Salem's Lot

1979  NR  HORROR/TELEVISION  3h 4min

CAST— David Soul, James Mason, Lance Kerwin, Bonnie Bedelia, Lew Ayres

MUSIC— Harry Sukman  DIRECTOR— Tobe Hooper  BASED ON— 'Salem's Lot (novel), by Stephen King

     The second novel published by proficient author Stephen King is given the miniseries treatment, with solid results. A writer gets back to his roots by returning to his hometown of Salem's Lot (officially named Jerusalem's Lot). Not much has changed in this sleepy little town, not even the looming house on the hill. For decades the Marsten House has been reputed to be haunted, the purposed subject of author David Soul's novel. He discovers that a mysterious someone has bought the house and that this someone is planning to open an antique shop in town. Other than that no one in town knows a thing about the stranger. Curiosity piqued, Soul begins to snoop around, the feeling surrounding the house just plain creepy. Shortly people begin to disappear, only being seen in the dark of night, usually with glowing eyes and a newfound ability to levitate. Needless to say the fear factor intensifies. Despite the townsfolk seemingly wishing to sweep these phenomena under the proverbial rug, Soul begins a one man mission to rid the Lot of its evil, an ancient vampire who uses his human familiar to deliver his meals and protect him from wooden stakes and the like. For a TV miniseries from the '70s the film manages to be quite creepy, from the fashion of the era to the vampiric villain (who kinda looks like Count Orlok after being rejected from Blue Man Group). The special effects are well done and the misty atmosphere keeps things chilly. The main problem is a seriously underutilized villain, the position of main baddie being relegated to the antiques guy. Still, one could do much worse. Theatrical re-edit also available. AKA Salem's Lot: The Movie, Salem's Lot: The Miniseries, Blood Thirst.

OUR RATING— ** ½

FOLLOWED BY— A Return to Salem's Lot (1987)

REMADE AS— Salem's Lot (2004)