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Stars: Skeet Ulrich, Claire Forlani, Thomas Jane, Theo Rossi, Devon Bostick, Ashley Moore, Rebecca Gibel, Samantha Gordon, Thomas Kee | Written by Alex Runnels | Directed by Mackenzie Munro

Salvation – which comes from director Mackenzie Munro (Boot Camp) and stars Skeet Ulrich, Claire Forlani and Thomas Jane – delves into a world of faith, deception, and redemption with a gripping narrative that is both unsettling and thought-provoking. The story follows a troubled foster child sent to live with a seemingly kind couple in rural Tennessee. However, as she integrates into their lives, she uncovers dark secrets tied to a snake-handling worship community, which sets the stage for a tense and unpredictable journey.

Skeet Ulrich delivers a standout performance, bringing remarkable depth and complexity to his role. Clare Forlani and Thomas Jane also excel, contributing significantly to the film’s taut and uneasy atmosphere. Munro’s direction is highly effective, masterfully building suspense and maintaining a steady,...

Lewis Pullman, whose father is critically acclaimed actor Bill Pullman, has started to carve out his own path to Hollywood success. Pullman has showcased his acting range in various projects, from independent works to blockbuster mega-hits, and has developed his own unique acting style. His career is just starting to blossom, and while having a famous father in the industry doesn't hurt, Pullman's acting ability and dedication are what have brought him into starring roles.

He started his acting career back in 2013, acting in a series of short films before landing a role in the feature-length production, The Ballad of Lefty Brown. Since then, Pullman has racked up films, including a breakout performance in Bad Times at the El Royale and in the box-office smash hit Top Gun: Maverick, marking him as one of the best young actors of his generation. In every role he plays, he brings a commitment...

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 Salem's Lot...

The following contains discussions of child abuse, sexual assault and animal cruelty that some readers might find disturbing.

The King of Horror doesn't sugarcoat his stories. Many of Stephen King's books include disturbing scenes. While some are well-justified for the purpose they serve in character building, others can feel random.

Kings books, often being very intense, include things from child orgies to animal cruelty. Film and television tend to have a different standard in terms of censorship than books, and what might be acceptable in a book may not be fit to view on screen.

Salem's Lot Has Abusive Parent Scenes That Might Upset Readers

Certain scenes are better left off of the big screen. This particular scene isn't in any of the Salem's Lot adaptations. The depiction of abusive parents can be very upsetting, and it's truly disturbing when such scenes involve an infant. While Salem's Lot is a book about vampires,...

Max has just launched 'Salem's Lot, an all-new adaptation of the original Stephen King story from 1975. Making the new vampire film was not without its challenges, particularly when it came to filming with real morgue equipment.

In an interview with Horror Geek Life, some of the stars of the new 'Salem's Lot addressed the authenticity of the props used for the morgue scene. Alfre Woodard (Dr. Cody) shared that she was creeped out by filming with genuine equipment which had previously been used by a real morgue. She also commented on how it was tough filming her vampire fight scene with such a strong co-star on a hard, wet floor.

Related Glen Powell's Reboot of Stephen King's The Running Man Sets Release Date

Paramount announces the official release date for Edgar Wright and Glen Powell's The Running Man remake.

"It was fun sometimes. It was painful physically sometimes,...

After two years of delays, Salem's Lot has landed an early Rotten Tomatoes score, but it's quite a mixed bag for the wait. The upcoming movie marks the third direct adaptation of Stephen King's 1975 novel, in which writer Ben Mears returns to his titular hometown in the hopes of landing on an idea for his next novel, only to learn that a nest of vampires has begun preying on the locals. Written and directed by The Conjuring Universe vet Gary Dauberman, the Salem's Lot cast is led by Thunderbolts*'s Lewis Pullman as Ben alongside Alfre Woodard, Makenzie Leigh, Bill Camp and Nicholas Crovetti, among others.

Following its world premiere at Beyond Fest on September 25, Salem's Lot has found a debut Rotten Tomatoes critical score based on 19 tabulated reviews. The latest adaptation of the iconic Stephen King novel is currently maintaining a 63% approval rating on the review aggregate, indicating...

Out of the many names of fictional small towns in Maine that Stephen King created, Jerusalem's Lot (shortened to Salem's Lot) might have the nicest ring to it. The subject of his acclaimed eponymous novel (and a pair of short stories published thereafter), the small town in Maine somehow becomes a tourist destination for a bloodthirsty vampire in his acclaimed book of the same name. The film industry seems to like the name as well, with the book being adapted multiple times, including a new film being released on Oct. 3.

While adaptations of Salem's Lot have been resigned to television with two miniseries, many of us thought that the latest adaptation would finally grace the big screen in theaters. Alas, the film is now relegated to streaming (on Max), but it's better than nothing. Written for the screen and directed by Gary Dauberman (Annabelle Comes Home), it's certainly got some...

At this moment, it's hard to disconnect the new Salem's Lot from its nearly two-year release delay, during which many feared the film would never, ahem, see the light of day. That's an unfortunate situation. On the one hand, it clearly didn't deserve to sit on the shelf for so long, caught up in the leadership change at Warner Bros. On the other, it doesn't quite live up to the expectations that inevitably built as Stephen King pressured the studio to release it.

Salem's Lot (2024)

Director Gary DaubermanRelease Date October 3, 2024Studio(s) Atomic Monster, Vertigo Entertainment, New Line CinemaDistributor(s) HBO MaxWriters Gary DaubermanCast Avery Bederman, Fedna Jacquet, Mike Bash, Rebecca Gibel, Kellan Rhude, Debra Christofferson, Jordan Preston Carter, Makenzie Leigh, Nicholas Crovetti, Cade Woodward, Alfre Woodard, Lewis Pullman, John Benjamin Hickey, William Sadler, Bill Camp, Spencer Treat Clark, Pilou AsbkRuntime 113 MinutesGenres Thriller, Horror

I hope, with time, it can exist on its own terms.