Review: SALEM’S LOT was fun but not as good or scary as I hoped

The new film adaptation of Salem’s Lot it was a film project I had been waiting for for a long time. I remember watching the first trailer over two years ago and feeling genuinely moved by what I saw.

The idea of ​​revisiting one of Stephen King’s most iconic horror stories was exciting. Now, after what felt like an eternity, it’s finally landed directly on MAX and I made sure to carve out some time to give it my full attention.

Unfortunately, while it had its moments and some things I liked, the film ultimately left me disappointed. I understand that adapting a novel into a film, especially one that runs under two hours, presents challenges.

Of course, things have to be cut or compressed to make it work, but even with this understanding, I feel like there could have been a better way to handle this adaptation.

To its credit, the film captures the heart of King’s novel and, in many ways, remains faithful to the source material. The dark, creeping essence of Salem’s Lot it’s there, but the execution seemed lacking.

I was expecting the kind of haunting, unforgettable images that would stick in my brain and leave me haunted, but the film failed to achieve this. Instead, it gave us the same kind of horror we’ve seen before: predictable scares, overly refined aesthetics, and nothing that felt fresh or bold.

What this film needed was something unique, something that would push the boundaries of horror and make it stand out in the sea of ​​horror films being made.

Before the release of this new film, I rewatched the original miniseries to refresh myself, and honestly, the 1979 version holds up incredibly well. It’s just disturbing in a way that sticks with you. The atmosphere was thick with terror and there was a rawness that made it so disturbing.

The new version? It seemed too refined, too clean. There wasn’t that grit or sense of looming dread that made the original so memorable.

This is what I think disappointed me the most. I went into this movie expecting a great horror experience, something that would lurk in the shadows of my mind and give me nightmares, and it just didn’t work on that front. The alarms seemed a little too routine, and he seemed more interested in playing it safe than taking real risks.

That said, I didn’t hate the movie. There were parts I liked and it was fun to watch in its own way. Lewis Pullmanwho played the lead role of Ben Mears, was one of the highlights. He brings a grounded and sincere presence to the character.

His performance really sold the internal conflict of Mears returning to his haunted childhood home, only to find that vampires are preying on the town.

The supporting cast, however, was a bit of a mixed bag. Mackenzie Leigh she did well as Susan Norton, and William Sadler he brought his usual gravitas as Agent Parkins. Bill Campo like Matthew Burke and Jordan Preston Carter as well as Mark Petrie were solid.

But on the other hand, Pilou Asbækwho played Richard Straker, the bad guy, was a bit over the top for me. His performance was too exaggerated, bordering on caricature, and drove me out of my mind every time he was on screen.

The film was directed by Gary Daubermannknown for his work on The evocation franchise, and while he has a good eye for horror, this wasn’t his best effort. It wasn’t the worst Stephen King adaptation out there, but considering the potential Salem’s Lot and as rich as the story is, it could have been so much better.

In the end, Salem’s Lot it wasn’t the creepy, nightmarish movie I was hoping for, but it still had its funny moments. If you’re a fan of the book or just looking for something to watch during the Halloween season, it’s worth checking out, but temper your expectations.

It’s not a bad movie by any means, but it’s far from great.