When horror fans hear the phrase “pet cemetery,” whether we like it or not, we can’t help but immediately think of Stephen King‘s seminal supernatural story. Despite the unsettling directions that Pet Sematary goes, King’s story had much more human roots, as it was inspired by his time living near a busy road that resulted in his daughter’s cat being killed by an automobile. The fictional story, though, goes into some very dark and fantastical places, but proving the adage that truth is stranger than fiction is HBO’s new true-crime series The Pet Cemetery Murders: A Ghost Story.
A new trailer for the upcoming three-part series has been released, which only scratches the surface of just how bizarre of a case it is. You can see the trailer for the limited series below.
HBO describes The Pet Cemetery Murders: A Ghost Story, “What begins as an investigation into a 1985 murder turns into a haunting exploration of a community’s dark history of violence and bloodshed. Set in the rural bayou outside New Orleans, Louisiana, a harsh landscape steeped in supernatural lore and traditions, the story starts with the disappearance of Dorothy Lou Thompson – the owner of a pet cemetery that had been built on land long rumored to be cursed. Dorothy’s body eventually turns up wrapped in chains in the Mississippi River, raising questions about her past and the people around her.
“With no concrete evidence, the case goes cold until 2009 when Det. John Doran reopens the investigation, following up on old leads and digging into the case files. Unexpectedly, a witness comes forward with a terrifying tale of Dorothy’s ghost which compels him to come forward with information. Three years later, a second witness claims to be haunted by the murdered woman seeking vengeance. The vexing accounts launch a police investigation into Dorothy’s tragic past, revealing a trail of dead husbands, a domineering mother Grace, who founded the cemetery after outrunning her own criminal acts, and the long shadow of a community steeped in evil deeds that were buried but not forgotten.
“With insight from Dorothy’s neighbors, law enforcement, local journalists, and scholars, the series unearths a labyrinthine tale involving multiple dead bodies, disturbing family secrets, and centuries-old massacres exposing the deep-seated horror and guilt that still haunt the community.”
The new series will premiere on Sunday, October 11 on HBO and HBO Max.
Will you be checking out the new series? Let us know in the comments below!