Movie Review: ‘Salem’s Lot’

‘It’s Gary Dauberman here adapts another Stephen King story, one with almost as much history. But the new thriller struggles with its choppy narrative and familiar beats.

(L to R) Alfre Woodard, John Benjamin Hickey, Makenzie Leigh, Lewis Pullman, and Jordan Preston Carter in 'Salem's Lot'. Photo: Courtesy of New Line Cinema/Max.

Landing on Max on October 3rd, ‘Salem’s Lot’ is hoping to entice the Halloween movie crowd with its old-school Stephen King chills.

Yet the movie, which has been sitting completed on a shelf at Warner Bros.’ New Line arm, struggles with its less-than-entirely fresh treatment of the genre and some predictable characters.

Does ‘Salem’s Lot’ get its teeth into you?

John Benjamin Hickey in 'Salem's Lot'. Photo: Courtesy of New Line Cinema/Max.

It says something when a film by a writer who has been partly responsible for some of the biggest recent horror hits can’t secure a solid theatrical release. Admittedly, we live in an age where studios and other companies are seemingly quick to banish anything to their streaming services in hopes of propping up their flagging subscriber counts.

Yet the move also does cause you to worry about the quality of the movie itself –– even with Gary Dauberman, who worked on ‘It’, that film’s sequel and several of the ‘Conjuring’ universe entries (including directing ‘Annabelle Comes Home’) –– at the helm, the result is something caught between two stools.

Script and Direction

'Salem's Lot'. Photo: Courtesy of New Line Cinema/Max.

Dauberman certainly has the credits and drawing from one of Stephen King’s other classic novels might be cause to think this one is a slam dunk. And yet… ‘Salem’s Lot’ has some big issues in both tone and plotting.

While the movie certainly boasts an impressively retro style (it evokes the 1970s setting very well, with song choices, art direction and cinematography all doing their job on that front), the throwback nature of the plotting is a problem. This is a movie that feels, even though it runs close to two hours, like chunks have been chopped out of it, characters knowing information you’re not sure how they gleaned, and plot developments skipping ahead with key connective tissue missing.

Filmmakers place value in “show, don’t tell,” but here the occasionally extra moment of “tell” would not have gone amiss. Vampire lore is apparently something everyone is well versed in, but there’s little reason to suspect why.

The style also extends to the effects work, and while some imagery, such as crosses that seem to glow with angelic light when they come into contact with vampires is cool, it’s also distracting in places. Dauberman seemingly has a handle on what makes King’s stories creepy to begin with but falls down when it comes to more climactic moments.

Performances

With Lewis Pullman scoring a well-earned starring role, the film also features some good work from respected character performers, though one or two from the cast let the side down.

Lewis Pullman as Ben Mears

Lewis Pullman in 'Salem's Lot'. Photo: Courtesy of New Line Cinema/Max.

Pullman has been a supporting actor for years, waiting in the wings for lead roles. Mears offers him one (though the movie was shot in 2021, so he’s been waiting longer than planned), the King stand-in who anchors the movie.

Mears is a troubled yet likeable type, with an easy charm that Pullman can handle with grace and attitude, the everyman archetype coming naturally to him. And the role puts the actor through the wringer, having to deal with the growing supernatural threat. A large part of what works about ‘Salem’s Lot’ hangs firmly on his shoulders.

Makenzie Leigh as Susan Norton

Makenzie Leigh in 'Salem's Lot'. Photo: Courtesy of New Line Cinema/Max.

Leigh manages to infuse what could be a relatively standard love interest with some spirit. A wannabe realtor stuck working as the secretary for a scummy local agent, she quickly bonds with Ben. And when they are drawn into the mystery of what’s happening around time, Leigh makes her paranoia and fear believable.

Bill Camp as Matthew Burke

(L to R) Jordan Preston Carter and Bill Camp in 'Salem's Lot'. Photo: Courtesy of New Line Cinema/Max.

Camp is an actor I appreciate in pretty much everything –– he brings a grumpy gravitas wherever he goes. Here, as local teacher Matt Burke, he’s allowed to more than just sit at desks and deliver speeches; and he grasps the opportunity with both hands.

Alfre Woodard as Dr. Cody

Alfre Woodard in 'Salem's Lot'. Photo: Courtesy of New Line Cinema/Max.

Woodard, just as accomplished as Camp, doesn’t get as fair a shake, though her doctor certainly has a few moments that stand out, her foul-mouthed reactions to vampires rising from the dead as entertaining as her calm medical demeanor.

Pilou Asbæk as Richard Straker

Pilou Asbaek in 'Salem's Lot'. Photo: Courtesy of New Line Cinema/Max.

Asbæk gives good villain, though here he’s mostly the manservant to the actual threat newly moved to town. Still, for what he gets to do, he’s certainly watchable, even if he’s introduced in slightly clumsy, ‘Dracula’-referencing fashion (as much King’s issue as it is Dauberman’s.)

Supporting cast

A few other performances pop –– Spencer Treat Clark is good as local handyman/grave digger Mike Ryerson, who becomes one of the early victims of the vampiric plague that begins to sweep the town. John Benjamin Hickey does well as Father Callahan, the local priest who also happens to be the town drunk. And Alexander Ward, though his role is limited to playing the main vamp, Kurt Barlow, is solid as the creature causing the chaos.

If there are weaker links among the cast, it’s in some of the other supporting players, who rarely break out of the stereotypical roles they’re handed. Though credit to Jordan Preston Carter as Mark Petrie, who gives the most memorable performance from the town’s kids.

Final Thoughts

(L to R) Alfre Woodard, John Benjamin Hickey, Makenzie Leigh, Lewis Pullman, and Jordan Preston Carter in 'Salem's Lot'. Photo: Courtesy of New Line Cinema/Max.

Dauberman certainly deserved better than to have his movie sit in limbo and then get shunted straight to Max. ‘Salem’s Lot’ is far from perfect, but it’s an entirely watchable adaptation of King’s novel, and might well have rustled up some business were in released in cinemas.

‘Salem’s Lot’ receives 6 out of 10 stars.