My Review of Salem's Lot (1979)

Written by Paul Monash

Directed by Tobe Hooper

Straker: "The master wants you. Throw away your cross, face the master. Your faith against his faith... Could you do that? Is your faith enough?... Then do it... Throw away the cross. Face the master. Faith against faith."

Earlier in the year, I did manage to catch up this miniseries adaptation (and the 2004 one) in anticipation of the upcoming movie version going to Max next month. It's been a long time but I think this version has held up rather nicely.

Things started off in Guatemala with writer Ben Mears (David Soul) and a young boy named Mark Petrie (Lance Kerwin). They're confronted by evil and they're not going to run away from it. Nope, they've chosen to fight it instead. 

Then we're back to a New England town where the events that led to the team up between Ben and Mark are detailed. Naturally this would involve a spooky house in the titular town where vampires very much existence. In fact, it's kind of a massive open secret within the town itself.

Within the movie, there's a romantic plot as Ben got involved with local woman Susan Norton (Bonnie Bedelia) and it's a tragic romance played out as the two find themselves caught within the intricacies of the town's shameful activities. Needless to say that Susan ultimately paid the price but then again so did Mark, given that he lost his parents. 

As for the villains of the piece, you've got ancient vampire Kurt Barlow (Reggie Nalder). Think a somewhat blue tinged Nosferatu and you'd be on point here. He looks incredibly horrifying and certainly proved himself to be the most powerful threat in the movie along with his familiar Straker (James Mason).

Other noteworthy characters in this movie of course included alcoholic priest Father Callahan (James Gallery), who proved to be as heroic but more flawed than Ben and Mark. There was also the womanising Dr Norton (Ed Flanders) who had his own moments throughout this miniseries along with the infected townsfolk as well. 

- The character of Father Callahan has gone on to appear in other Stephen King novels such as The Dark Tower and Wolves Of The Calla.

- This miniseries aired as two movie length episodes. The original plan had been a theatrical movie.

- The town itself is actually Jerusalem's Lot, with Salem's Lot being the shortened version.

- Chronology: It does take place within the title town as well as  scenes in Guatemala for Ben and Mark.

As an adaptation, this was a great way to do Salem's Lot. The miniseries approach gave enough time to develop the characters while upping the horror, romance and dynamics between various characters. 

Rating: 8 out of 10