What can I say about this movie – it is one of my all-time favourites for the simple fact that it was THE first horror film I saw on TV when I was around 8 years old. It was one of those ‘made for TV’ movies and I remember that it was in 2 parts over 2 days after the 10pm news.
Story-wise this Stephen King adaptation differs from the novel in some ways, but it still comes off as an engulfing and even now, scary tale. Director Tobe Hooper proves that his talent for creating good horror is not just limited to the big screen as he always sets up a truly atmospheric piece, full of darkness and dread that makes this movie so captivating.
There are some great performances, notably by the main cast members, David Soul, the brilliant James Mason as Mr. Straker and a very young and attractive Bonnie Bedelia, of course a decade later she’d become the other half of a certain John McClane.
There’s scenes of terrific suspense and plenty of chills to be found here. I have to say, for 1979, the vampires in this movie are brilliantly frightening thanks to the eerily good makeup work, so credit to those guys, as this could have gone seriously wrong and that would undone much of Hooper’s great work.
I have yet to see a vampire movie where the blood-suckers are more disturbingly spooky than in this and some sequences are just unforgettable, a lot of credit has to go to my brother for that.
The best examples of some of these sequences are the elder Glick brother tapping at the bedroom window and asking brother Mark to open up, even now that makes the hair on my neck stand on end, the un-dead cemetery worker coaxing his former teacher to look at him in a freaky loud whisper, the horrifying attack on the Petrie household by Mr. Barlow and Mr. Straker, and of the course the unforgettable and claustrophobic cellar climax.
Looking back, I watch this more for amusement than horror, as it is now seriously dated in terms of visuals, but…if you can cast your mind back to being 8 years old and knowing nothing of this supernatural world, then you’ll begin to understand why this made such an impression on me, so much so I used to and at times still do, walk up the stairs at a 90 degree angle to ensure I can view what is behind me, plus that loud whispering still freaks me out!
An excellent and underrated classic through and through, Salem’s Lot is a movie not to be missed by true fans of the genre! However, be warned and beware of the edited versions of the movie doing the rounds, the full-length mini-series is the ONLY way to see this one!
You’ll enjoy Mr. Barlow…..and he’ll enjoy you….