Overview: From Tobe Hooper, director of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Poltergeist, comes the mini-series that scarred a generation. Based on Stephen King’s all-time classic of small town terror, welcome to Salem’s Lot. Population two-thousand and thirteen, but falling fast!

Author Ben Mears (David Soul) returns to the town of Salem’s Lot after 25 years to write about the Marsten House, an old mansion with a bad reputation that has haunted the writer since childhood. But the sleepy town of Ben’s youth is beginning to change. There’s an antiques store about to open, run by the mysterious Richard Straker (James Mason) and his unseen partner Mr. Barlow (Reggie Nalder), and they’re living in the Marsten House. A series of deaths and disappearances leads Ben to believe that a vampire is feeding on the town. But how can he stop them, and will anyone believe him?

With a script by Paul Monash (producer of De Palma’s Carrie, writer of Peyton Place and The Friends of Eddie Coyle) and a superb cast that includes Bonnie Bedelia (Die Hard), Fred Willard (Best in Show), Geoffrey Lewis (Every Which Way But Loose) and Elisha Cook Jr. (The Killing), Tobe Hooper breathes vivid life and chilling un-death into the characters of King’s novel. The children of the night await ... in Salem’s Lot!

4K Blu-ray Verdict: One of the key distinctions between literature and cinema is that people don’t always want to see what they’ve read brought to life on screen. This film serves as a prime example, facing considerable criticism upon its release.

In horror films, we rarely encounter child vampires or child zombies. Even when they do appear, they’re typically portrayed by older actors. This particular aspect, despite being described in great detail in the source material, was completely omitted from the 2004, 2012 and even the recent 2024 adaptation.

However, in this 1979 mini-series, we have Tobe Hooper at the helm, and we are indeed confronted with child vampires who kill other children. This bold choice drew the ire of the moral guardians of the time, who vehemently condemned Hooper for his transgression.

The production diverges from the book in its visual approach, paying homage to the old German Nosferatu concept while also tipping its hat to Stanley Kubrick’s cinematic style.

Due to the presence of child vampires and several other unsettling scenes, the mini-series, while aired in America, was denied a theatrical release in Europe. It remained confined to television screens, gradually amassing a dedicated following over the years. In 2019, news broke of a remake produced by James Wan, but we’re still awaiting its arrival.

Therefore, Salem’s Lot (1979) is a testament to the power of adaptation, even when it deviates from the source material. It’s a chilling and atmospheric horror film that captures the essence of Stephen King’s novel while adding its own unique flavor. The performances are superb, the cinematography is evocative, and the score is haunting. It’s a film that deserves its cult status, a reminder that horror can be both terrifying and thought-provoking. [Y.P.]

4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS:
Brand new 4K restorations of both the original two-part miniseries and the shorter theatrical cut distributed internationally
4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentations in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) of both versions of the film
Original lossless mono audio
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Reversible sleeve featuring two original artwork options
Collectors’ perfect-bound booklet containing new writing on the film by critics Sean Abley, Sorcha Ni Fhlainn, and Richard Kadrey, plus select archival material including interviews with director Tobe Hooper, and stars Lance Kerwin and Julie Cobb
Salem’s Lot town sign sticker
Double-sided foldout poster featuring two original artwork options

DISC 1 - ORIGINAL TV MINI-SERIES VERSION
Two viewing modes: Play as miniseries in two parts as per the original broadcast or as extended movie
Brand new audio commentary by film critics Bill Ackerman and Amanda Reyes Archive audio commentary by director Tobe Hooper
Alternate TV footage: commercial bumpers and original broadcast version of the antlers death
Original shooting script gallery

DISC 2 - THEATRICAL VERSION & EXTRAS
Brand new audio commentary by film critic Chris Alexander
King of the Vampires, a new interview with Stephen King biographer Douglas Winter
Second Coming, a new appreciation by author and critic Grady Hendrix
New England Nosferatu, a new interview with filmmaker Mick Garris
Fear Lives Here, a new featurette looking at the locations of Salem’s Lot today
We Can All Be Heroes, a new featurette with film critic Heather Wixson, co-author of In Search of Darkness
A Gold Standard for Small Screen Screams, a new featurette with film critics Joe Lipsett and Trace Thurman, co-hosts of the podcast Horror Queers
Trailer
Image gallery

Official Purchase Link

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