Salem’s Lot is a 2023 American supernatural horror film about a writer who returns to his home town which has become infested by a vampire.
This is the second film adaptation of Stephen King’s 1975 novel. Previously, it was adapted as a 1979 TV mini-series directed by Tobe Hooper, its sequel A Return to Salem’s Lot directed by Larry Cohen, and another TV mini-series in 2004.
Written and directed by Gary Dauberman (co-writer and director of Annabelle Comes Home; (writer of Annabelle; Annabelle: Creation; The Nun; Wolves at the Door ) based on Stephen King’s 1975 novel. Produced by Michael Clear, Roy Lee, James Wan and Mark Wolper. Executive produced by Michael Bederman, Andrew Childs, Gary Dauberman and Judson Scott.
The Atomic Monster-New Line Cinema-The Wolper Organization-Vertigo Entertainment-Warner Bros. co-production stars Lewis Pullman, Bill Camp, Pilou Asbæk, Spencer Treat Clark, Alfre Woodard, John Benjamin Hickey, Nicholas Crovetti, Makenzie Leigh, Debra Christofferson, Kellan Rhude, Cade Woodward, Rebecca Gibel, Fedna Jacquet and Jordan Preston Carter.
Plot:
Haunted by an incident from his childhood, author Ben Mears returns to his hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot in search of inspiration for his next book, only to discover the town is being preyed upon by a bloodthirsty vampire and his loyal servant…
Release:
Variety recently reported that Gary Dauberman’s take on Salem’s Lot may be heading to Max, the Warner Bros. Discovery streaming platform.
The movie was originally set for a theatrical release on September 9, 2022, but that was delayed until April 21, 2023, before a big screen release was dropped altogether. This has led Bloody Disgusting to suggest that “Perhaps, with vocal support from fans, Salem’s Lot may yet head to theatres as Evil Dead Rise did earlier this year. Evil Dead Rise was slated for streaming release on Max (formerly HBO Max) until fans and the franchise’s creators rallied.” The latter went on to take $146,733,054 worldwide at box offices even before streaming and other home viewing releases.
Meanwhile, Stephen King himself has tweeted about Gary Dauberman’s adaptation of his novel: “The Warner Bros remake of Salem’s Lot, currently shelved, is muscular and involving. It has the feel of “Old Hollywood,” when a film was given a chance to draw a breath before getting to business. When attention spans were longer, in other words.”
In a follow up tweet King elaborated: “It feels like a horror movie version of slow-burn movies like The Great Escape. It builds very well. There are diversions from the book I don’t agree with, but on the whole, faithful. Best scene: Danny Glick in the hospital, trying to claw down a blood bag. The Glick scene could have been directed by John Carpenter in his prime.”
Background:
Writer-director Gary Dauberman told Den of Geek in June 2019 that his goal with the new version of Salem’s Lot is to make vampires frightening again. He wanted to get away from the sexier, more romanticized version of the undead that has infested pop culture for much of the past quarter century, thanks to everything from Interview with the Vampire to the Twilight movies to The Vampire Diaries.
Salem’s Lot timeline:
Cast and characters:
Lewis Pullman … Ben Mears
Bill Camp … Mathew Burke
Pilou Asbæk … Richard Straker
Spencer Treat Clark … Mike Ryerson
Alfre Woodard … Doctor Cody
John Benjamin Hickey … Father Callahan
Nicholas Crovetti … Danny Glick
Makenzie Leigh … Susan Norton
Debra Christofferson … Anne Norton
Kellan Rhude … Floyd Tibbits
Cade Woodward … Ralph Glick
Rebecca Gibel … Mabel Wertz
Fedna Jacquet … June Petrie
Jordan Preston Carter … Mark Petrie
Gavin Maddox Bergman … Young Ben Mears
Mike Bash … Officer Taylor
Liam Anderson … Pirate Hat
Marilyn Busch … Eva Miller
Sierra Hawkins … Little Girl Vampire
Avery Bederman … Ruthie Crockett
James J. LaBonte … Pool Player
Mike Kaz … Hank
Cassidy Neal … Officer Nolly
Carly Silverman … Vampire
Jim Patton … Dell
