In the realm of horror fiction, long before modern hits like 'True Blood' or 'Twilight', Stephen King embarked on a journey to bring the terrifying existence of vampires to rural America. His novel 'Salem's Lot' conceptualized a fictional town in Maine where vampires wreaked havoc, a drastic shift from the typical European setting associated with these creatures.
Now, half a century later, a delayed yet stylized adaptation of King's classic tale has hit the screen, written and directed by Gary Dauberman. The movie, set in the year of the book’s publishing -1975, brings forward the era's signature elements, from pageboy haircuts to a deep-seated paranoia towards the supernatural.
The plot revolves around the takeover of the town's peace by Kurt Barlow (Alexander Ward), a vampire resembling Count Orlok of "Nosferatu" rather than King's intended Dracula prototype. With the help of his assistant Richard Straker (Pilou Asbæk), Barlow aims to transform the town's inhabitants into vampires from the Marsten House, a murder mansion he acquires.
As the narrative unfolds, we follow the journey of middling author Ben Mears (Lewis Pullman) and a group of locals who tackle the supernatural threat armed with wooden stakes and crosses. Despite their efforts, the vampire menace spreads across the town faster than a deadly virus.
Nevertheless, while Dauberman's depiction of 'Salem's Lot' falls short in terms of awe and fright, it does introduce new features for the vampires, glowing gold eyes, and the ability to appear out of nowhere. There's also a modern twist in the climax, which pays homage to the era of drive-in movies.
Overall, this retelling of 'Salem's Lot' is a faithful adaptation of the source material tangled with minor indulgences in diversity-based enhancements. It does justice to its classic origin while experimenting with new plot twists, keeping audiences engaged until the end. However, the effectiveness of its visual effects leaves room for improvement.
'Salem’s Lot' is set to exclusively stream on Max beginning October 3, 2024, joining the ranks of its previous miniseries adaptations in the domain of online streaming.
