IMDb > A Return to Salem's Lot (1987)

A Return to Salem's Lot (1987) More at IMDbPro »

Overview

User Rating:
3.9/10   1,200 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 10% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Larry Cohen
Writers:
Stephen King (characters)
Larry Cohen (story)
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Contact:
View company contact information for A Return to Salem's Lot on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
May 1987 (USA) more
Genre:
Horror more
Plot:
A man and his son vacation to the quiet vampire populated town of Salem's Lot. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
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User Comments:
Terrible execution ruins what might have been an interesting story more (54 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Michael Moriarty ... Joe Weber
Ricky Addison Reed ... Jeremy Weber
Samuel Fuller ... Van Meer
Andrew Duggan ... Judge Axel
Evelyn Keyes ... Mrs. Axel

Jill Gatsby ... Sherry
June Havoc ... Aunt Clara
Ronee Blakley ... Sally
James Dixon ... Rains
David Holbrook ... Assistant

Katja Crosby ... Cathy

Tara Reid ... Amanda
Brad Rijn ... Clarence
Janelle Webb ... Sarah (as Georgia Janelle Webb)
Robert Burr ... Dr. Fenton
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
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Runtime:
101 min | Germany:96 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Sound Mix:
Stereo
Certification:
Germany:18 (cut) | Iceland:16 | Australia:M | France:-12 | UK:18 | USA:R | Singapore:M18 | Germany:BPjM Restricted
Filming Locations:
Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA more
Company:
Larco Productions more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Tara Reid's feature film debut. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: When Joe socks his camera man on the river in the jungle, he socks the guys left eye. When the guy reacts, he initially grabs his left eye but quickly moves to the right eye and makes a big fuss. more
Quotes:
Van Meer: I'm not a Nazi hunter. I'm a Nazi killer! more
Movie Connections:
Follows Salem's Lot (1979) (TV) more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
6 out of 7 people found the following comment useful.
Terrible execution ruins what might have been an interesting story, 13 November 2004
Author: David Jones from Vancouver, B.C. Canada

A good story can survive all but the worst treatment. Unfortunately, this really is the worst treatment.

The acting is terrible. The editing is worse--choppy and inept. It's the kind of editing that's so bad you have a number of those "What? How'd he get over there?" moments. It's hard to believe that Larry Cohen had ever directed anything before this, it's so amateurish. I would have guessed this to be a first film, if I didn't know better. It looks as if the director just didn't get the shots needed to cover the action and left the editor scrambling to stitch together a movie.

Similarly, lines of dialogue come out of nowhere, completely unmotivated, almost nonsensical.

The sad thing is, there are good ideas buried in this mess: vampires trying to run a sustainable community by feeding on cows' blood, their attempts to recruit a journalist to record the details of their lives for future generations, the protagonist's perpetually-17-years-old childhood sweetheart seducing him into the Devil's bargain. They're good elements for a story.

But the details don't hang together. None of it quite makes sense. And the one or two good special effects are overwhelmed by all the lousy ones.

If, like the inhabitants of Salem's Lot, you plan to live forever, you might want to take a look at this movie. But for the living: Believe me, you don't have enough time to waste two of your precious remaining hours on this one.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for A Return to Salem's Lot (1987)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
a return to salem's lot REMAKE pythontounge
DVD?!!! jmbell5
Very under-rated signoret_crowe
THIS MOVIE IS UNDERRATED. alvarado2008
RE: ending jolt19781
Is it necessary to watch Salem's Lot first? yohumbug
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