While the latest remake is still fresh, “Simetierre: the origins of evil” – available on Paramount + – looks back on the youth of one of the key characters in Stephen King’s book who appreciated this new film. So what about us?
WHAT IS IT ABOUT ?
Sometimes death is better… In 1969, young Jud Crandall dreams of leaving his hometown of Ludlow, Maine. He uncovers dark, buried secrets and is forced to confront a dark family history that will forever keep him tied to Ludlow. Uniting together, Jud and his childhood friends must fight an ancient evil that has gripped Ludlow since its founding and, once unearthed, has the power to destroy everything in its path.
Simetierre: the origins of evil, directed by Lindsey Beer
WHO IS IT WITH?
In this prequel to Stephen King’s book, we find young actors, such as Jackson White (Ambulance), Jack Mulhern (Mare of Easttown), Forrest Goodluck (Sabotage) and Natalie Alyn Lind (Big Sky). But a few familiar faces complete the cast, like David Duchovny – who needs no introduction –, Henry Thomas (ET, The Haunting of Hill House) or even Pam Grier, heroine of Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown.
IT’S WORTH CHECKING OUT ?
As Carrie, Simetierre has undergone several adaptations. Nothing could be more logical, the novel, published in 1983, is one of the most emblematic titles of the career of its author, Stephen King. Four years after the release of a remake, here is a prequel based on a so-called “unpublished” chapter of the original work.
The writer, who has never focused too much on the cinematographic adaptations of his books, himself validated this new project on his X account (Twitter), praising the quality of its story. Enough to arouse our curiosity.
“In the book, this is the story that Jud Crandall tells Louis Creed to try to dissuade him from using the animal cemetery. The storyline takes some liberties, but it’s a great story. David Duchovny is excellent. The secret, as always, is to care about the characters.”
Strange reaction from the master of horror because Simetierre: the origins of evil looks like any generic horror film that accumulates the pitfalls of the genre: a multitude of jump scares – bursts of sound – and scenes so dark that you would almost be forced to adjust the brightness of the screen.
The frustration is great because the original novel offers enough freedom to create an exciting new story. This is what director and co-writer Lindsey Beer tries to do, in vain.
Paramount+
The character of Timmy Baterman – whose personal story is evoked in the book in a terrifying way – is ultimately very disappointing. Just like young Jud Crandall. The film doesn’t even make an effort to link the protagonist to his older version that we meet later. Another big regret: David Duchovny and Pam Grier are completely underused and don’t even benefit from a scene strong enough to shine.
Among the good things about this prequel is the horror – and that’s not bad. Lindsey Beer doesn’t take long to set the scene, she quickly plunges into fear. Some bloody sequences are quite successful, like the one taking place in a hospital. Simetierre: The Origins of Evil can certainly satisfy spectators as a good Halloween film. For the most knowledgeable, disappointment seems inevitable.
Simetierre: Origins of Evil is available on Paramount+.