Summary
- Stephen King expresses frustration over delays of
‘Salem’s Lot
adaptation, and praises the film’s old-school horror feel. - King hints the adaptation is faithful to the original story with slight deviations; the film features a promising ensemble cast.
- Warner Bros. continues to keep
‘Salem’s Lot
in limbo, leaving fans in anticipation of the film’s release.
When not spending his time writing his next bestselling novel, or goading Elon Musk via his Twitter…sorry X account, Stephen King is usually found sharing his opinion on various new movie and TV releases. Recently, however, the world’s best-known author of dark tales has been sharing his annoyance at the strange limbo state Warner Bros. new adaptation of his vampire novel ‘Salem’s Lot has found itself in.
The much-anticipated adaptation of King’s second novel has been ready for release for some time, but the film has encountered numerous delays, and changes to both its release dates and format. Having been set as a Max exclusive, and also a cinematic release, the film then dropped off Warner Bros. slate completely, much to the chagrin of the author behind its story. Sharing his thoughts on the debacle, and on the movie itself, King wrote:
Between you and me, Twitter, I’ve seen the new SALEM’s LOT and it’s quite good. Old-school horror filmmaking: slow build, big payoff. Not sure why WB is holding it back; not like it’s embarrassing, or anything. Who knows. I just write the f-cking things.
King’s advocacy for the Gary Dauberman-directed remake isn’t new. He previously praised ‘Salem’s Lot for its “Old Hollywood” charm, likening it to slow-burner movies such as The Great Escape. Despite a few deviations from the original text, King has hinted that the adaptation is mostly a faithful take on the story of a small town that is invaded by a formidable evil in the form of the vampire Mr Barlow. It seems, though, that even the praise and frequent shout-outs from the master wordsmith himself cannot spur Warner Bros. into making a final decision on the film’s fate.
‘Salem’s Lot is a New Take on a Classic King Story
‘Salem’s Lot boasts a promising ensemble cast, led by Lewis Pullman as author Ben Mears, who returns to the town of Jerusalem’s Lot after 25 years away and becomes embroiled in a battle against more than just the ghosts of his past. The cast also includes Makenzie Leigh, Alfre Woodard, Bill Camp, Pilou Asbæk, Jordan Preston Carter, Spencer Treat Clark, John Benjamin Hickey, Nicholas Crovetti, and Cade Woodward.
This is the third time that ‘Salem’s Lot has been adapted for the screen, but the first time it has been made as a cinematic feature film. Originally adapted as a two-part miniseries by Tobe Hooper in 1979, that version starred David Soul and introduced one of the most iconic vampire appearances this side of Dracula, with the story holding back on the reveal of its central villain until the very end of the tale. The story was adapted for television again in 2004, starring Rob Lowe and Donald Sutherland, but did not have the same impact as its predecessor.
Salem’s Lot Star Teases Lingering Terror to Come in New Stephen King Adaptation
The new big-screen version of Stephen King’s vampire novel Salem’s Lot is without a release date, but star Lewis Pullman has promised new terror.
The ongoing delay in releasing the new adaptation of ‘Salem’s Lot has left fans frustrated and outraged, something that Warner Bros. has grown used to in recent years thanks to several high-profile movies and shows being scrapped as tax write-offs. Although ‘Salem’s Lot is not part of that group yet, until the film actually hits screens – big or small – then there is always a chance that it may never see the light of day.
The 1979 version of
‘Salem’s Lot
is available to rent or buy from VOD platforms.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
