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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Stephen King (novel)
Paul Monash (screenplay)
Release Date:
17 November 1979 (USA) more
Tagline:
The ultimate in terror!
Plot:
Vampires are invading a small New England town. It's up to a novelist and a young horror fan to save it. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(11 articles)
Strigoi (2009)
(From pretty-scary. 4 November 2009, 12:00 AM, PST)
Austin Film Fest 09: Review of vampire comedy Strigoi
(From QuietEarth. 1 November 2009, 10:26 PM, PST)
User Comments:
Atmospheric adaptation more (171 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| David Soul | ... | Ben Mears | |
| James Mason | ... | Richard K. Straker | |
| Lance Kerwin | ... | Mark Petrie | |
| Bonnie Bedelia | ... | Susan Norton | |
| Lew Ayres | ... | Jason Berk | |
| Julie Cobb | ... | Bonnie Sawyer | |
| Elisha Cook Jr. | ... | Gordon 'Weasel' Phillips (as Elisha Cook) | |
| George Dzundza | ... | Cully Sawyer | |
| Ed Flanders | ... | Dr. Bill Norton | |
| Clarissa Kaye-Mason | ... | Majorie Glick (as Clarissa Kaye) | |
| Geoffrey Lewis | ... | Mike Ryerson | |
| Barney McFadden | ... | Ned Tebbets | |
| Kenneth McMillan | ... | Constable Parkins Gillespie | |
| Fred Willard | ... | Larry Crockett | |
| Marie Windsor | ... | Eva Miller |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Blood Thirst
Salem's Lot: The Miniseries
Salem's Lot: The Movie (USA) (cable TV title (cut version))
more
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
112 min | Argentina:115 min | Germany:103 min | UK:107 min (theatrical version) | USA:184 min (uncut version) | USA:183 min (DVD version)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Finland:K-16 | Iceland:16 | France:-12 (theatrical) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video rating) (1995) (mini-series version) | UK:18 (original rating) (theatrical version) | USA:PG | West Germany:16 | Singapore:PG
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Though Salem's Lot was only Stephen King's second published novel, like many of his subsequent novels, it has connections to his Dark Tower series. In this case, the character of Father Donald Callaghan appears in the later books of the series. more
Goofs:
Continuity: The pry bar that Ned and Mike drop on the floor at the Marsten house changes positions between shots. more
Quotes:
Jason Berk:
[holding crucifix in front of vampire Mike] I revoke my invitation. Get out.
Mike Ryerson:
[raises hands in defence] You'll sleep with the dead, teacher.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in The 100 Greatest Scary Moments (2003) (TV) more
FAQ
How is this film different from the novel?more
more (171 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Salem's Lot (1979) (TV) moreRecommendations
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Excellent horror flick from Tobe Hooper who gave us Poltergeist (that's Poltergeist 1, the GOOD one)...Lifeforce, Nightmares, The Mangler, Dark Skies, The Others, and so many more!
Written for TV by Paul Monash, screenwriter who adapted the marvelous TV series, "V," and directed by one of the Masters of Horror, Tobe Hooper, this movie (in the extended version) closely follows Stephen King's original literary work much better than expected.
While there are campy moments, and the effects could have been much, MUCH better (it WAS post-Star Wars, after all), there are edgy, frightening moments; moments where you literally hold your breath, if you've allowed yourself to be drawn into the movie. Riddled with "scare you" and "edge of the seat" moments, this film, while a bit dated, is still scary.
I previously owned the "cut" version which aired on cable in 1979.
In writing this review, I purchased the full-length version and I must say that I was delightfully surprised. This version was so much better, followed the original work more closely, and added the depth of character development which the "short" version completely obliterated.
In the wake of the remake to be aired in 2004, I thought a fresh viewing of this movie was in order, and so it was. If you have never seen "Salem's Lot" in its 184 minute presentation, please do. It's a classic in the horror genre and will enrich your perspective of the plot by 100%.
Suspenseful and actually scares you from time to time.
It rates an 8.4/10 from...
the Fiend :.