Book, original film and remake ranked: Worst to best...
1. Original film
2. Remake
3. Book
Best - book. It’s a great story and very scary.
Second best - original movie. This is a solid version, and perfectly captures the loss, heartbreak, and terror. There’s a lot missing from the book, and the movie unfortunately went for a gross-out ending. The book’s ending was simpler and also bone-chilling.
Third best - remake. The movie starts well, but loses its way. The terror of Zelda never emerges, the tension between Louis and his father-in-law isn’t present, and the little girl returning is treated like a standard horror movie trope. It’s not a bad remake, but it’s unable to capture the heartbreak and terror of the original movie.
Last place - Pet Sematary II. Blech and double blech.