was not meant to be crossed. The ground is sour.

The Nature of Ownership and Consequences

Jud Crandall: The soil of a man's heart is stonier, Louis. A man grows what he can, and he tends it. Cause what you buy, is what you own. And what you own... always comes home to you.