Salem's Lot (2024) #493

A movie stuck in the mire of the film industry, "Salem's Lot" has finally arrived after being shelved and forgotten by the powers that be, and now that it's here its receiving a lukewarm reception, from "it was ok" to "it's pure trash". Diehard fans of the book or the original made for tv film from 1979 have vocalized the most vitriol for this version, and while I adore the book, this movie would be fine if it didn't share the same title. It suffers from the well-intended missteps that "IT pt2" made by rewriting the ending for a modern audience. I still enjoyed the movie recommend at least giving "Salem's Lot" a chance so you can make your own conclusion.

The movie begins with the clever use of visual exposition explaining the arrival of Barlow and Straker, their purchase of the Marsten House and the opening of their antique shop, and the rumored history of the Marsten House, all displayed by various newspaper headlines and articles. This saves the movie a great deal of screen time and keeps the audience engaged during a normally tedious process. The movie's first scene opens within the antique shop with Straker giving instructions on the arrival and handling of the mysteriously heavy box that is to be delivered. Next we see two men making the delivering, being spooked the entire time.

The next day, we are introduced to Ben Mears, played by Lewis Pullman, staring up at the Marsten House, the source of inspiration for his next book. Ben is a successful writer who lived in Salem's Lot when he was younger. In the book the history of the house plays a larger role but here it is simply made out to be the creepy house on the hill. Ben goes into town to try and rent the house and learns that someone had just bought it and moved in over the last week. At the agency, Ben meets Susan, the relators assistant? Ben and Susan run into each other later at the local library, where Susan loudly announces that she will be going to the drive-in, alone. 

Mark Petrie, the new kid in school, is introduced in the classic showdown with the class bully, swiftly neutralizing the bully, showcasing his high intelligence for an 11-year-old. The fight is broken up by Matt Burke, the only teacher in school that seems to care. That night, Mark has two new friends visit his house, Ralphie and Danny. The two brothers walk home but are attacked by Staker, who kidnaps Ralphie as a sacrifice for his master, the vampire Barlow. At the Marsten House, we see Ralphie offered to Barlow, a Nosferatu looking vampire. A search is made by the town to find Ralphie, and it's indicated that Danny has no memory of the attack. Danny falls ill, and while dies while in the hospital, a victim of pernicious anemia. The night of Danny's funeral, the gravedigger Mike is bitten by Danny, beginning the slow but steady spread of vampirism throughout Salem's Lot.

It soon becomes apparent to Ben, Susan, Matt, Mark, and Dr. Cody that something is wrong in "the Lot" and seek help from Father Callahan. Bodies go missing, vampires are flying up to windows asking to be let in, and crosses glow brightly when in the presence of a vampire. The novel becomes purely inspiration for the second half of the film as characters are switched in certain events and the order of events are mixed around. Once again, if you haven't read the book, this is still an entertaining movie even if plays it a little loose on how active a vampire can be during the day. The big showdown takes place at the local drive-in, where Ben and Susan had their first date. It's an interesting idea that is full of action and close calls.

Salem's Lot was Stephen King's second published book, inspired by the horror comics of his youth. The book is full of secondary characters, fully fleshed out, who help showcase the steady spread of Barlow's curse and influence in the small town. Their presence is not necessary but does add greatly to the overall appeal and love of the book. This film already feels rushed and the inclusion of these characters was just not possible. Had they been included and the run time increased or presented as a mini-series rather than a movie, the end product may have been more in line with the book, looking past the obvious new ending of course. 

 

The Hills Run Red (2009)

What's more fascinating than a film that is screened only once and then is never seen again because of the impact that it had on it's viewers? This concept is explored in two separate movies, each offering a unique take and exploring the reasons why. The first film is "The Hills Run Red", which is about a slasher film that is shown once but is pulled after the audience declares that the violence is too life-like and scary. A young college kid named Tyler becomes obsessed with the film, collecting every little clue and picture that he can find that is related to the movie. He eventually learns who the director's daughter is and kidnaps her after he goes back to her place. She's a junky and he forces her to get clean so she can take him to where the movie was filmed. After a week she finally agrees and takes Tyler, his girlfriend Serina, and his best friend Lalo. Alexa, the director's daughter, takes them deep into the backwoods where the group runs into violent rednecks and the actual killer from "The Hills Run Red", Babyface! Tyler quickly learns that the scenes from the film were real, that the victims were actually killed, and that the deranged director Concannon is casting him and his friends as the newest stars of his movie!