When Terminator 2: Judgment Day exploded onto screens in 1991, it didn’t just redefine action cinema, it catapulted a 13-year-old unknown, Edward Furlong, into Hollywood’s spotlight. His portrayal of young John Connor, a rebellious teen thrust into a future war for humanity, was unforgettable and instantly iconic. But the follow up to that blockbuster success wasn’t the career launchpad many expected.
Almost immediately after T2, Furlong took a role in Pet Sematary Two, the 1992 sequel to the Stephen King-inspired horror film. While the original Pet Sematary performed respectably at the box office and became a touchstone in the genre, its follow up struggled, making just over $17 million against an $8 million budget and drew universally negative reviews.
Critics blasted Pet Sematary Two for leaning on gore rather than genuine chills, and even Stephen King removed his name from the marketing when it became clear how poorly received it was turning out. Variety noted it was “about 50% better than its predecessor, which is to say it’s not very good at all,” and The New York Times said the movie sacrificed character and narrative coherence for effects.
Director Tony Bill once wrote that “Eddie Furlong didn’t choose the movies, the movies chose him,” underscoring just how much happened to the young actor before he fully had control of his career. While Pet Sematary Two later earned a modest cult following among horror fans, at the time it was a sobering reality check following the triumph of Terminator 2 and one of the first signs of the tumultuous path Furlong’s career would take.
