S Poddar
Prolific horror writer Gary Dauberman, of “Annabelle” fame, gives a new spin to one of the most legendary stories by the genius Stephen King, as Salem’s Lot hits screens everywhere. Starting October 3, Max will stream the movie that has been keeping fans salivating since its announcement due to various release delays.
Adapted directly from King’s 1975 novel, Salem’s Lot centers around title character Ben Mears, played by Lewis Pullman. Mears is a successful writer who returns to his hometown, Jerusalem’s Lot, with the urge to draw inspiration for his novel. The town, however, is much more than just a quiet place of reflection alone. His coming to town coincides with that of Kurt Barlow, played by William Sadler, an ancient vampire with sinister intentions. By using his human servant, Richard Straker (Pilou Asbæk), Barlow starts turning the residents of Jerusalem’s Lot into creatures of the night. The more that town falls into the grasp of Barlow’s power, the more desperate the struggle for survival becomes in Mears and those around him.
The ensemble is fully stocked with talent to really bring King’s haunting tale to life. Joining Pullman are Makenzie Leigh as Susan Norton, love interest for Mears; Bill Camp as Matthew Burke, high school teacher of the town. Rounding out the ensemble will be Alfre Woodard as Dr. Cody, Spencer Treat Clark as gravedigger Mike Ryerson, and John Benjamin Hickey as Father Callahan, the priest of the town. But the most important name for fans of King’s broader universe has to be Father Callahan, a pivotal figure in the author’s Dark Tower series.
The road to getting Salem’s Lot on screen has been long and winding. The film was first announced back in 2019, originally set to hit theaters in September 2022. But it proved time and again to be a slippery creature, with its premiere date being pushed back multiple times before its final shift to Max. All this waiting has only heightened anticipation, and fans of the book await how this adaptation will bring out the horror of King’s original story.
Behind the camera, Dauberman directed the film but also wrote the screenplay, something he is highly experienced in, having written the very successful 2017 adaptation of It and its sequel, It: Chapter Two, which came out in 2019. Dauberman is no newcomer to horror, considering his major work in the universe of The Conjuring, penning scripts like Annabelle, Annabelle: Creation, and The Nun. In 2019, he wrote and directed Annabelle Comes Home, a film which marked him as modern horror’s new master. Adding to the horror credentials of this film is James Wan, the mastermind behind the The Conjuring franchise, who produced Salem’s Lot.
This latest adaptation of Salem’s Lot is not the first that King’s novel has received. Shortly after the novel was published, a two-part miniseries on CBS was broadcast in 1979; it starred David Soul as Ben Mears. The miniseries was well-liked and earned three Emmy Award nominations, cultivating an enthusiastic fan base. The story returned to screens in 1987 when A Return to Salem’s Lot, a feature film sequel to the original miniseries, was released. Another adaptation came in 2004 with Rob Lowe starring in a TNT miniseries. Most recently, in 2021, Epix released Chapelwaite, a series based on King’s prequel short story, Jerusalem’s Lot, starring Adrien Brody and Emily Hampshire.
For fans of horror, and for fans of Stephen King, Salem’s Lot is one of the more highly-anticipated revisits to one of the master of horror’s best works. Full of a cast of faces one recognizes, with a storyline that is going to keep people on the edge of their seats and a seasoned director helming it, the movie promises all the suspense and terror of King’s novel.
The wait goes back to October 3rd, when Salem’s Lot will finally hit Max. Prepare for some mayhem as the peaceful little town of Jerusalem’s Lot goes to hell, and the vampires are unleashed. Watch the full trailer now for an idea of what’s in store.
