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Salem's Lot Details

2004 DVD Certificate 15.gif
  • Rated:
  • 50
  • from 3992 members

Made for television series which finds Ben Mears, a writer returning to his hometown of Jerusalem's Lot to research his new book and come to terms with a childhood incident. Two newcomers; an antiques dealer and his companion become the focus of his attention when they prevent him from renting the Marsten house on the hill... Read more

Starring Rob Lowe, Donald Sutherland, Rutger Hauer
Director Mikael Salomon
Genres Horror

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Salem's Lot

Made for television series which finds Ben Mears, a writer returning to his hometown of Jerusalem's Lot to research his new book and come to terms with a childhood incident. Two newcomers; an antiques dealer and his companion become the focus of his attention when they prevent him from renting the Marsten house on the hill...

Starring Rob Lowe, Donald Sutherland, Rutger Hauer
Director Mikael Salomon
Studio WARNER HOME VIDEO
Run time DVD: 2 hrs 54 mins
Certificate DVD Certificate 15.gif
Genres Horror
Language English
Released DVD: 11 Jul 2005
Production year: 2004
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews of Salem's Lot

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  • 3 stars out of 5

    Larry Cohen can always be relied upon for quirky reinterpretations of horror myths. In this genuine treat for undead cultists, he pitches his tone a long way from the original Stephen King book for a loose semi-sequel. Cohen regular Michael Moriarty, plays an anthropologist arriving, with son Ricky Addison Reed, in the infamous title locale to take over an inherited farmhouse, only to find the vampire population want him to set down their venerable history for posterity. This is unique in the annals of fang-in-cheek fright for actually delving into the practicalities of being a vampire — how to touch up lipgloss after blood-sucking, breed daylight-tolerant offspring and buy real estate that will accrue in value. Cohen happily whittles away at the American Dream, offering plenty of satire and allegory, as well as examining moral dilemmas, plus fine performances by old-timers June Havoc, Evelyn Keyes and director Samuel Fuller, who steals the show as a single-minded vampire hunter.

    • Radio Times
  • Most helpful member's review of Salem's Lot

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  • 11 out of 19 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Do you like the book? The original Mini-series?

    If you did, then a few words of caution would perhaps be best. There have been some pretty radical alterations to the source text in this adaptation. Without wishing to go into 'spoilers', let's just say some characters have changed and the plot has been re-configured to allow for these changes. You may not find them for the best. If you're willing to put aside some of your expectations, you'll have a reasonably good few hours with this disc. If you're not, well...

      • Posterchild from Kent, England
  • Most recent members' review of Salem's Lot

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  • 7 out of 11 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 2 stars

    Anaemic Remake!

    Salem’s Lot was the earlier best seller written by Stephen King. It pretty much covered the same themes that are associated with his books: - inner demons, small town secrets (usually set in Maine) and rites of passage subtext. A screen adaptation was inevitable.

    Unfortunately, (as is the case with most King novels) that adaptation would be translated to the small screen. Although having certain guidelines stacked against you for the sake of network TV, the 79 version directed by Tobe Hooper of ‘Texas Chainsaw’ notoriety proved that a TV miniseries could be downright scary and just at home with the crème de la crème of 70’s horror classics.

    So what we have here is supposed to be a definitive 2004 resurrection of the original novel? Well, for beginners where in heaven or hell did that new prologue come from? Secondly, it’s different to the era that the original story was set! Putting aside any anachronisms, its safe to say that this version doesn’t hold a steak to the 79 version when it comes to the scare factor. As soon as horrific events start unfolding, the whole thing seems like a tamed, toothless re-imagining. Anything resembling tension could quite easily be cut through with a blunt wooden steak!

    In a corpse shell, this TV remake should never have seen the light of day. A full-blooded silver screen re-vamp would have been more of an invite.

      • Hublet from West Yorkshire
  • News and features

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    Interview with the Vampire - BLU-RAY Version

    Cruise's Lestat is named top vampire

    • 02 Aug 2009

    Tom Cruise's Interview With The Vampire bloodsucker Lestat has 'bitten' Christopher Lee's Dracula and Robert Pattinson's Edward Cullen in a bloody new poll of Hollywood's best bat men. Anne Rice's charming Lestat claims top spot in Entertainment Weekly's list of Greatest Vampires, while Draculas played by Lee and Bella Lugosi come in second and third. Twilight's Cullen character is fourth. Also making the top 20 are Gary Oldman's Dracula, Reggie Nalder's Mr. Barlow from TV mini-series Salem's... Read more

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Rating breakdown

3,992 Member ratings
  • 100
184
  • 90
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  • 80
376
  • 70
494
  • 60
815
  • 50
618
  • 40
536
  • 30
380
  • 20
288
  • 10
131

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    • Made for television series which finds Ben Mears, a writer returning to his hometown of Jerusalem's Lot to research his new book and come to terms with a childhood incident. Two newcomers; an ...