So I had never seen, nor read, any of Stephen King’s (SK) works on Salem’s Lot. I had no interest up until the remake was announced, due to come out in October 2024 on (HBO) MAX. It’s worth noting that there is virtually no information about the remake available (such as official trailers or teasers). Anyways, I learned that Salem as a term, which we probably associate with the “Salem witch trials”, is actually a positive word in of itself, stemming from Jerusalem (was both a duh and a eureka moment for me to realize that) and meaning “peaceful“. Some spoilers may be below this point! In case you have no clue what Salem’s Lot is about, it’s a vampire movie.
The first adaptation came out in 1979, and is well, old. Maybe in the 20th century it would’ve looked groundbreaking, but to me, it feels really old thanks to its primary, vampire antagonist. A generic, pale vampire with hideous teeth and weird eyes. But the film definitely captured the elements of primal evil and strangeness. It can easily be streamed from a myriad of platforms for a few bucks, and in HD+ quality.
Now, bear in mind that there was supposedly a sequel to this 1979 Salem’s Lot. The sequel, which I would agree with critics on, is a sequel in name only: A Return To Salem’s Lot. This film too can be streamed easily, but it is only in SD (not like a higher resolution would make it any better). This film features ZERO of anything from the original, except for the name Salem’s Lot and vampires. It’s also classified as a “horror/comedy”, but it is crappy slapstick humor with much more badly dressed vampires. I would say it’s still worth watching if you want to see how to NOT DO A SEQUEL.
Finally, the last adaptation was made in 2004, and bears the same name as the original. It is a remake of the original, bearing the same plot and story line, but in the 21st century, has Rob Lowe, and a bit more character development, as well as an ending that grants closure, unlike with the original. It was a good watch, and takes the bad taste that A Return to Salem’s Lot left away. This film is available on Amazon for rent for a few bucks.