A new film adaptation of Stephen King’s famous vampire novel “Salem’s Lot” debuted on Max streaming service this month. Directed by Gary Dauberman, the movie brings the classic story to life while remaining true to King’s original vision.
The film centers around writer Ben Mears, played by Lewis Pullman, who returns to his childhood hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot, Maine. Once there, strange things start happening to the town’s residents. People go missing or act strangely. Mears works to investigate and save the town from this mysterious threat.
That threat comes from the ancient vampire Kurt Barlow, portrayed in a terrifying way by Alexander Ward. Barlow differs from other vampires in both his appearance and abilities. With pale skin, yellow eyes, and sharp fangs, he resembles the iconic vampire Count Orlok. The film also draws from King’s “Dark Tower” books, identifying Barlow as a rare and powerful “Type One” vampire. This grants him enhanced strength, speed, and the ability to hibernate for centuries.
The climax sees the remaining humans fend off Barlow’s vampiric followers at a drive-in theater. Facing the vampires in the daylight, Mears is able to end Barlow’s reign by driving a stake through his heart. However, it’s too late to save the now vampire-infested town.
While staying true to the central plot, the film takes some creative liberties. Most notably, it depicts Barlow with a more monstrous appearance compared to the novel. This change maintains the visual horror established in previous adaptations.
Reviews have been mixed so far, with the film currently holding a 50% critics rating and 36% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Still, the movie has found an audience on Max streaming after distribution issues delayed its original theater release. The adaptation pays tribute to King’s classic work while carving out its own new take on the vampire genre.
