PET SEMATARY (1989)
Starring Dale Midkiff and Fred Gwynne
One of the best Stephen King adaptations ever! Critics hated it, but fans knew better, making it a $60 million hit.
A doctor (Midkiff) moves into a rural home with his wife and two kids and befriends a creepy old codger (Gwynne of "Munsters" fame), who shows him a burial ground for all the pets killed by the local highway. When the family cat dies, Gwynne takes him to yet another burial ground—this one formerly used by American Indians to resurrect their dead. The cat is buried there and comes back to life. Then, when Midkiff's youngest son is run over by a truck—and he of course decides to resurrect him from the dead—the shit really hits the fan.
With a screenplay by King himself, this ties with "Creepshow" as the best film ever involving the horror author. It is, at least, the best adaptation of one of his novels. ("Creepshow" was written specifically for the screen.)
George Romero was originally tapped to direct, but backed out of the project. Lambert's previous directing experience included Madonna's "Like a Prayer" video. She did a great job with "Pet Sematary." It's too bad that all of King's later films weren't directed by her. Highly recommended—but beware the weak sequel, "Pet Sematary 2."