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:

After the mini-series aired on CBS with excellent ratings there was talk of continuing it as a regular television series for a while. The idea of making Salem's Lot a TV show never materialized though.

Goofs:

Continuity: While a vampire, Ralphie is in his pajamas although he died in his regular clothing.

Quotes:

Straker: Ciao, Constable.
Constable Parkins Gillespie: Chow?
Straker: Ciao. It's a familiar Italian expression meaning goodbye.
Constable Parkins Gillespie: I didn't know you were Italian.
Straker: I'm not. The word is.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Freak Out (2004)

Salem's Lot

Creepy little vampire flick is based on the bestselling Stephen King novel about a small town that becomes overtaken by an "infestation" of vampires who begin terrorizing the townspeople. Tobe Hooper creates a chilling atmosphere by using thick fog and after-rain streets to give us a claustrophobic and frightful feeling. The script is top-notch and although not as close to the book as the dreadful 2004 TNT remake, it is obviously much better. I waited years to see this film after staring at it all the time at the video store, and I haven't regretted renting it since I picked it up that day. It's definitely up there with those other Stephen King miniseries and the theatrical films as well. 4/5

Rated R for violence and scary moments