Gary Dauberman’s Adaptation of ‘Salem’s Lot’ Released After Delay

Long before the likes of ‘True Blood‘ or ‘Twilight‘ brought vampires to small-town America, author Stephen King envisioned these creatures invading his backyard in rural Maine through his novel “‘Salem’s Lot.” The novel, published in 1975, explores the outbreak of vampirism in a fictional town called Jerusalem's Lot.

Now, nearly fifty years later, screenwriter and director Gary Dauberman brings a new adaptation to the screen, two years delayed. Dauberman, who previously penned the “It” reboot, takes on “‘Salem’s Lot” with a retro style, embracing the 1970s aesthetics and capturing the era’s atmosphere. The adaptation retains some of King’s themes but receives mixed receptions for its portrayal of dated source material.

The film, set in 1975, is marked by period pieces such as the movies “The Drowning Pool” and “Night Moves” being screened at a local drive-in and features Gordon Lightfoot’s music. Despite efforts to modernize certain aspects, the adaptation struggles to generate the same fearsome presence as previous versions, notably the 1979 miniseries by Tobe Hooper.

In “‘Salem’s Lot,” a bald-headed vampire, Kurt Barlow, played by Alexander Ward, takes residence in the infamous Marsten House, with his assistant Richard Straker, portrayed by Pilou Asbæk. Together, they hatch a plan to convert the townspeople into vampires. The narrative follows Ben Mears, a moderately successful author who returns to the town, paralleling Straker’s setup of an antique shop. The storyline subsequently unveils a battle against the growing vampire threat.

The central characters assemble a team comprising library girlfriend Susie Norton, a school principal, a local doctor, and an alcoholic priest to combat the advancing plague of vampirism. Despite some moments of suspense, the portrayal of vampires has been criticized as less intimidating compared to other horror iterations.

Dauberman’s adaptation presents a few plot twists, with an altered storyline removing Straker early on, thereby allowing another character to become Barlow’s thrall. The film culminates with a climatic showdown set against the backdrop of a drive-in theater.

With its visual effects and stylistic approach, “‘Salem’s Lot” has been received as a standard adaptation which leverages nostalgia of its source material but with alterations aimed at contemporary audiences. The film streams exclusively on Max starting October 3, 2024.