Salem's Lot

PG

1979

1h 52m

Horror

TRAILER

for Salem's Lot: Trailer 1

List

89%

19 Reviews

Tomatometer

65%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Based on the Stephen King novel, Ben Mears (David Soul) has returned to his hometown of Salem's Lot to write a book about the supposedly haunted Marsten House that resides on a hill overlooking the small town. His project is curtailed, however, when he finds out that someone has bought the long-empty property. But when people around the Marsten House start dying mysteriously, Mears discovers that the owner of the mansion is actually a vampire who is turning them into an army of undead slaves.

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Critics Consensus

Director Tobe Hooper and a devilishly charismatic James Mason elevate this television adaptation of the Stephen King novel, injecting the vampiric tradition with fresh blood and lingering scares.

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Derek Adams

Time Out

It places the emphasis on Hooper's fluid camerawork, creepy atmospherics, and skilful handling of the gripping climax.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

..works as a compulsive three-hour series, watered down from the book, perhaps, but still strong meat...

Rated: 3/5

Jan 6, 2024

Full Review

Kevin Carr

Fat Guys at the Movies

It's a little bit long, but it's worth checking out... It holds up much better than I remembered.

Rated: 3/4

May 27, 2022

Full Review

Max O'Connell

Paste Magazine

Hooper comes close to creating a modern-day Hammer horror film, punctuating a steady, stately dread with moments of shocking power.

Feb 7, 2019

Full Review

Jacob Knight

Birth.Movies.Death.

Undoubtedly one of the best Stephen King adaptations, and still manages to be scary years after it premiered in homes across the nation.

Feb 7, 2019

Full Review

Rebecca Lea

Den of Geek

Hooper's low key approach suits the material and he's aided at all times by some terrific production design work.

Feb 7, 2019

Full Review

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Matthew M

This cinematographic adaptation of Steven King's early masterpiece transports viewers to a peaceful New England town plagued be a series of terrifying events. The filming locations perfectly match the imagery that King's brilliant novel paints in the reader's mind. Though subtle character variations arise, the plot and themes of this unique horror story are left unaltered. The slow yet suspenseful buildup followed by a terrifying, eventful climax hold true to King's literary form. This film hits on every emotion ranging from heartwarming as Ben Mears re-familiarizes himself with his childhood stomping grounds to absolute terror as vampires torment the town of Jerusalem's Lot. This film is a highly recommended shred of classic horror artistry.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/04/24

Full Review

Hilary E

This movie absolutely terrified me as a kid -- and as an adult, well, it still totally creeps me out. Scary.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/25/24

Full Review

Howard H

A fantastically busy movie with plot lines that are genuinely interesting to follow. Scene with brothers and the windows is classic horror at it best.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/19/24

Full Review

Tim O

Sadly doesn't hold up, on rewatching decades later, as well as my teen-age recollection recalled. [shrug]

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

12/18/23

Full Review

Erock

Just an absolute masterpiece. Anyone who writes a bad review is an idiot. Creepy and very atmospheric

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/27/23

Full Review

A.L.Jude P

Worth a look yet stupid at sometimes typical to KIng stories.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/23/23

Full Review

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Tobe Hooper

Director

David Soul

Ben Mears

James Mason

Richard K. Straker

Lance Kerwin

Mark Petrie

Bonnie Bedelia

Susan Norton

Lew Ayres

Jason Burke

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Tobe Hooper: 1943-2017

Salem's Lot: Trailer 1

3:17

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Synopsis

Based on the Stephen King novel, Ben Mears (David Soul) has returned to his hometown of Salem's Lot to write a book about the supposedly haunted Marsten House that resides on a hill overlooking the small town. His project is curtailed, however, when he finds out that someone has bought the long-empty property. But when people around the Marsten House start dying mysteriously, Mears discovers that the owner of the mansion is actually a vampire who is turning them into an army of undead slaves.

Director: Tobe Hooper
Rating: PG
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 20, 2016
Runtime: 1h 52m

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