Why HBO's Salem's Lot Adaptation Crashed and Burned with Critics (2025)

The highly anticipated adaptation of Stephen King's iconic horror novel, Salem's Lot, has finally landed on Max. Originally set for a theatrical release on September 9, 2022, the film was subjected to numerous delays due to COVID-related issues, which eventually led Warner Bros. to opt for an OTT release. The decision was also influenced by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, which affected distribution, but fans nonetheless remained eager to see how the latest horror adaptation would turn out. However, the film proved to be a letdown for those who read the novel or watched the previous adaptations of the franchise.

Certainly, a Salem's Lot film can never achieve what the original novel could, but the most recent adaptation falls short in many aspects, making it one of the weakest entries in the franchise. So, what exactly went wrong, and why is it considered a flawed take on Stephen King's renowned horror story?

3.5/5

See Also

Salem’s Lot: a faithful but shallow adaptation of Stephen King’s classic vampire novelSalem’s Lot: a faithful but shallow adaptation of Stephen King’s classic vampire novel

Salem's Lot (2024)

Release Date

September 25, 2024

Director

Gary Dauberman

Cast

Lewis Pullman , Alfre Woodard , Makenzie Leigh , Bill Camp , Spencer Treat Clark , Pilou Asbæk , John Benjamin Hickey , William Sadler , Jordan Preston Carter , Nicholas Crovetti , Cade Woodward , Kellan Rhude , Debra Christofferson , Rebecca Gibel , Mike Bash , Fedna Jacquet , Avery Bederman

Runtime

113 Minutes

Main Genre

Horror

Writers

Gary Dauberman , Stephen King

Our Take on New Salem's Lot Adaptation

Salem's Lot has undoubtedly been one of the most anticipated horror films of the year, partly because it is based on Stephen King's best-selling novel. However, in no way does it work in favor of the adaptation, because the comparisons to earlier films and the source are inevitable, especially when the film is poorly adapted. In this regard, the latest version is regarded as one of the worst entries in the franchise, but only because of how it imprudently alters specific storylines that are vital to the original story.

If the film had been a standalone story, it would've been an excellent Halloween binge, like Adam Driver's The Dead Don't Die, which is a low-key gem that is effortlessly great as a zombie flick. While we understand that not all modern films are capable of capturing the same eerie allure of vintage horror, the latest adaptation might have been considerably improved if they spent more time fine-tuning the screenplay.

In other words, the film constructs unrealistic fiction through characters like Mark Petrie (Jordan Preston Carter), who arguably had a better impact on the story than the main character itself. When you consider other irksome changes that have been made to the story, such as Matt Burke's severed relationship with the protagonist, the unexpected story-building, and the significance of Ben Mears in the overall narrative, it doesn't really feel like a faithful adaptation.

The Film Has One of the Lowest Rotten Tomatoes Scores

Rotten Tomatoes has long been a reliable source of movie ratings, with top critics and audiences judging a story based on years, if not decades, of accumulated knowledge. The audience score for the latest Salem's Lot sits at a mere 41%, while critics' gave it a slightly generous score of 48%.

For context, Salem's Lot (1979), which remains the best adaptation of the novel so far, holds a 65% audience score, while the recent film barely beats A Return to Salem's Lot, which has a 24% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Even the 2004 miniseries, while not flawless, is regarded as a superior adaptation to the present one, making it clear that the film had completely missed the mark this time around.

Salem's Lot Is Better Suited as a Miniseries

Part of the reason earlier adaptations are held in high regard is because they understood the significance of the source material. Both the 1979 and the 2004 versions were produced as miniseries rather than feature films, with only two episodes apiece and a runtime of one and a half hours. The new movie, however, crams the entire novel into less than two hours, making it quite inadequate to tell the story conveniently.

While it took its time establishing the characters, everything was rushed beyond a certain part of the story, leaving fans disappointed. A miniseries would also have placed more emphasis on Lewis Pullman's Ben Mears, allowing us to learn more about his past as well as his romantic interest, Susan Norton, who became another victim of a sloppy screenplay. Therefore, Salem's Lot would have benefited greatly from an hour or more of additional scenes, as well as a little tweak to the previously established character narratives.

Overall, even though it pales in comparison to prior adaptations (except A Return to Salem's Lot), it is still an enjoyable horror film for a spooky Halloween or a chilling Saturday night. Despite the overwhelmingly negative reception, we still believe it did better than many expected, considering the numerous setbacks the production has faced. In particular, many fans of the original novel braced for a potential disaster following the studio's decision to release the film on Max, but in the end, it turned out better than everyone had hoped. So, what did you think of the new Salem's Lot movie?