Salem’s Lot: return to the Vampire-infested town (trailer)

Break out the garlic and wooden stakes, horror fans, because we’re heading back to Salem’s Lot, and it’s not for a pleasant vacation. In case you thought Stephen King had finished with his diabolical small-town horror masterpieces, 2024 is about to remind you that vampires—real vampires, not the sparkly kind—are still very much a thing. This time, director Gary Dauberman, of The Conjuring and It fame, is sinking his teeth into King’s 1975 classic, and let’s be honest, this probably means you’ll spend most of October 11th sleeping with the lights on.

For those who don’t have “vampire apocalypse in rural Maine” at the top of their reading list, Salem’s Lot follows author Ben Mears (played by Lewis Pullman), who makes the questionable life decision to return to his quaint hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot. It’s your typical small town where everyone knows everyone, except for the fact that there’s also a bloodthirsty vampire snacking on the residents and turning them into the undead. You know, the usual.

Mears is looking for inspiration for his next great novel, but what he gets is a full-on Gothic nightmare. Imagine going home for a relaxing writer’s retreat and finding out that the weird old house on the hill is occupied by a master vampire, and the town is slowly turning into the set of a Dracula fan club gone horribly wrong. It’s safe to say that whatever inspiration Ben’s getting, it’s not going to be from scenic walks or peaceful cups of coffee. This is the Salem’s Lot reboot that aims to scare your pants off—courtesy of the producing dream team behind The Conjuring universe and It. So, you already know what you’re getting into: dimly lit rooms, creeping dread, and that good old-fashioned “oh, look, the walls are bleeding” horror. Expect jump scares that make you fling your popcorn halfway across the room and vampires that don’t politely ask for permission before they bite.

Pullman, looking like he’s spent several sleepless nights dodging vamps, leads the cast, but let’s not forget the supporting players who will inevitably either be eaten or turned into bloodsuckers. Makenzie Leigh stars as Susan, the local love interest who probably doesn’t realise she’s in a King novel and therefore in deep trouble. Alfre Woodard plays Dr. Cody, because every small town under siege by vampires needs at least one character with enough common sense to question why no one’s worried about the rising population of the undead. Bill Camp and John Benjamin Hickey round out the cast of potential future vampires, alongside William Sadler and Pilou Asbæk, who looks like he was born to play some sort of malevolent underling.

And of course, this is a Stephen King adaptation, so don’t expect your standard issue, run-of-the-mill vampires. We’re talking ancient, malevolent monsters who don’t sparkle, have no desire to romance teenagers, and couldn’t care less about maintaining an alluring mystique. These vampires don’t brood—they feast, and they’re not apologising for it. The film’s big bad, Kurt Barlow, is the kind of vampire that gives the whole genre a good name—creepy, menacing, and absolutely the worst neighbour you could ask for. Forget asking to borrow sugar; he’s here for your soul.

Behind the camera, Gary Dauberman is writing and directing, and given his track record (It Chapter Two, The Nun), we can safely assume he knows how to wring every ounce of terror out of a creepy old house and a shadowy figure lurking in the woods. With James Wan and Michael Clear producing (because, really, is there a horror movie they’re not involved in these days?), the atmosphere is going to be so thick with dread you’ll probably be able to cut it with a knife—or a wooden stake, whichever feels more appropriate.

The movie looks like it’s aiming to strike the perfect balance between classic gothic horror and modern, nerve-shattering tension. If you’re expecting to see a faithful recreation of King’s small-town terror, peppered with those Dauberman-esque horror beats that make you question why you’re still sitting in the dark watching it, you’re in for a treat. Or a nightmare. Same difference.

So, as the release date of October 11th creeps closer, be prepared to spend some quality time in Jerusalem’s Lot, where the locals are a little less “friendly neighbour” and a little more “fangs and funeral plans.” Whether you’re a die-hard King fan or just someone who enjoys watching good people make terrible decisions in creepy towns, Salem’s Lot is shaping up to be the vampire flick that’ll make you rethink ever going back to your hometown.

And just a friendly tip—if you see anyone wearing a cape, maybe skip the friendly chat and head for the nearest holy water.