Director: Tobe Hooper
Writer: Paul Monash (Screenplay) Stephen King (Story)
Starring: David Soul, James Mason, Lance Kerwin, Bonnie Bedelia, Lew Ayres, Julie Cobb, Elisha Cook Jr.
Plot: Vampires are invading a small New England town. It’s up to a novelist and a young horror fan to save it.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Just too Long
Story: Salem’s Lot starts in the small town of Salem’s Lot where visitor and author Ben Mears (Soul) is looking to stay. The town has a mystery to it with Ben trying to figure out what is happening around a house on the edge of town but it doesn’t take long for Ben to make a new friend in Susan (Bedelia). The house in question is owned by Richard K Straker (Mason) who goes on trips and upon his latest trip he is having a delivery being handled by Larry Crockett (Willard).
As each nightfalls vampire like creature start haunting the town and people start disappearing leaving it up to Ben to lead the investigation into what is going on.
Salem’s Lot is one of those alternative vampire films it pushes the idea to become an American centred story too, because most vampire films have always seemed to have a European location. I like how the idea was to have a town taken over by the vampires which I do believe other modern vampire films have taken to the next level again. My big problem with this is the length of the story because it just seems to go on and on. In the end this was a landmark at the time horror film that seems to have got forgotten in the modern cinema. (7/10)
Actor Review
David Soul: Ben Mears is the author who has come to the back to his home town but once he returns strange things start happening leading him to start to investigate what is happening to the people in the town. David does a solid job here but I am never convinced with his performance. (6/10)
James Mason: Richard K Straker is the mysterious man who comes to the town to start his new business but when people start going missing he becomes the prime suspect but just what is he hiding? James makes for a good villainous role always thinking he is one step ahead of the rest. (6/10)
Support Cast: Salem’s Lot has a large supporting cast that all seem to be the victims of the vampires in all their own ways as the story decides to let them become the victims.
Director Review: Tobe Hooper – Tobe brings his vision of the vampires to this film and each built up brings the scares needed. (7/10)
Horror: Salem’s Lot builds up tension built up horror through each moment the vampires come for their latest victims. (7/10)
Settings: Salem’s Lot uses the small town for the horror which works because they are not sure what is happening to the friends and loved ones. (8/10)
Suggestion: Salem’s Lot is one for all the horror fans out there but make sure you leave enough time if you want to watch all at once. (Horror Fans Watch)
Best Part: Vampire creatures.
Worst Part: Too long.
Believability: No (0/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: Has a sequel
Post Credits Scene: No
Awards: Nominated for 3 Prime Time Emmys.
Budget: $4 Million
Runtime: Around 3 Hours
Tagline: Iconic terror from the No 1 bestselling writer.
Overall: Well constructed horror mini series.
Rating 
