Salem's Lot (2004) (DVD)

After I just got done ripping Stephen King adaptations when I reviewed his television mini-series Kingdom Hospital the DVD edition of the latest take on his bestselling novel 'Salem's Lot crossed my desk.

A television mini-movie made for TNT 'Salem's Lot boasts a huge cast of names including Rob Lowe, Donald Sutherland, Samantha Mathis, Rutger Hauer and James Cromwell and it delivers. I received a screener copy of this movie before it was aired on television and gave it a 'B+' in my initial review, which you can read here, but now that all three hours can be found on one disc this is a worthy buy for King and horror genre fans alike.

While I read 'Salem's Lot about seven years ago and I don't really remember the storyline at all, I have been told that some were upset that this adaptation abandoned certain aspects of the King novel, but I wouldn't be able to tell you one way or another, so that is up to you.

In this version of 'Salem's Lot we visit the quirky town of Jerusalem's Lot where Ben Mears (Lowe) has returned home to chronicle the haunting Marsten house which resides on the hill overlooking the town, a house which haunts Mears' past. Unfortunately for Ben, an antique dealer named Richard Straker (Sutherland) has also arrived and bought the house, as well as opened up a new shop with his silent partner, Kurt Barlow (Hauer). When strange occurrences begin to take place all the eyes of the town turn to the Marsten house, its evil roots and the town's newest visitors.

One thing I can say is that, while working on a limited television budget, and employing some big names this movie makes for the first time I have ever felt a made-for-TV movie would be worth owning, and I think if the filmmakers had had a budget similar to a theatrical release they could have turned this into a classic Halloween fare.

I don't think most horror and thriller fans will be scared by this film, but I do think they will be intrigued by the characters and get wrapped up in the plotline, which, for a vampire story, does not get too far-fetched... all things considered.

If you aren't sure, rent it, but since it was made for TV, don't let the 3+ hour running time worry you, the commercial stopping points will give you numerous opportunities to hit stop and pick up where you left off the next night.