Salem’s Lot (1979) – Film Review

Director: Tobe Hooper
Cast: David Soul, James Mason, Lance Kerwin
Certificate: 15

By Sarah Morgan

For some actors, following up a major success can be difficult, especially if they’ve become associated with a long-running role.

To many viewers of a certain age, David Soul will forever be Ken ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson in seminal 1970s US TV series Starsky and Hutch, but when the show came to an end in 1979, he was lucky enough to get another juicy role pretty much immediately – that of Ben Mears in an adaptation of Stephen King’s second novel Salem’s Lot.

We’re so used to seeing versions of the author’s work on the big and small screens now that it’s hard to imagine a time when they weren’t popping up all over the place. But, back in the late-1970s, they were a rarity. In fact, Salem’s Lot was the first TV version of one of his works, and only the second overall following Brian DePalma’s movie take on Carrie.

“More chilling”

Both were hugely successful, paving the way for the masses to come, from The Shining in 1980 to last year’s The Running Man (several more adaptations of King’s books are, incidentally, either in development or production as we speak, including a TV version of Carrie).

Salem’s Lot remains one of the best, and certainly continues to be admired by new fans. It was originally broadcast as a two-part series directed by Tobe ‘The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’ Hooper.; an edited, shorter cut combining both episodes was shown theatrically in other parts of the world. Both versions are included in this new 4K UHD release from Arrow Films.

Soul’s character is an author who returns to his small hometown to write his next book, which is about an old, forbidding and long empty property which is rumoured to be haunted. However, the truth is far more chilling – it’s now owned by an ancient vampire, the mysterious Mr Barlow, who seems dead set (pun intended) on turning the local folk into fellow bloodsuckers.

“Sympathetic presence”

When Ben realises what’s happening, he sets out to bring the nightmare to an end, with help from a handful of trusted allies.

Those who have read the book will know that some artistic licence has been taken, but that overall, Paul Monash’s screenplay sticks pretty closely to the original text. He had previous experience of King’s work, having produced Carrie, which perhaps helped.

Soul does not, however, resemble the Ben Mears of the book – Tom Selleck would have been closer, but at the time wasn’t a big enough name for the project. It doesn’t particularly matter anyway; Soul is a likeable and sympathetic presence throughout, ably supported by Bonnie Bedelia as his love interest and Lance Kerwin as Mark, whose knowledge of horror film lore comes in very handy indeed.

“Must-buy”

However, as is often the case, it’s the villains who really catch the eye, in particular James Mason as the deliciously devious Richard Straker, the familiar of Barlow, played by Reggie Nalder, made up to look like Nosferatu from the 1922 film of the same name.

Hooper directs with some panache, delivering a few genuinely chilling scenes, including the much-discussed sight of young vampire Ralphie Glick hovering outside his brother’s window, waiting to be let in.

Salem’s Lot still stands up today, and Arrow’s release is a must-buy for fans thanks to its wealth of special features and a booklet containing new writing about the series and film.

Sarah Morgan( Writer )

Sarah Morgan studied film journalism at post-graduate level with the BFI and has been writing about TV and film for PA Media’s newspaper, magazine and new media customers since 1996. She’s also written for a wide range of other publications, both online and in print, including the book Offbeat and Intermission magazine, and is a regular contributor to the Talking Pictures TV podcast. When she isn’t watching movies, she’s collecting and reading vintage crime and horror paperback books or, for her sins, watching her beloved Sheffield Wednesday.

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