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| Images Courtesy of Max |
The third adaptation of one of Stephen King's most
celebrated novels is a breakneck paced “kids on bikes” popcorn
celebration. Eschewing virtually all character development in favor of vampire
horror and pristine aesthetics, Gary Dauberman's Salem's Lot will most
assuredly divide audiences with its inspired and risk-taking approach to the beloved
source material.
Ben Mears returns to his childhood town of Jerusalem's Lot to work on his next
novel and confront his traumatic past. Mears, and a ragtag group of
townsfolk soon uncover a vampiric conspiracy that threatens to devour the
town and possibly the world. Dauberman's script is dangerously lean,
catapulting right into the horror, barely allowing any of the story (or its
characters) time to breath. At its core, King's original text was about
the darkness that hides in small town America and the decline of such places, and
this version is a clear, but admirable departure.
Lewis Pullman stars as Mears. Continuing to show that he is one of the strongest actors currently working today, his portrayal of Mears' vulnerability is what endears him to the viewer. His chemistry with Mackenzie Leigh’s doomed Nancy is natural and tender, giving their arc a surprising amount of emotional depth, considering the narrative shallow treatment of almost every character and plot. Alfre Woodard gives a scene stealing performance as Dr. Cody; however the standout is Jordan Preston Carter, who stars as Mark, a child who is forced to not only grow up too soon, but to confront real monsters.
While the breakneck pacing and fusing/discarding of so many plot elements is jarring, it is evident that this should have been a limited series, and yet, there is something compelling about how everything comes together, most likely due to Michael Burgess' outstanding cinematography. The worlds of Salem's Lot, the living, and the dead blend together seamlessly, presenting a 1970's town that feels real, lived in, and simultaneously dying, even before the arrival of the vampire. The final piece de resistance is a jaw dropping finale at a drive in theater that is filmed and acted with so much heart and creativity, it allows this remake to rise above the expected mediocrity that a project such as this usually revels in.
Now streaming on Max, Salem's lot isn't a deep or
profound retelling of King's classic tale, it is a nostalgic, lightning-fast
horror yarn that rekindles the wonder of films about children standing against
ultimate evils and prevailing that populated the 80's. Stalwart imagery
and a dedicated cast enrich the experience making it the perfect choice for
this Halloween season's viewing.
--Kyle Jonathan