KnotMissPriceless Why so much hype?

TrueJoshNight Truly Dreadful Film

Comwayon A Disappointing Continuation

Staci Frederick Blistering performances.

CinemaClown One of the first screen adaptations of a Stephen King's novel, Salem's Lot is a spooky, suspenseful & sinister piece of work from the mind behind The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and finds him making brilliant use of the foreboding atmosphere & ominous setting to create a sense of uneasiness and although the story takes a while to find its footing, it's a thrilling ride once that happens.The story of Salem's Lot follows a writer who returns to his titular hometown after years to pen a novel about an old, dilapidated manor which he believes to be haunted. But soon after his arrival, people begin disappearing or dying under strange circumstances, only to reanimate as vampires. As the sickness spreads at an alarming rate, he enlists the help of few locals to save the town.Directed by Tobe Hooper, this miniseries appears to be heading nowhere at first, for it indulges in characters & subplots that it could've done without as they only slow down the narrative. However, once the board is set, it doesn't take long for a menacing quality to permeate its images and from that point onwards, Salem's Lot remains tense & gripping until the end.The teleplay could've used a bit more refinement as the characters aren't interesting enough to be worthy of any emotional investment and the plot needed a trim or two every now n then. The horror elements are expertly executed by the director, and the film's excellent production design, stellar make-up effects, eerie ambiance & gloomy score further magnifies its grim aura & sinister tone.Made for TV audience, the violence & gore is kept to minimum, and mostly takes place off-screen but that doesn't diminish its scare factor by much as the story relies on its environment to deliver the chills. Performances are mediocre as best as none of the characters leave a lasting impression while most of its creative choices, inspired from earlier works of horror, are effectively utilised.On an overall scale, Salem's Lot commences on a drowsy note but becomes alive once the demon steps into the town. Its 3 hours runtime is felt on several occasions, especially in the beginning but things do get better as plot progresses. To sum it up, this miniseries may appear somewhat dated today but it still has some unexpected shocks & surprises in store for newcomers, and is definitely worth a shot at least once.

Predrag This film is special for more than a few reasons... it really does give substance to the phrase "they don't make them like that anymore." The overall mood and imagery in this film are incredible, every second of this film is overshadowed by an intense feeling of dread that you just don't see too often in films, especially these days. This really is a combination of the perfect story, director, and cast coming together at the perfect time. It's crazy to think that this was a made-for-TV mini-series. At any rate, this film would also never happen again because it would be rare to have a made-for-TV film directed by the likes of Tobe Hooper, and rarer still to have a network with the courage to let that director follow his vision.Having read Stephen King's original novel, I noticed a lot of care was taken by the director and screenwriters to try and remain true to the book. The pacing is slow at times, but it served well to build the suspense. And the comparison of the vampire in this movie to the classic German silent movie Nosferatu is unmistakable. Some of the actors didn't fit very well (Lance Kerwin who played Mark Petrie seemed a little too old for the part), while others seemed perfect (Kenneth McMillan as Constable Gillespie and Fred Willard as real estate agent/philanderer Larry Crockett). The house itself was truly intimidating, especially the interiors. As with The Amityville Horror, the house becomes a character in the movie, playing its' role very well.This TV movie was a big deal when it was released. This film is more about sitting on the front room floor with friends and family eating Jiffy Pop, running to the bathroom during commercials, and the loud booming voice of someone yelling, "It's back on!" Pure nostalgia and a flood of great memories of a different time! Overall rating: 8 out of 10.

Rainey Dawn Can you believe this a made for TV movie?! This movie is awesome - extremely scary vampires in this one. These vampires are not your modern day vamps - this movie is a good example of how mean and vile vampires are - just like the old folklore and legends about them. Within this film contains the way vampires should be on film - evil. The vampires in Salem's Lot will remind you of the old 1922 film Nosferatu - yes they are that scary.And the story of Salem's Lot is so damned good too! If you like vampire stories, along with mystery and thriller films and a lot of horror then Salem's Lot is a movie you will not want to miss.Yes this movie is a must see for all Vampire fans - and it's hard to believe that this movie was made for television but it was. I was 7 years old when it aired on TV - I was completely terrified then and the movie still creeps me out today.9.5/10

utgard14 One of my favorite adaptations of any Stephen King work. Not because it religiously follows the book, that's for sure. In many ways this mini-series improves upon it. Tobe Hooper creates a wonderfully spooky old-school atmosphere. There are several memorably creepy set-pieces, particularly those involving the vampire kid and, of course, every scene with the Nosferatu-like Barlow. The makeup for Barlow is very effective. CGI can't touch this. The cast and direction are great. Love the location shooting and '70s TV look. I'll admit it's not perfect. The Soul/Bedelia romance feels contrived and rushed. The subplot about the cheating wife adds nothing to the overall story. But even though it feels a little padded in places, catch the original full-length mini-series, not the shortened version. It's one of the best made-for-TV movies ever made and possibly the best vampire movie to come out of the '70s.