Salem's Lot (2004)

11 out of 19 people found the following review helpful:

Do you like the book? The original Mini-series?

Posterchild from Kent, England, 5th July, 2005

If you did, then a few words of caution would perhaps be best. There have been some pretty radical alterations to the source text in this adaptation. Without wishing to go into 'spoilers', let's just say some characters have changed and the plot has been re-configured to allow for these changes. You may not find them for the best. If you're willing to put aside some of your expectations, you'll have a reasonably good few hours with this disc. If you're not, well...

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7 out of 11 people found the following review helpful:

Anaemic Remake!

Hublet from West Yorkshire, 9th August, 2005

Salem’s Lot was the earlier best seller written by Stephen King. It pretty much covered the same themes that are associated with his books: - inner demons, small town secrets (usually set in Maine) and rites of passage subtext. A screen adaptation was inevitable.

Unfortunately, (as is the case with most King novels) that adaptation would be translated to the small screen. Although having certain guidelines stacked against you for the sake of network TV, the 79 version directed by Tobe Hooper of ‘Texas Chainsaw’ notoriety proved that a TV miniseries could be downright scary and just at home with the crème de la crème of 70’s horror classics.

So what we have here is supposed to be a definitive 2004 resurrection of the original novel? Well, for beginners where in heaven or hell did that new prologue come from? Secondly, it’s different to the era that the original story was set! Putting aside any anachronisms, its safe to say that this version doesn’t hold a steak to the 79 version when it comes to the scare factor. As soon as horrific events start unfolding, the whole thing seems like a tamed, toothless re-imagining. Anything resembling tension could quite easily be cut through with a blunt wooden steak!

In a corpse shell, this TV remake should never have seen the light of day. A full-blooded silver screen re-vamp would have been more of an invite.

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4 out of 4 people found the following review helpful:

undemanding viewing

Nicola from Sleaford lincs, 8th December, 2005

I didnt quite know what to expect of this version of salems lot,i watched it on an afternoon with a freind,it has some great actors in it,rutger hauer,donald sutherland,james cromwell,rob lowe,who were all largely wasted,barlow the vampire wasnt scary enough,donald sutherlands character,was similar to max von sydows character in Needful Things,and if im right didnt donald sutherland and rutger hauer appear in the original buffy movie? Tobe hoopers original 1979 version which was a Tv mini series and then recut into a film,still remains far superior to this day,rent that or buy it.

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3 out of 3 people found the following review helpful:

Salems (p)lotless

dreyfus from from WALTON-ON-THAMES, 27th October, 2005

This film doesn't quite match the atmospheric suspense as the original. In what promised to be a much awaited remake tended to let us down in more way's than one! This film drags along with very few menace and chills and tries to copy the first, but to no avail. Rutgar Hauer as a too human-like vampire didn't impress as much, as did the original Nostferatau.

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Salem's Lot - what??!

AlbanianGirl from from , 5th September, 2008

Quite surprised by the good reviews for this - because I just don't get it!!! I'm not familiar with the story but have heard lots about it and am trying to read the book by SK. It's taken me a week to watch this film and I'm able to do so for about 45 mins at a time, I'm not enjoying it and am looking forward to when the original comes, which is also on my list. Rob Lowe's mouth annoys me - but Donald Sutherland is the business.

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Why did they make this ?

A Customer from Blackpool, 10th August, 2008

Having read and enjoyed the book and been terrified by the 1979 TV classic, I was looking forward to seeing this new version. What a mistake. From the very beginning, it was a big disappointment. Characters changed, new characters brought in. There wasn't anyone that I really cared about. I'd have been happy if they had all been killed in the first half hour and I'd have had another few hours to do something better with my time ! It says that it is based on the book by Stephen King - very very loosely based would have been more like it. Don't bother with this rubbish, go for the David Soul and James Mason version. Now that is Scary with a capital S. Sometimes they should refrain from trying to remake a classic. Avoid.

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Salem's Lot: A bit long in the fang.

raptor1217 from , 25th July, 2008

I didn't know this was a TV series, so was surpised in was on over for 2 hours. the film was OK, but I've never been a a Stephen King fan though. It lacked a proper effects budget, with in one scene being able to see the strings, on someone flying. While watchable the films plot was a bit over the place, with no real depth into the story. The story is about how one man, takes on vampires in a small town. A lot of it, seemed to have bits out of Dracula. A bit disjointed, and some of the actors not seem right for the roles. If a vampure, or Stephen King fan, then perhaps worthwhile to rent.

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Customer Review

A Customer from UK, 23rd June, 2008

If you're a King or vampire fan then you'll probably love this, it starts off showing a lot of potential but then goes down hill from there on.

I must admit I found it too daft really. I prefer to have the suggestion of something disturbing rather than showing something totally unrealistic, such as some crazed child corpse gnawing away at his mate's neck. Did his parents forget to buy any Jaffa Cakes that week??

I would say this is mediocre at best and my husband actually left part way through to do the dishes. So obviously hiring it again next week, ENOUGH SAID!!!!!

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