Out of the many names of fictional small towns in Maine that Stephen King created, Jerusalem’s Lot (shortened to Salem’s Lot) might have the nicest ring to it. The subject of his acclaimed eponymous novel (and a pair of short stories published thereafter), the small town in Maine somehow becomes a tourist destination for a bloodthirsty vampire in his acclaimed book of the same name. The film industry seems to like the name as well, with the book being adapted multiple times, including a new film being released on Oct. 3.
While adaptations of Salem’s Lot have been resigned to television (except for a loose and loony sequel, Return to Salem’s Lot) with two miniseries, many of us thought that the latest adaptation would finally grace the big screen in theaters. Alas, the film is now relegated to streaming (on Max), but it’s better than nothing. Written for the screen and directed by Gary Dauberman (Annabelle Comes Home), it’s certainly got some frights and a stellar cast that’s committed to the cause, but perhaps its small-scale nature is what pushed the studios toward a direct-to-streaming release versus the initially intended theatrical plan. Either way, it’s just in time for the spooky season, and Halloween fans will step right up, TV remotes equipped and all.
Do We Need Another Salem’s Lot?
First, it’s definitely saying something when a certain Stephen King novel is known as a standout in his collection. His seemingly endless body of work includes renowned classics like The Shining, The Stand, and Carrie. And yes, the meta-horror Salem’s Lot undoubtedly belongs in this narrowed-down list; it’s an atmospheric mystery thriller that guides us into a scary modern take on vampires. Having already been the source for three adaptations, you know the foundations are strong. So do we need another? Probably, since King himself is a self-spoken fan of this new adaptation from Dauberman, who had also penned the screenplay for the latest big-screen version of It — another King stunner.
The film follows a native of the titular town, grown-up author Ben Mears (Lewis Pullman, who shared his excitement about the film with us earlier this year), who is now revisiting Jerusalem’s Lot for the sake of some literary inspiration. Meanwhile, there’s a mysteriously suave businessman in town by the name of Richard Straker (Pilou Asbæk), with a curiously out-of-place accent and an arbitrary motivation to set up shop in this otherwise unassuming part of Maine.
A Lived-In Cast of Small Townsfolk
King fans, of course, know the sinister truth behind Straker’s schemes, but that doesn’t spoil anything; the knowledge creates a lovely juxtaposition to the good-natured demeanor of the locals who keep the town sane and safe. It’s a homey, delightful supporting cast that makes up the town.
The comfortable citizens of Jerusalem’s Lot include the fatherly Matthew Burke (Bill Camp, returning to the King-verse following HBO’s The Outsider), who is pals with Dr. Cody (the timeless Alfre Woodard) and local grave-digger Mike Ryerson (grown-up child actor Spencer Treat Clark), whose profession requires him to brush shoulders with alcoholic pastor Father Callahan (John Benjamin Hickey) — and also with, quite possibly, the undead, who’d prefer not to stay buried, of course. Plus, the youngsters (such as Goodnight Mommy star Nicholas Crovetti) hold their own against the evil forces at bay.
One standout among this little ensemble is Susan Norton, played by the stunning actress Makenzie Leigh (The Assistant). Since we know this is a vampire movie, the moment she comes on screen, with her certain seductive complexion and unique skin tone, one can’t help but wonder if Susan is an undercover monster hiding in plain sight.
The Horror Works, But There’s Not Enough of It
The small-town environment is almost embraced to a fault, with Dauberman keeping things a little too small and intimate. We’re so focused on the locals that we get too little time with the deliciously dark vampire himself and not enough personal character development with the main character.
The film’s end result is a bit better than standard vampire-thrills fare, with the added benefit of its modern characters already knowing what a vampire is and actually referencing ancient literature for the sake of fending off the bloodsucking monsters. Usually, your characters aren’t using words like “vampire” or “zombie” within their stories, so it’s fun seeing this self-aware approach in Salem’s Lot.
Another perk is how Dauberman leans into the transformation of certain characters into vamps once they’ve met their unfortunate maker. No spoilers here, but these slow-burn chills are perhaps when the film succeeds most — watching certain likable players lose their grip on reality and memories while their world slowly turns nocturnal. And while the film may be more atmospheric than it is scary, it does lead to a really harrowing climax that deserves a chef’s kiss. Salem’s Lot will begin streaming on October 3 only on Max. You can watch it then with the link below:
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