After two years on hold, we finally have a new adaptation of Stephen King’s vampire classic.
It’s one of Stephen King’s most famous novels, and one of the few to have been adapted multiple times. It was first brought to life in 1979 with a legendary miniseries by Tobe Hooper (which even had its own sequel), and then again in 2004 in a more faithful but much less memorable version. Now, we can prepare for the return of Salem’s Lot, this time as a movie, exclusively on Max.
The film has experienced a long and puzzling series of delays, but it has finally made its debut on Warner’s platform. The first announcement came in 2019 when it was revealed that Gary Dauberman, the screenwriter of both It films, would be writing and directing it. The original release date was set for September 2022, but it was delayed to 2023 due to pandemic-related issues. Later, it was pushed again to avoid overlapping with Evil Dead Rise. The Hollywood strikes further postponed its release, leading to an exclusive streaming debut.
As Stephen King himself said when urging Warner to release the film, “It’s not that it’s embarrassing or anything like that.” The movie follows the book’s plot fairly closely (despite inevitable cuts due to runtime): a successful writer returns to his childhood town only to discover that the peaceful community is being overrun by a vampire. He must join an unlikely group of hunters to fight it.
Salem’s Lot will delight ’80s nostalgia seekers, as it exudes vibes reminiscent of classics like The Lost Boys or Fright Night. It’s a bit more playful than the novel, which leaned toward a more gothic tone, with more action and humor. Although it has a somewhat rushed pace and shows signs of reshoots and possible re-edits, it’s perfect for those tired of brooding, romantic vampires and craving some old-school Nosferatu-style excitement.
