Salem's Lot (1979) (TV)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Tobe Hooper

Writers:

Stephen King (novel)
Paul Monash (screenplay)

Release Date:

17 November 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller | Drama | Mystery

Tagline:

The ultimate in terror!

Plot:

Vampires are invading a small New England town. It's up to a novelist and a young horror fan to save it.

Plot Keywords:

Vampire | Writer | Haunted House | Supernatural | Truck

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 nomination

Cast

David Soul	...	Ben Mears
James Mason	...	Richard K. Straker
Lance Kerwin	...	Mark Petrie
Bonnie Bedelia	...	Susan Norton
Lew Ayres	...	Jason Berk
Julie Cobb	...	Bonnie Sawyer
Elisha Cook Jr.	...	Gordon 'Weasel' Phillips (as Elisha Cook)
George Dzundza	...	Cully Sawyer
Ed Flanders	...	Dr. Bill Norton
Clarissa Kaye-Mason	...	Majorie Glick (as Clarissa Kaye)
Geoffrey Lewis	...	Mike Ryerson
Barney McFadden	...	Ned Tebbets
Kenneth McMillan	...	Constable Parkins Gillespie
Fred Willard	...	Larry Crockett
Marie Windsor	...	Eva Miller

Also Known As:

Blood Thirst
Salem's Lot: The Miniseries
Salem's Lot: The Movie (USA) (cable TV title (cut version))

Runtime:

112 min | Argentina:115 min | Germany:103 min | UK:107 min (theatrical version) | USA:184 min (uncut version) | USA:183 min (DVD version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Iceland:16 | France:-12 (theatrical) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video rating) (1995) (mini-series version) | UK:18 (original rating) (theatrical version) | USA:PG | West Germany:16 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Eureka, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Television

Trivia:

In an interview with Reggie Nalder, the actor said that the contact lenses and heavy makeup work he had to wear for the role of Kurt Barlow was quite painful and took some time to get adjusted to.

Goofs:

Continuity: The blood drop on Mike Ryerson's pajama top changes. When first seen (when he is newly dead) it is a large spot on the pocket. Later, when he visits the doctor, the spot is nearly invisible in some shots. In other shots it is a very small drop slightly above the pocket.

Quotes:

Ben Mears: [looks at make-shift crucifix] Bless this cross in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost. No atheists with false thoughts.... The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He maketh me... He maketh me to lie down in... beside still water. He maketh me to lie down. He maketh me... He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He restoreth my soul.
[appears scared as dead body starts stirring under sheet]
Ben Mears: He leadeth me in the paths of the righteousness for His name's sake.
[shouts]
Ben Mears: Bill! Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil. Bill!
[...]

Movie Connections:

References The Wolf Man (1941)

A NIGHTMARE - INDUCING MASTERPIECE

I first saw "Salems Lot" when I was only 10, and 20 years later I still have the random nightmare because of it. "Salems Lot"- the book- was an excellent tale of a small - town being slowly killed - off by vampires, but the 1979 T.V. movie took the story to a whole new level. Tobe Hooper stayed true to the nightmarish Stephen King novel when he directed this movie for television. The movie is so scary (and holds - up today), because of great cast and truly terrifying scenes of goulish vampires. The actors who made up the small - town cast, looked like your everyday working - class people that you might bump into at your local supermarket. That element of quiet small - town folk mixed with the absolute horror / evil of the Stryker character (played by an unnervingly cold James Mason) and Mr. Barlow -- one of the most hideous / terrifying vampires since "Nosferatu"-- make "Salems Lot" one of the best horror movies that I've ever seen.

I give it 10 out of 10 stars!!!!!!!!!