Salem’s Lot (2024), directed by Gary Dauberman and based on Stephen King’s classic 1975 novel, is a chilling supernatural horror film that revisits one of King’s earliest and most enduring works.
The story follows Ben Mears (Lewis Pullman), a novelist who returns to his childhood town of Jerusalem’s Lot, Maine, hoping to find inspiration for his next book and confront haunting memories from his past. Upon his arrival, Ben reconnects with familiar faces, including Susan Norton (Makenzie Leigh), a young woman who becomes his confidante, and Matthew Burke (Bill Camp), a respected local teacher. However, he quickly realizes that something sinister is lurking beneath the quiet surface of the town.
A mysterious newcomer, Richard Straker (Pilou Asbæk), arrives to open an antique shop, but he is secretly preparing for the arrival of his master, the ancient vampire Kurt Barlow. Soon after, unsettling events begin to unfold—children go missing, residents fall mysteriously ill, and whispers of unnatural deaths spread fear across the community. Ben comes to believe that the town has been infiltrated by vampires.
With the help of a small group of allies, including Susan, Burke, and Dr. Cody (Alfre Woodard), Ben fights to uncover the truth and confront the rising evil. As the vampire plague spreads, the residents of Salem’s Lot are forced into a terrifying struggle for survival. The climax builds to a desperate confrontation where Ben and his companions must risk everything to destroy Barlow before the town is consumed entirely.
Balancing atmospheric dread with moments of intense horror, Salem’s Lot explores themes of memory, fear, and the fragility of small-town life in the face of ancient evil.
