It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

Famous writer returns to his hometown in Maine to complete a new project: a book about the Marsten House, a creaky, rotting mansion on the hill with a dark past, one that has haunted the author since he was a young man. It turns out the house still casts a dark spell, one that may be responsible for the deaths or disappearances of several local boys. Horror-veteran Tobe Hooper directed this made-for-TV miniseries, adapted from the early Stephen King novel ('Salem's Lot short for Jerusalem's Lot). Hooper does good work here, particularly in the climax, though for the first hour he dawdles over the material. The 184-minute running-time may have convinced the filmmaker he could allow the story to unfold slowly; if so, the gambit doesn't quite pay off. With a main character who isn't very exciting (he fills us in on the house's history and introduces us to the rest of the cast), a midsection involving the Catholic Church (complete with a child's funeral and a priest staring down evil) and too many trips to the hospital and morgue, the narrative goes into a depressive rut. One of the most intense sequences, an unhinged man finding another man in bed with his wife, isn't topped by the supernatural happenings (a fatal flaw) and nothing imperative comes of this story thread. James Mason has a devilishly good time playing the mysterious new owner of the Marsten House, but mostly the performances are solid if unspectacular. Hooper's spooky visuals will give fans of the occult what they're hoping for, though the picture has cheesy tail-ends to most of its big scenes. Also, the interiors are too bright, the sets are disappointing, the art direction is dull and the prologue is unnecessary. Followed by "A Return to Salem's Lot" in 1987.

One of the first screen adaptations of a Stephen King's novel, Salem's Lot is a spooky, suspenseful & sinister piece of work from the mind behind The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and finds him making brilliant use of the foreboding atmosphere & ominous setting to create a sense of uneasiness and although the story takes a while to find its footing, it's a thrilling ride once that happens.The story of Salem's Lot follows a writer who returns to his titular hometown after years to pen a novel about an old, dilapidated manor which he believes to be haunted. But soon after his arrival, people begin disappearing or dying under strange circumstances, only to reanimate as vampires. As the sickness spreads at an alarming rate, he enlists the help of few locals to save the town.Directed by Tobe Hooper, this miniseries appears to be heading nowhere at first, for it indulges in characters & subplots that it could've done without as they only slow down the narrative. However, once the board is set, it doesn't take long for a menacing quality to permeate its images and from that point onwards, Salem's Lot remains tense & gripping until the end.The teleplay could've used a bit more refinement as the characters aren't interesting enough to be worthy of any emotional investment and the plot needed a trim or two every now n then. The horror elements are expertly executed by the director, and the film's excellent production design, stellar make-up effects, eerie ambiance & gloomy score further magnifies its grim aura & sinister tone.Made for TV audience, the violence & gore is kept to minimum, and mostly takes place off-screen but that doesn't diminish its scare factor by much as the story relies on its environment to deliver the chills. Performances are mediocre as best as none of the characters leave a lasting impression while most of its creative choices, inspired from earlier works of horror, are effectively utilised.On an overall scale, Salem's Lot commences on a drowsy note but becomes alive once the demon steps into the town. Its 3 hours runtime is felt on several occasions, especially in the beginning but things do get better as plot progresses. To sum it up, this miniseries may appear somewhat dated today but it still has some unexpected shocks & surprises in store for newcomers, and is definitely worth a shot at least once.

David Soul, James Mason, Bonnie Bedelia, Lance Kerwin and Reggie Nalder star in Tobe Hooper's 1979 horror film based on Stephen King's novel. Soul (Starsky & Hutch) plays Ben Mears, a novelist who returns to his hometown, Salem's Lot, Maine to write about a mysterious, old house that may be haunted. He discovers that an evil presence inhabits the house turning the town's residents into vampires one by one. Mason (Heaven Can Wait) plays antique dealer, Richard Straker, Bedelia (Die Hard) plays teacher and Ben's love interest, Susan Norton, Kerwin plays creative, young boy, Mark Petrie and Nalder plays Straker's business partner and vampire, Kurt Barlow. Geoffrey Lewis (Tango & Cash) and George Dzundza (Basic Instinct) also appear. This is a great vampire/horror flick featuring a good cast, great score & creepy make-up effects. I recommend this.

This was an excellent miniseries. I use to own the full length miniseries on VHS as a kid. Idk why so many fans had a problem with making Barlow look more like Nosferatu? Honestly, I preferred this version over the 2004 one and the novel written by Stephen King himself. It just makes more sense. Barlow's appearance in the novel and in the 2004 version wasn't scary. I don't find a vampire with a more human like appearance like Dracula to be frightening. David Soul portrayed a better Ben Mears than Rob Lowe. I also liked the actor who played Mark. I found this version satisfying. Sure, it's not exactly like the novel. But then again it's Hollywood.