This Forgotten Adaptation Of A Stephen King Novel Might Be Better Than The Latest Movie Version

Adapting a Stephen King novel is no easy feat, and the recent Salem’s Lot movie and its reception is proof of that. The 2024 Max movie left audiences with mixed-to-negative reactions, especially due to comparisons with the iconic TV miniseries. However, there is another adaptation of the same novel that is worth another look.

Published in 1975, Salem’s Lot is a true-blue Stephen King horror classic, being his second-ever novel. It was also the author’s second work to be adapted to the screen, following Brian De Palma’s take on King’s debut novel, Carrie. Given the cult classic status of the 1979 TV miniseries, as well as the underwhelming recent outing, there is another version from the early 2000s that has been seemingly forgotten over time.

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What Were Your Thoughts on Max’s Salem’s Lot Adaptation?

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The 2004 Salem’s Lot Wasn’t Perfect, But It Stood Out

A Faithful Adaptation With A Mid-2000s TV Feel

In June 2004, TNT aired a new take on Salem’s Lot with two episodes, just like its 1979 counterpart. With a total runtime of just over three hours, this miniseries feels so faithful to the book that it’s hard to call it a remake. It featured an ensemble cast with big names like Rob Lowe, Donald Sutherland, Samantha Mathis, and Rutger Hauer, among others. The show was directed by Mikael Salomon, with a screenplay by Peter Filardi, who adapted the original Stephen King work.

The 2004 version of Salem’s Lot is far from perfect, with several issues such as uneven production, bad dialogue, rushed editing, and poor visual effects. Despite that, it manages to capture the original prestige and horror of the novel, distilling it into a chaotic yet compelling experience. Moreover, it introduces new scenes — some of which the 1979 Tobe Hooper version skipped from the novel — making it a distinct take on the story. Even though the cast members were arguably underused, their performances still blend into the overall mid-2000s TV vibe.

What Is Salem’s Lot About?

Stephen King’s Small-Town Horror Classic, Explained

For those unfamiliar with the source material, the story is set in Jerusalem’s Lot, Maine, commonly known as Salem’s Lot. A writer named Ben Mears returns to the town, where he spent part of his childhood, seeking inspiration. However, he soon discovers a shocking truth: the residents are slowly turning into vampires. As more people succumb to the bloodthirsty creatures, Ben teams up with allies like Father Callahan and teenager Mark Petrie to fight back.

The vampires are led by the evil Kurt Barlow and his human servant, Richard Straker. There comes a point when the town falls into complete darkness, forcing Ben and Mark to find a way to escape and destroy the vampires once and for all. The result is an iconic small-town horror classic, taking familiar themes like vampires and presenting them in a way that had never been told before.

In fact, Stephen King himself has stated on multiple occasions, such as a 1987 interview with Highway Patrolman magazine, that Salem’s Lot was his favorite of all his books:

In a way, it is my favorite story, mostly because of what it says about small towns. They are kind of a dying organism right now. The story seems sort of down home to me. I have a special cold spot in my heart for it!

What The 2004 Salem’s Lot Got Right

Intense Death Scenes & Campy Horror

Some of the elements that the 2004 version included (but the 1979 miniseries left out) were the character of Dud Rogers and the school bus scene with the vampire children. Compared to the 2024 film, the TV series does get certain things right, especially in terms of its era-appropriate tone, which might now be perceived as campy. For example, Jimmy Cody meets a gruesome end when he is dropped onto a circular saw. This is a more intense version of his death in the book, where he’s simply impaled on knives after falling through sabotaged stairs. Another standout moment is Barlow’s scene in the Petrie kitchen, where he kills Mark’s mother while skittering across the ceiling like a demonic insect.

Scenes like these would be difficult to execute in today’s more restrained horror tone, which could end up feeling dull. Even some of the cornier lines, which might seem awkward on paper, actually land well in the 2004 adaptation. While the overall performances don’t quite compare to the 1979 classic, actors like Rob Lowe, James Cromwell, and Donald Sutherland still delivered, even if the script and direction didn’t fully do them justice.

2004 Salem’s Lot Vs. The 1979 & 2024 Versions

All that being said, the mood of the 2004 Salem’s Lot doesn’t feel as haunting as the 1979 version. The first adaptation had more menacing vampires, whereas the CGI-enhanced eyes and makeup in the 2004 version felt off. The older version also had more chilling sound design and moments that left a lasting impact on audiences. James Mason’s Straker in the 1979 miniseries was far scarier than Donald Sutherland’s portrayal.

Additionally, Rutger Hauer’s version of Barlow in the 2004 adaptation follows the book’s original concept of a Dracula-like vampire, while the 1979 film reimagined him as a Nosferatu-style creature, which arguably made him even more terrifying. Regardless, the 2004 version of Salem’s Lot showed a lot of ambition and has the potential to evolve into a camp horror classic over time, especially when compared to the 2024 Max adaptation, which condensed the story into just two and a half hours instead of three.

The two-part 2004 Salem’s Lot miniseries is currently available for rent on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video.

Salem’s Lot

Release Date

2004 – 2003

Network

TNT