Salem's Lot (1979)

My rating - 8.5/10

(click on images below for larger versions)

A writer returns to his hometown of Salem's Lot to work on a new book about the Marsten house, a house that he believes attracts evil people after a strange encounter he had there as a child. He soon becomes convinced the town is infested with vampires and teams up with a young horror movie fan to tackle the problem.

Best seen in it's original full length mini series version, it's still a genuinely scary experience and full of atmosphere. A great cast and a great director in Tobe Hooper helps bring Stephen King's classic novel to life. The scene of a young boy floating outside a bedroom window scared the hell out of me when I first saw it and it's still creepy as shit even after all these years. The same can be said about seeing Geoffery Lewis rocking back and forth in a rocking chair, his eyes glowing as he snarls at an old man... Awesome!. In fact all the vampires here are scary, especially Reggie Nalder as the evil Barlow, a genuinely frightening creature that has a look based on Nosteratu.

The cast all do a great job, the effects are great and the score is often as creepy as what's on screen. There's little else to say really except watch it for yourself. In my opinion it's one of the best King book adaptations. Also, read the book too as it's also scary as hell!.

SCREEN SHOTS

BACK TO INDEX