Year of Release: 2024
Director: Gary Dauberman
Starring: Lewis Pullman, Jordan Preston Carter, Makenzie Leigh, Alfre Woodard, Bill Camp, John Benjamin Hickey, William Sadler, Nicholas Crovetti, Spencer Treat Clark, Pilou Asbek, Alexander Ward, Danielle Perry, Debra Christofferson, Mike Kaz, Timothy John Smith, Joseph Marrella, Cade Woodward
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 5
Watch it on Max
Synopsis and Review
Writer/director Gary Dauberman, who has made a name for himself writing numerous scripts for "The Conjuring" universe, including the "Annabelle" films (the second of which was also his directorial debut), and also "The Nun", tackles this time around another adaptation of a Stephen King novel, following his work with Andy Muschietti's "It". The narrative taking place in the late 70s, focuses on the story of writer Ben Mears, whom we first encounter returning to his hometown of Jerusalem's Lot, in order to write a book about his childhood. While looking for a place to rent, he meets Susan, whom he strikes a flirtation that soon evolves into something more serious. Susan has stayed in the town due to her father not being well (he has since passed), and has to contend with her mother who invades every aspect of her life. Also in the small town lives high school student Mark Petrie, a young boy who stands up to local bullies and who is both resourceful and strong willed, one of his teachers, a thoughtful and kind man by the name of Matt Burke, and a new arrival to town, a man by the name of Straker, hailing from Europe, who has moved into the abandoned mansion of the town, going by the name of Marsten House, who is also opening a antique store in town. Straker however has a lot more going on for him than what most people realize, as he actually is the servant for a man by the name of Kurt Barlow (his associate at the antique store), who is a vampire. Upon Barlow's arrival in town, a series of disappearances commence, starting with some of Mark's friends from school. Some of them start transforming into vampires, and an epidemic throughout the small town commences, with Ben, Susan and doctor Cody realizing they're losing ground against that force.
Stephen King's "Salem's Lot" has been previously adapted, primarily as mini-series, the first one coming out in 1979, directed by the late Tobe Hooper, and the following in 2004, directed by Mikael Salomon. This take from Gary Dauberman, according to certain reports, has been heavily truncated by Warner Bros, the producing studio. The film was originally slated to premiere in 2022, before being released exclusively on Max. It's a film that feels slicker and more polished in terms of production values, than its prior adaptations, but one where the characters sadly don't have that much attention paid to them. Ben Mears for instance, may be the lead character, but very little attention is paid to him in terms of understanding his fascination with the town, what has been his existence thus far, and why that precise moment for his return. The same can be said for the remainder of the supporting characters: they're all just passable sketches of what a colorful town populated with different individuals can actually be. While the mini-series took their time outlining the characters and their relationships, this film shortens that narrative setting, and opts to jumpstart the fantastical aspect of the narrative. And Gary Dauberman manages to stage these aspects rather well, no doubt traces from his experience from "The Conjuring" universe, creating an efficient menacing environment, smartly playing with shadows, and making the attacks and threats that much more visceral, since they're coming from the people of the town. The cast is solid, with highlights going to Bill Camp, John Benjamin Hickey, and Alfre Woodard, all of them bringing authenticity and nuance to their characters. The production team is top notch, including the impeccable cinematography from Michael Burgess, score from Nathan Barr and Lisbeth Scott, production design by Marc Fisichella, and costumes from Virginia Johnson. It's a watchable film, though this feels a bit like a mangled product that needed more breathing room for its characters.
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