“‘Salem’s Lot” (2024) written & directed by Gary Dauberman / Z-View

‘Salem’s Lot (2024)

Director: Gary Dauberman

Screenplay: Gary Dauberman; based on ‘SALEM’S LOT by Stephen King

Stars: Lewis Pullman, Makenzie Leigh, Jordan Preston Carter, Alfre Woodard, Bill Camp, John Benjamin Hickey, Nicholas Crovetti, Spencer Treat Clark, Alexander Ward, Danielle Perry, Debra Christofferson, William Sadler, Timothy John Smith, Cade Woodward, Joseph Marrella and Pilou Asbæk.

Tagline: Be careful what you invite inside.

The Plot…

R.T. Straker (Asbæk), a mysterious foreign man, recently moved to Jerusalem’s Lot.  Straker bought the infamous, old Marston house. No one lived there for years because of the murders. Since Straker arrived strange things have been set in motion.

On the way home from school Ralphie Glick (Woodward) disappears.  Search parties find no clues.  Soon others will disappear or die with no logical explanation.  But how could one logically explain a vampire is preying on those in ‘Salem’s Lot?

A writer named Ben (Pullman), his girlfriend Susan (Leigh), Dr. Cody (Woodward) and eleven year old Mark Petrie (Carter) come to realize they are facing a vampire.  The infestation is spreading.  What chance do they have?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

This is the fourth adaptation of Stephen King’s novel.  Tobe Hooper directed the 1979 Salem’s Lot mini-series.  Larry Cohen helmed the 1987 theatrical release A Return to Salem’s Lot.  A new Salem’s Lot mini-series aired in 2004 and starred Rob Lowe.

I liked this version, but feel that it might have been better served as a mini-series.  Writer/director Gary Dauberman has a great feel for the material.  There were several interesting/iconic scenes and shots but overall the story felt rushed.  We needed a slow burn/discovery of exactly what was going on in ‘Salem’s Lot.  I wanted to see more.

Kudos for coming up with the tree house scene.

If there is ever an extended cut for ‘Salem’s Lot, I’m there.

‘Salem’s Lot (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.