Salem's Lot

Cast & Crew

David Soul
Ben Mears

James Mason
Richard K. Straker

Lance Kerwin
Mark Petrie

Bonnie Bedelia
Susan Norton

Lew Ayres
Jason Burke

Julie Cobb
Bonnie Sawyer

Elisha Cook Jr.
Gordon "Weasel" Phillips

George Dzundza
Cully Sawyer

Ed Flanders
Dr. Bill Norton

Clarissa Kaye-Mason
Majorie Glick

Tobe Hooper
Director

Richard Kobritz
Producer

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Critic Reviews for Salem's Lot

Audience Reviews for Salem's Lot

• Sep 08, 2016

  I wish Mr. Barlow weren't such a one-dimensional character, but although its three hours may feel a bit too long for the kind of story it wants to tell, this is a decent TV movie that relies on an engaging mystery and takes a careful time to develop it in a satisfying way.
  Carlos M Super Reviewer
• Oct 24, 2012

  Based on a Stephen King bestselling novel, Salem's Lot is a morbid and eerie tale of evil. The story follows a small town with a cursed house that lures in a vampire, who then proceeds to sire the townspeople. The storytelling is poor, and kills whatever mystery and intrigue the plot builds. Additionally, the acting is especially weak with no engaging performances. Salem's Lot is a monotonous film thatâ(TM)s atmospheric and moody, but doesn't deliver.
  Dann M Super Reviewer
• Jan 04, 2012

  Now a pretty ancient vampire film and it certainly looks its age these days, made one year after I was born and I've only just got round to seeing it. Adaptation of a well known King novel of which I saw the film version which is simply all the episodes of the mini TV series stuck together into one movie. As said this was originally a TV series and you can see how it has been put together for this film version but that doesn't detract really, it kinda adds a little charm to the proceedings. Its not terribly scary by today's standards but there is a nice spooky atmosphere throughout which feels good on a cold dark rainy night. Its a slow slow burner that's for sure, I must admit I was getting really quite bored in places as the film is three hours long and there's a lot of dialog all the way through, not much vampire action to be honest. What action there is is now quite quaint and harmless really, not much blood on show and some pretty amusing melodramatic acting as people fall foul of 'Kurt Barlow', but the makeup is still very good, especially the eyes of the vampires. The film is well made and a good adaptation I think as it does seem encompass a lot from the original source, I haven't read the novel but there is a heck of a lot of info packed into the plot with good back stories and character development. Must mention the legend James Mason here as his calm gentlemanly demeanor accompanied by his smooth, eloquent, perfectly pronounced voice works wonders for the evil vampires right hand man, Hopkins and Price eat your heart out hehe. A curious addition to vampire lore which is slightly dull but altogether well crafted, the look of the main vampire obviously has been designed after the classic 'Nosferatu' look but in turn you can see how many future vampire films have also used this style and look.
  Phil H Super Reviewer
• Oct 16, 2011

  Straker: You'll enjoy Mr. Barlow. And he'll enjoy you.  "The ultimate in terror." Salem's Lot is Stephen King's take on the vampire story and it is a pretty good one. A lot of what made the story so scary didn't translate well to the screen, but I still consider this a good adaption of the book. Tobe Hooper is a skilled horror director and while this isn't his best work, it's still a solid entry into the vampire sub-genre.  The movie took me somewhat be surprise. I didn't expect the acting to be nearly as good as it is because it was a made-for-tv film. The cast isn't spectacular, but they do a good enough job. The film isn't at all scary or even creepy, but it was still a fun movie to watch. I probably had more fun watching it than I should have. A writer returns to his hometown that he left when he was 10 or 11 years old. He is obsessed with an old house that stands there, that is also rumored to be haunted. He makes it the subject of his next book. Shortly after arriving, weird occurrences begin and he suspects that whatever is going on has to do with an antique dealer, his partner and that house. The plot is solid enough, but it is nowhere near King's best work. Salem's Lot falls somewhere in the middle when it comes to King adaptions.
  Melvin W Super Reviewer

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