Salem's Lot (2004)

It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

In truth, any opportunity to see the film on the big screen is welcome.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Just watched this (believe it not) for the first time. There was disappointment around just about every bend. This particular adaptation (because the first was done in 1979) was weak in story, characterizations, and acting. I read with some amazement another reviewer's take on this and could not believe his/her reasoning. He tried to say this particular version wasn't trying to be scary...and at least he got something correct.The book was one of the most frightening novels I have ever read, and the first miniseries managed to capture the horror; well, at least until the vampire was finally introduced. That went down hill quickly after that point, but up to that point, was pretty much a by-the- book film.I will let each viewer decide what they think. Check out the first one, which stars David Soul, James Mason, and others. Then check the "updated" one--complete with cell phones. It isn't even close.Suggested for mature audiences, this one has some language and very minimal violence.

Oddly enough I never read the book upon which this mini-series is based, so how true it stays to the source I have no idea about. But as such, without having anything to compare it to, then I can say that it was actually entertaining.The story is about a writer returning to his hometown of Jerusalem's Lot, or Salem's Lot as the locals call it. Here he is forced to confront the haunts of his troubled past as well as the force of evil that now resides in the shunned Marsten house.They had some nice talents on the cast list, including Rob Lowe, Andre Braugher, Donald Sutherland, James Cromwell and Rutger Hauer. Personally I think that it was a shame that Sutherland and Hauer didn't have more time on the screen than they did, but they served as bait to draw in the viewers. The cast did a good job with their given roles.This is an entertaining mini-series, and even watched in one sitting the 174 minutes just fly by in no time.This 2004 version of "Salem's Lot" is well-worth watching and it is rather entertaining.

As a huge Stephen King fan, this 'mini-series' had the potential to top Tobe Hooper's TV-movie in terms of both frights and accuracy, but fails to do either. As a huge wuss when it comes to horror movies, it's not an unpleasant way to waste an afternoon. The performances range from mailing it in (I'm looking at YOU, Donald Sutherland and Rob Lowe) to borderline bizarre and against the original character (James Cromwell and Rutger Hauer). The amount of disregard for the original material is so overtly disrespectful I had a difficult time in viewing this movie from anything other than a critical perspective. Credits, score, directing, and special effects make this corny enough for TNT, because they know (melo)drama, but it is screenwriter Filardi who I have the hardest time understanding. Why are so many of the great scenes from the novel tainted by this melodrama screen writing? As the saying goes, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it.' I believe there is hope for an actual mini-series of the novel which could be both faithful and clever-but I'm not holding my breath.

I held off on watching this mostly because of the bad reviews here.OK the 1979 TV version might be classic and a lot closer to the book. This one is deviates more from the book. The teleplay author took some creative licenses here and there et al.As other reviewers pointed out Matt Burke is a homosexual in this version but he isn't over the top nor is there too much attention on this in the story.Despite some six years since 2004 when it was originally aired, I found it pretty entertaining. The key characters are there, and still feels like Stephen King. If you've seen the 1979, read or listened to the book then give this spin a chance..