Salem’s Lot – Movie Review | Max (3/5)

SALEM’S LOT on Max is a new adaptation of Stephen King’s iconic vampire story. This time as a feature-length movie. It’s entertaining but also very lackluster. Read our full 2024 Salem’s Lot horror movie review here!

SALEM’S LOT is a new Max Original horror movie coming out just in time for Halloween 2024. The movie has been waiting for a release date for quite some time, but that’s not because it’s bad. It isn’t great either, mind you.

It’s a feature film adaptation of the Stephen King vampire story of the same name. While I enjoyed watching this movie, I did feel like it was just moseying along in a strange way. Lackluster is the first word that comes to mind.

Continue reading our 2024 Salem’s Lot horror movie review below. Find it on Max from October 3, 2024.

A town with a vampire problem

Salem’s Lot is essentially the story of a town that ends up having a serious vampire infestation problem. It only takes one vampire to get things going and that’s where the story begins.

However, we follow author Ben Mears. After all, it’s always been a favorite of Stephen King’s to have an author for a main character. Write what you know and all that, so it works.

Full disclosure, I do love Stephen King as an author and read everything he releases, but I’m not a huge fan of his entire back catalogue.

Anyway, author Ben Mears returns to his childhood home searching for inspiration for this next book. The town is Jerusalem’s Lot (or just The Lot or Salem’s Lot).

Shortly after arriving back home – with little to no memory of his childhood there – he discovers that his hometown is the target of a bloodthirsty vampire.

Very nice casting

I know, I know, saying something is “very nice” doesn’t actually sound nice, but I do mean it nicely. The cast of Salem’s Lot is good and each actor does what they can. It’s through no fault of theirs that this movie isn’t as efficient as it could be.

Lewis Pullman (Outer Range) is wonderful as the author Ben Mears. He’s charming in an understated way and comes across as a good guy. As his love interest, we have Makenzie Leigh (The Slap) as Susan Norton, and she’s good too.

Alfre Woodard (Weathering) plays the local doctor, Dr. Cody. And Alfre Woodard is always good, so that goes without saying.

In other key roles, we see Bill Camp (Presumed Innocent, Stephen King’s The Outsider), Spencer Treat Clark (Glass), Pilou Asbæk (Run Sweetheart Run), John Benjamin Hickey, and William Sadler (King’s The Mist, The Unholy, Full Circle).

They all deliver what they’re meant to, as far as I can tell, but there’s just something about the pacing that makes this movie utterly forgettable.

Watch the 2024 adaptation of Salem’s Lot on Max

Gary Dauberman is the writer, director, and executive producer of Salem’s Lot in this latest adaptation. This is only the second time Gary Dauberman directed (Annabelle Comes Home from 2019 was the first), but he has written a lot.

He has written many spin-off movies in The Conjuring franchise, Within, and also the two It movies, so he’s no stranger to Stephen King adaptations. And this new Max Original is an adaptation of Stephen King’s 1975 bestselling novel.

The producers of Salem’s Lot are also quite impressive with James Wan and Michael Clear producing for Atomic Monster; Roy Lee for Vertigo; and Mark Wolper (Bates Motel).

While I enjoyed watching this new take on Stephen King’s iconic story, I can’t imagine I’ll watch it again. It’s entertaining and “fine”, but just lacks an extra edge. The runtime of around 1 hour and 50 minutes is fine, it’s the vibe that’s lackluster.

Salem’s Lot is out on Max from Thursday, October 3, 2024.

Details

Director: Gary Dauberman
Writer: Gary Dauberman
Cast: Lewis Pullman, Alfre Woodard, Makenzie Leigh, Bill Camp, Spencer Treat Clark, Pilou Asbæk, John Benjamin Hickey