‘Be careful what you invite inside’
Salem’s Lot is a 2024 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:
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. Gary Dauberman’s take on Salem’s Lot is going straight-to-streaming on Max (formerly HBO Max) on October 3, 2024.
Stephen King previously 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 was 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.
Buy the novel from Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk
In a more recent interview with Den of Geek Dauberman revealed that: “My first cut was about three hours. There’s a lot left out. My first draft of the script is 180-odd pages or something because you’re trying to include everything. And a lot of it has to do with a lot of the secondary characters and stuff that I spoke about. So it was sad to see that stuff go, but it’s like a necessary evil.In the book, Ben sneaks into the Marsten House, and he sees the ghost of Hubert Marsten. I shot that and it used to open the movie, but it seemed to muddy the waters for audiences; the ghost story within the vampire story. To me it’s so important because it’s why Ben believes the vampire stuff, but we’re not telling that story, so that was the hardest thing to cut because I love the sequence.”
Reviews:
“Dauberman loses the creep of the original novel for something more streamlined and exciting, even nostalgic, as a good portion of the final act takes place at a drive-in theater. Salem’s Lot doesn’t retain much dramatic urgency, but it has its lively moments and some ghoulish vampiric developments. It’s more of a visual experience than a storytelling triumph, with Dauberman straining to balance the color of King’s writing with the visceral kick of modern moviemaking.” ★★★ Blu-ray.com
“Despite its 1970s setting, the old-school slow-burn dread and mystery that permeates the novel and Tobe Hooper’s miniseries are largely replaced by the pacey rhythm of ’80s and ’90s horror vibes at this point. Whether it was the result of the studio interference, it’s hard not to notice the clashes of tones between The Conjuring Universe-style filmmaking (evidently in the opening scene) and the spooky fun type of vampire horror of the second half minus the tongue-in-cheek humour.” ★★½ Casey’s Movie Mania
“It’s easy to suspect that Gary Dauberman was paying close attention to the vibe his colleague James Wan brought to Malignant, as this movie’s creepy suspense eventually gives way to some heart-pounding and action-oriented setpieces. In other words, Salem’s Lot (2024) eventually stops trying to scare you and starts trying to delight you. It will certainly delight many fans, particularly because it makes a twice-adapted story feel engaging and surprisingly rich.” ★★★★ Discussing Film
” …a half-baked adaptation that has a great setting, but is guilty of being conventional and having a less than enthusiastic cast. It has a fantastic setting that gives the story a perfect atmosphere. It’s overly conventional, which is not good for a modern horror film.” 69/100 HobbyCine [translated from Spanish]
” …the 2024 adaptation of “Salem’s Lot” constitutes a visually accomplished yet narratively uninspired reiteration of a horror classic. It exemplifies the perils inherent in attempting to recapture the essence of a revered adaptation and underscores the necessity of introducing a novel, audacious vision when reinterpreting iconic works of the genre. As it stands, the 1979 “Salem’s Lot” remains the authoritative cinematic rendering of King’s masterpiece, a work whose unsettling power endures unabated.” ★★ Irish Film Critic
“The imagery feels to be the perfect meeting of old and new, propping up unique scene transitions but allowing the eerie lighting to shine. Playing fast and loose with the richly-defined characters, opting to condense and underline the creepier elements, definitely works in favor of forming a satisfying, memorable whole. Going straight for the jugular to embrace King’s mean streak, 2024’s Salem’s Lot represents the best case scenario in re-adapting a beloved title for a new generation.” ★★★★ Josh at the Movies
“Usually, news of a movie sitting on the shelf for two years would spell a stinker. Not so with Salem’s Lot. The movie is a crackling work of entertainment, with propulsive, enthusiastically constructed set pieces and a strong foundation in its classic source material. Make sure to watch it with a large group of friends.” ★★★½ Loud and Clear
Trailer:
“Where’s the body?” clip:
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
Related:
#SalemsLot2024
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