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Salem's Lot (TV 1979)

TV Movie  -   -  Horror | Mystery | Thriller  -  17 November 1979 (USA)
6.6
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Ratings: 6.6/10 from 10,035 users  
Reviews: 183 user | 44 critic

Vampires are invading a small New England town. It's up to a novelist and a young horror fan to save it.

Director:

Writers:

(novel), (screenplay)
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Title: Salem's Lot (TV 1979)

Salem's Lot (TV 1979) on IMDb 6.6/10

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Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 nomination. See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Bonnie Sawyer
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Gordon 'Weasel' Phillips (as Elisha Cook)
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Cully Sawyer
Ed Flanders ...
Dr. Bill Norton
Clarissa Kaye-Mason ...
Majorie Glick (as Clarissa Kaye)
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Barney McFadden ...
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Storyline

Young novelist returning home to Salem's Lot after many years is disturbed by the strange behaviour of its people. He begins to believe that the source of the trouble may be the eerie old Marsten House that overlooks the town. Written by Grant Hamilton <n9431210@scholar.nepean.uws.edu.au>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

The ultimate in terror!


Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

17 November 1979 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Salem's Lot: The Movie  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (theatrical) | (uncut) | (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Producer Richard Kobritz decided to select Tobe Hooper for the director's chair after catching a screening of Hooper's The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. See more »

Goofs

When Mark goes to the Marsten house to kill Barlow, he pulls out two lock picks from a small case in order to break in. Then he clearly inserts the handle of one pick into the padlock, rather than the toothed end. See more »

Quotes

Straker: Ciao, Constable.
Constable Parkins Gillespie: Chow?
Straker: Ciao. It's a familiar Italian expression meaning goodbye.
Constable Parkins Gillespie: I didn't know you were Italian.
Straker: I'm not. The word is.
See more »

Crazy Credits

The text of the opening credits appear and dissolve piece by piece into each other in a jigsaw puzzle fashion. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Freak Out (2004) See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
A Masterpiece
31 October 2004 | by ((e.g. London, England)) – See all my reviews

Ah! If only ALL "made-for-TV" works were like this one! They just don't make them like this anymore. I doubt if they ever will. I've begun to notice how the quality of the arts at any given moment seem to be indicative of a culture's uprise/downfall.

I just finished watching Salem's Lot now in 2004, many years after it was made, and I still realize what masterpiece this film is. Excellent acting, intelligent scripting, intelligent direction, smart photography, professional editing, disturbing music, mysterious atmosphere, good and colorful dialogs "'ciao' is Italian for 'good-bye'.. hmm.. you learn something new everyday", many many ingredients.

This is what horror is truly all about. It has not to do with 'gore' or blood or visual effects substantially, but with an atmosphere that is reflected in all aspects of the story being told, that is, whatever you see and hear. It's an experience.

Then add to all of this nearly 4 hours for the whole thing to air on tv, which, instead of giving us a tiresome long and boring picture, gives us the progressive development of actions and situations that make this film what it is.

This film presents vampires as what they are, not stylish conversative and sometimes stupid sentient and pretty creatures, but meta-physical representations of evil in its superlative form, that is, SCARY, and I mean TRULY SCARY things to avoid like hell itself!

The vampires are not the twisted politically correct teenager role model vampires of the '90s. They are hideously mysterious, ethereal, chilling and extremely dangerous demonic things with human form. Foul, corrupt and evil aberrations whose eyes glow in the dark like some animals' do.

The actors, I'm sure, all gave their best in this effort. I don't know whatever Mr. Hooper said to them before filming, but I'd sure love to know.

This was money well spent by the makers. They have given us art. This is time well used by the viewers. You gain by watching Salem's Lot, you can't/won't lose. 10/10 anyday.


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