New England FTW and Other ‘Salem’s Lot’ Takeaways
By Cinema Sugar
Our first-look thoughts on the new remake of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot starring Lewis Pullman and Makenzie Leigh—now available on Max.
New England FTW
I don’t care what your horror movie’s about, who’s in it, or how good it is—if it’s set in New England in the fall, I’ll embrace it unconditionally.
Alfre. Woodard.
When Alfre Woodard’s Dr. Cody gets her first taste of what’s happening in her town, she lets it sink in and says what we’re all thinking: “This is some shit!” She is a gem.
Bill Camp makes everything better
Whether chasing down a clown with Shea Whigham in Joker, stealing scenes at every turn in Dark Waters, or taking down vamps in Salem’s Lot, Bill Camp has been upgrading movies for years now.
A loyal King adaptation
Hitting hallmarks like violent bullies and a morbid darkness seeping into town, Salem’s Lot leans into its Stephen Kingness, delivering a loyal if at times choppy adaptation.
Kids being kids
Worried about all that screen time your kid has? Don’t. Because in some small towns, your kid (like the film’s young protagonist Mark) could be out there *killing vampires* with staggering ease and wherewithal.
Showdown at the drive-in theater?
Hell yeah, brother.
Do better by Barlow
The glowing eyes and veins were creepy, we’ll give it that. But otherwise Barlow just kinda looked like someone in a Halloween costume. Call us crazy, but we expect a little more from vamp designs in 2024.
Unforgettable images
Spencer Treat Clark staring blankly in the dark at the local bar. The woman under the sheet at the mortuary. The young vampire floating outside Mark’s window. Salem’s Lot delivered many unforgettable images that’ll stick with you this Halloween season and beyond.
Its true horror: not being in theaters
Why in the name of David Zaslav is this going straight to streaming? With its great cast, literary pedigree, and spooky season release date, we should have been basking in its bloody big-screen glow along with other horror fans.