Common Sense Media Review
By Danny Brogan
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Jump scares in King's vampire adaptation that lacks bite.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Salem's Lot
What's the Story?
When author Ben Mears (Lewis Pullman) returns to his childhood town of SALEM'S LOT, he discovers a community being terrorized by a centuries-old vampire.
Is It Any Good?
Stephen King—the author of the popular 1975 vampire novel that this adaptation is based on—is an executive producer of this straight to streaming horror movie, suggesting he gave it his blessing. Unfortunately, for devotees to the book and, perhaps more widely, horror fans in general, Salem's Lot offers none of the depth of the original source material. This is the third adaptation of King's second novel, but this is the first as a one-off movie (the previous two being mini-series). At under two hours, it's a big ask and one it fails to fulfil. So much of the book has been slashed or rewritten for the screen, that characters feel underwritten and their relationships bland—the lack of chemistry between the cast sticks out like a pair of vampire fangs. There are some decent jump scares, and chief vampire Kurt Barlow (Alexander Ward) is suitably terrifying. But when any of the main characters meet an unfortunate "death"—this is a vampire movie after all—it only evokes a mere shrug of the shoulders, rather than the jaw-dropping reaction the book delivers in droves. The film is directed by Gary Dauberman, who also wrote the screenplay, following a far more impressive handling of another of King's horror adaptations, It. Notably that film was split into two, a decision this disappointing offering would surely have benefited from.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Salem's Lot. Did you find it scary? Exciting? Both? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Discuss the strong language used in the movie. What did it contribute to the film? Is a certain kind of language expected in a movie like this?
This movie joins a long list of movies and TV shows about vampires. What do you think is the appeal of vampires? How have portrayals of vampires differed over the years? Do you have a favorite?
The film is based on a famous book? Have you read it? If so, how did it compare? What other movies have you seen based on books? On the whole, do you think adaptations work?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 3, 2024
- Cast : Lewis Pullman , Jordan Preston Carter , Makenzie Leigh
- Director : Gary Dauberman
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Max
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Book Characters , Fantasy
- Run time : 114 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : bloody violence and language
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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