Vampire Hunters Wanted! Blood, Style, and Missed Opportunities: What Salem's Lot 2024 Got Right (and Wrong)
Stephen King Rules!
Who doesn’t love a good vampire flick?
I was so excited to see Salem’s Lot, but I was sincerely frustrated when the reviews started rolling in for the movie. Critics were bashing the flick and because I was traveling on business I was late to seeing the movie. And for me to miss a Stephen King adaptation as soon as it’s released, well, that just doesn’t happen.
The good news is that I’ve finally had a chance to screen the film. And the even better news is that you get that fresh, 80s Dude take on a topic I consider myself to be a subject matter expert on— VAMPIRE FLICKS! …. Ninjas is the other one… honestly, we need a vampire ninja flick. I think I just came up with the idea for my next book!
By the way, can you write a vampire story any more— or zombie story for that matter— where the towns people are oblivious to vampire and zombie lore? I’m not entirely sure you can, unless it’s clear the story is a period piece, or somehow, everyone’s been mind-wiped.
This idea of the towns people in Salem’s Lot being somewhat oblivious to the idea of vampires works though, since it takes place in the 1970s and for me, it’s probable they would not know about vampires. The thing is, they seem to know much of the lore when it’s time to fight them. But hey, that’s a minor thing.
Old-School Scares Rule!
Perhaps the most unexpected element of Gary Dauberman's adaptation of Stephen King’s book is its commitment to traditional vampire lore. I really loved that Salem's Lot leans into the time-tested elements that’s made Dracula such a pop culture figure. Glowing crosses, an aversion to sunlight, and need for invitation, the familiar servant, and the mind control – it's all here in the film, presented with striking visual flair that makes these familiar tropes feel fresh again.
Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I’ve seen a vampire flick where the cross has real power. I mean, it doesn’t just make the vampires curl in anguish, but it also sends them flying across the room!
The Adult Characters Are Surprisingly... Flat
For a Stephen King adaptation, the adult character development is surprisingly thin. This may be partly due to the shorter run time, which I will get into in a moment. Lewis Pullman's Ben Mears, while competently portrayed, never quite achieves the depth we expect from a King protagonist. The same goes for most of the adult ensemble – they often feel more like chess pieces being moved around Jerusalem's Lot rather than fully realized characters with compelling inner lives. This is particularly noticeable in scenes where characters make decisions that seem driven more by plot necessity than authentic motivation.
This movie is about a writer who returns to his hometown of Jerusalem's Lot to find inspiration for his next book, but discovers that the town is being terrorized by a vampire. Apart from that, I have no insight on Ben’s character and his relationship with Salem’s Lot besides the fact he grew up there. Huge missed opportunity. The film— and let me be clear— the film clearly falls short on character development. This is not to say that the book fails at this, because it does not. But I’m talking about the film only here.
The Curious Case of Mark's Heroism
Admittedly, as I’ve grown older and far more critical of certain things I watched and read as a kid, I found myself having doubts in the character of Mark Petrie, played by Mark (Jordan Preston Carter), an 11-year-old horror enthusiast who becomes the unlikely hero of the story. While Carter delivers an solid performance, I’ve wondered over the years if King’ decision to place such heavy narrative weight on such young shoulders strains credibility in the story. The story asks us to accept that a child possesses not only the courage but the tactical awareness to face down ancient and powerful evil, often outshining his adult counterparts in both wisdom and bravery. When I was younger, I could accept it, but seeing it in live action in the film, I had a much harder time believing it. Now, I say this because the film took some liberties, and I suppose I felt that it could have taken a few liberties with Mark’s age. Having revisited Salem’s Lot the novel several years back, I’ve always wondered if Mark’s character would have been far more believable if he were a teen in high school.
Style Over Substance... And That's Not Always Bad
What Salem's Lot lacks in character depth, it makes up for in atmospheric dread and visual panache. Dauberman crafts really interesting sequences and visuals. The vampires' predatory eyes piercing through darkness, the glow of crucifixes, and the clever use of shadow and mist create a sense of menace that honors the genre's roots.
One of my favorite scenes was the morgue scene with the body of Marjorie Glick laying on the table. I loved how she sat straight up with the sheet over her, and the entire sequence was frighteningly fun!
The Pacing Problem
The film's rhythm feels oddly disjointed, rushing through character moments while sometimes failing to let its horror sequences breathe. At 113 minutes, I felt this sense that a longer runtime might have served the story better, allowing for both deeper character development and more sustained tension in its scarier moments. The daytime scenes often feel like hurried connective tissue rather than meaningful additions to the narrative.
Despite these unexpected quirks, Salem's Lot manages to deliver enough genuine scares and memorable imagery to satisfy my horror sweet tooth, even if it doesn't quite reach the heights of the best King adaptations— for me they happen to be Carrie, Stand By Me, Misery, and The Shawshank Redemption.
I really like this film, and I wish it didn’t prioritize horror aesthetics over narrative depth in a few scenes, but look, I still had a lot of fun watching the movie.
I will say, I really wish it was grainer. Is that weird? The film has atmosphere, but I kept thinking, wow, if this was a little grainy, like 80s movies were, it would elevate the atmospheric elements for sure!
Look, if you’re seeking old-school vampire thrills with modern production values, Salem's Lot offers plenty to sink your teeth into. However, if you’re hoping for the rich character work and deep community dynamics that typically distinguish King's best stories, you might find yourself wishing for more substance beneath the stylish surface.
In the end, Salem's Lot 2024 is absolutely worth watching, and I would even say it’s likely going to make it into my October “must-watch” list. This is a movie I can watch with my older kids (10-16 years).
If you watch it, I’d love to get your perspective. Drop back in here and let me know what you think of the movie.
Salem’s Lot can be viewed on HBO Max —
