Salem's Lot (1979) (TV)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Tobe Hooper

Writers:

Stephen King (novel)
Paul Monash (screenplay)

Release Date:

17 November 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller | Drama | Mystery

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.

Plot Keywords:

Vampire | Writer | Haunted House | Supernatural | Truck

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 nomination

Cast

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

Also Known As:

Blood Thirst
Salem's Lot: The Miniseries
Salem's Lot: The Movie (USA) (cable TV title (cut version))

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:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

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:

Eureka, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Television

Trivia:

In an interview with Fangoria magazine Reggie Nalder (Barlow) said he was somewhat disappointed by the film because some additional scenes that included his vampire were cut.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: As Cully and Larry enter the living room, a crew member and a boom mic are reflected in the mirror.

Quotes:

Jason Berk: [brings some pajamas in for Mike] I hope these will be all right.
[notices Mike's neck]
Jason Berk: Mike, turn your head... this way
[Mike complies]
Jason Berk: Where did you get these marks?
Mike Ryerson: Hmmm. I don't know.
Jason Berk: [goes and shuts window, locking it] Now, call me in the night if you want anything. *Anything*. Even if you have a bad dream. Will you be sure to do that?
Mike Ryerson: [whispers] Yes.
Jason Berk: Now anything... I mean it!
[concerned]
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Father Ted: Grant Unto Him Eternal Rest (#1.6)" (1995)

Excellent traditional vampire flick!

Stephen King's repertoire of books turned into films isn't all that good on the whole, but the list does have a few solid entries; and Salem's Lot is one of them. The cut that I saw was the cinema version, which has been cut down from the three hour TV version. Because of this, the film is overlong in places and incoherent in others; but if you ignore that little fact, what you have here is a nice little vampire flick. The story takes place in the small town of 'Salem's Lot'. If I were to name a town, I wouldn't call it 'Salem's Lot' because with that name, something evil is bound to happen. It's like calling your town 'Werewolf Creek' or 'Demonic Possession Falls' - you just wouldn't do it! Anyway, Salem's Lot becomes a town of vampires after the local weirdo orders a strange package from somewhere. The plot follows a writer that has gone back to Salem's Lot to finish his book. Once murders start occurring, the inept police sergeant suspects the local weirdo, but the writer has more imaginative ideas about what's going on...and sees that it may be down to vampires!

The special effects in Salem's Lot are very cheesy - so cheesy, in fact, that I got the impression that they were like that on purpose. The way that the small town is presented is good, and it gives director Tobe Hooper lots of chances to create an atmosphere around the story. He handles the atmosphere side of the film with great skill, and that makes up one of the film's best assets. There's a reason why many fans consider this Hooper's only good movie besides The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and the atmosphere is probably it. The story does take a while to get going, but the way that it introduces the characters is good and through it's atmosphere and the way that the story moves; the film never gets boring. I haven't read the book of 'Salem's Lot', so I cant comment on how the film relates to the writing; but I can say that it's nice to see the man that is probably the best contender to the crown of 'modern master of horror' handling a story about vampires in a traditional way. I loved the way that King didn't try to distance the story from the genre clichés, and it's nice to see a 'true' vampire film. Overall - good stuff and highly recommended!