Earlier this week, we learned that Gary Dauberman's long-gestating adaptation of Stephen King's 'Salem's Lot might be skipping its theatrical release entirely, with Warner Bros. rumored to be sending the film directly to its Max streaming service. In response, WB claimed that a decision has yet to be made about 'Salem's Lot's future, which leaves us right back where we started: unsure when or where we're actually gonna get a look at Dauberman's latest.
Y'know who has seen 'Salem's Lot, though? Stephen King, America's prevailing Master of Horror and the guy who wrote the classic vampire novel upon which Dauberman's film is based. King popped up on Twitter last night to share his thoughts on the movie, and his notes are enlightening!
The Warner Bros remake of SALEM'S LOT, currently shelved, is muscular and involving. It has the feel of "Old Hollywood," when a film was given a chance to draw a breath before getting to business. When attention spans were longer, in other words.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) November 1, 2023
It feels like a horror movie version of slow-burn movies like THE GREAT ESCAPE. It builds very well. There are diversions from the book I don't agree with, but on the whole, faithful.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) November 1, 2023
Best scene: Danny Glick in the hospital, trying to claw down a blood bag.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) November 1, 2023
The Glick scene could have been directed by John Carpenter in his prime.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) November 1, 2023
Yes, according to King, Dauberman's 'Salem's Lot adaptation is a "muscular, involving" piece of work, something of a slow burn, perhaps, but "on the whole, faithful" to the source material. That business about the new Lot having an "Old Hollywood feel" ("When attention spans were longer") could explain why WB has seemingly struggled with the release of Dauberman's film. Perhaps they're concerned its pacing won't connect with modern audiences? Pure speculation on our part, of course, but with no word from WB as to what's causing 'Salem's Lot to remain shelved, reckless speculation is all we got.
For those just joining the conversation, 'Salem's Lot stars Lewis Pullman, Makenzie Leigh, Alfre Woodard, Bill Camp, John Benjamin Hickey, Nicholas Crovetti, Jordan Preston Carter, William Sadler, Spencer Treat Clark, Cade Woodward, Debra Christofferson, and Pilou Asbaek. It's based on King's classic tale of a small town gradually being overrun by vampires, and has moved around WB's release schedule multiple times. At present, it is without a release date or, apparently, a release plan.
Stay tuned for more on the new 'Salem's Lot as further updates roll in, folks.
