A Return to Salem's Lot 1987

American Vampires as only Stephen King could create them.

6.052 / 10   262 vote(s)
R
Horror Comedy

Joe Weber is an anthropologist who takes his son on a trip to the New England town of Salem's Lot unaware that it is populated by vampires. When the inhabitants reveal their secret, they ask Joe to write a bible for them.

Release Date 1987-09-11
Runtime 1h 41m
Directors Larry Cohen, Daniel Pearl, Timothy J. Lonsdale, Jenny Fitzgibbons, Chris Wagganer, J. Michael McClary
Producers Paul Kurta, Larry Cohen, Barry Shils, Janelle Webb
Writers James Dixon, Stephen King, Larry Cohen, Larry Cohen

"A Return to 'Salem's Lot" is a risible low budget washout, especially when compared to the superior spookiness of the original 1979 television production. This ill advised return is hampered throughout by a cast that possesses a persistent streak of amateurishness running through it and a pitifully obvious lack of budget. A dogged and grim weariness seems to overshadow the lackluster production and it is almost as if everyone involved in front and behind the cameras have belatedly come to realise the folly of this insipid and generally unenthusiastic production after only a matter of days. What we are lumbered with is watchable enough and fortunately the vast majority of it has its tongue firmly in its cheek as the filmmakers have endeavoured to inject some dry black humour into the proceedings, although for the most part such business only raises a half smile at best and instead of producing a film skillfully imbued with genuine horror and some deft comedic touches they have delivered a joke instead.

kevin2019