Salem's Lot [DVD] [2004]

This is a far more faithful version of Stephen King's original novel, as Director Mikael Solomon and screenwriter Peter Filardi open up the story's focus on many of the other characters that weren't really fleshed out in the 1979 version. For example, master vampire, Kurt Barlow (Rutger Hauer) is shown as he was in the novel to be a charistmatic, erudite seducer of any unwary souls who he meets. Many of the other characters, such as Eva Brunier, Ned Ryerson and Floyd Tibbits are also very effectively brought to on-screen life by the actors playing them. There are a few disturbing scare moments that stick long in the memory, but none that are as memorable as those superbly orchestrated by Tobe Hooper in his version. Rob Lowe is outstanding and suitably haunted as writer Ben Mears, he nails the role perfectly and is probably the definitive portrayal of him. His co-star, Samantha Mathis, brings both a grounded realism and intelligence to her role as Susan, making her eventual fate even more tragic. Donald Sutherland clearly loves his role as Straker and commands attention every time he's on-screen as Straker and chews the scenery with devilish glee. The DVD picture quality and sound is good and it's a remarkable technical feat by Warner Bros. that the entire 174 running time is contained on only one DVD disc,whereas the original 1979 mini series version of 'Salem's Lot is split onto two DVDs in the 2006 release.

25 years on from Tobe Hooper's 1979 tv mini series this would have to be something special to outdo that slightly above average production but in my view nothing about this 2004 version stands out. Perhaps if you've missed the original this might be entertaining but for atmosphere and acting performances it falls short of the earlier three hour plus series. And that despite a good meaty turn by Donald Sutherland who tried to but didn't come anywhere near the coldly foreboding performance of James Mason in the earlier series, both playing the character Stryker, the high servant of head vampire Rutger Hauer, an actor who will be sadly missed as he died earlier this year.Just a cameo from Hauer and not too much more from Sutherland in terms of screen time. Just my viewpoint but these series could be a lot more interesting when the villains are given a fair shot especially with the actors of the calibre of Sutherland, Hauer and James Cromwell.Rob Lowe and Andre Braugher, a solid character actor of many tv films and series, have most plot and screen time. They do a competent job but not outstanding in my opinion. This version differs from the original series in some respects but it probably is more faithful to Stephen King's novel from memory. It's updated, in a sense, with some hints at controversial issues such as incest, homosexuality, disability, suicide ---- not necessary in my view because this is a story about vampires insidiously taking over a town which in itself is enough to carry the plot. Just saying.174 minutes, English subtitles and full screen 1:77 compared to the 1979 series which is 4:3 aspect.

As far as remakes go, I found this to be a very good effort. I won't go into the plot as I'm sure if you're thinking of getting this, then you've probably seen the original.Rob Lowe plays Ben Mears, the role played by David Soul in the original. I actually liked Lowe slightly more than I did Soul, but felt some of the other actors were wasted a little. Donald Sutherland, James Cromwell and Rutger Hauer are fine actors, but I doubt any had more than 25 minutes screen time. Sutherland seems a little crazy as Straker, I absolutely loved James Mason's subtle, creepy performance a lot more back in the 1979 effort. Samantha Mathis was decent, as was Andre Braugher who always seems to play the same character but does it reasonably well.For some reason it's implied that there's an incestuous relationship between a father and daughter, not needed at all in my opinion, and only seemed to be there to shock. The effects are better than in the original, even if I did prefer the vampires eyes in the old version. I liked how Barlow now looked like a man instead of Orlok from Nosferatu. There's some good deaths, but it doesn't have the same sense of foreboding as the original.This version was also made for TV, but it doesn't feel cheap with it having a $25 million budget. I rate this like I do The Shining remake, also a story by Stephen King. It wasn't necessary as the original is great anyway and it's a little long. Not as good as the original, but a very good effort. The DVD has no extra features, but that's not too suprising with the main feature itself lasting roughly 3 hours.

but I have to confess although I enjoyed this version for me it has to be David Soul and the excellent and exceedingly creepy, late, great James Mason. Don't get me wrong Rob Lowe does a really great job but what kind of let it down for me was the way Donald Sutherland played his part, to my mind it had a more comic feel to the performance that was not required and James Mason is much more superior in this part BUT judge for yourselves. It is a DVD still worth a watch and enjoyable in itself.

I really like this movie. Could not decide whether to give it 3 or 4 stars. However, it lacked the chills of the original, the monster was not scary. However it was not as long winded as the original which had 2 parts. Rob Lowe is good in it and quite believable.

Not as good as the Tobe Hooper version but worth watching, sticks to the King story a little more.

Excellent movie a little more closer to the book however as with all adaptations from novel to screen they are at best summarised the more important point of the movie

It wasn`t a bad mini series if you had never read the book or watched the original with David soul.But as i had read the book and watched the original and i was disappointed with the way the original story was altered.There is an impressive cast and as a stand alone production it was okay.