
SALEM'S LOT
Starring: Lewis Pullman, Jordan Preston Carter, Bill Camp, Alfre Woodard, Makenzie Leigh, Pilou Asbæk, and Alexander Ward
Director: Gary Dauberman

PAIGE

There's no denying that this Salem's Lot remake has a spooky atmosphere and an old-school, Stephen King vibe, but you can definitely tell that a significant amount of character development and substance were left on the cutting room floor. The main plot’s lack of a strong build-up ultimately results in a flimsy mystery. Lewis Pullman tries his best with what he is given as Ben Mears in this mediocre King adaptation, and the story at least allows Jordan Preston Carter to shine as the little badass Mark Petrie. However, while there may be some cool moments throughout the film, I much prefer Tobe Hooper's 1979 version.

QUENTIN

Since I had already seen two versions of Salem’s Lot (1979 and 2004), I didn’t need another adaptation. Plus, considering the glut of recent mediocre remakes and prequels to horror classics, especially of the straight-to-streaming variety, expectations were low. That said, I actually quite enjoyed this new version. It’s not amazing, of course, but it’s a sturdy, old-fashioned, 80s-style vampire movie. There is no hidden meaning, forced subtext, or unnecessarily gritty darkness; just a ragtag group of people fighting vampires with backpacks full of stakes and crosses. For those who grew up on The Lost Boys and Fright Night, this is a surprisingly nice throwback.