Author Ben Mears returns to his hometown of Jerusalem's Lot in search of inspiration for his writing, but finds the community gripped by a terrifying evil. A sinister presence has taken hold, awakening a thirst for blood and casting a dark shadow over the town.
Does Salem's Lot have end credit scenes?
No!
Salem's Lot does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.
Explore the complete cast of Salem's Lot, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.
Bill Camp
Matt Burke
Lewis Pullman
Ben Mears
Alfre Woodard
Dr. Cody
William Sadler
Parkins Gillespie
Pilou Asbæk
R.T. Straker
Makenzie Leigh
Susan Norton
Spencer Treat Clark
Mike Ryerson
John Benjamin Hickey
Father Callahan
Cade Woodward
Ralphie Glick
Nicholas Crovetti
Danny Glick
Kellan Rhude
Avery Bederman
Jordan Preston Carter
Mark Petrie
Mike Bash
Rebecca Gibel
Mabel Werts
Alexander Ward
Kurt Barlow
Debra Christofferson
Ann Norton
Sierra Hawkins
Danielle Perry
Marjorie Glick
Carly Silverman
Discover where to watch Salem's Lot online, including streaming platforms, rental options, and official sources. Compare reviews, ratings, and in-depth movie information across sites like IMDb, TMDb, Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic.
See how Salem's Lot is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where Salem's Lot stands among top-rated movies in its genre.
The adaptation delivers a mixed reception with strengths in visual execution overshadowed by narrative shortcomings. While reviewers frequently noted polished direction and a nostalgic color palette, many found the story uninspired and pacing uneven. Acting is serviceable but undercut by thin character arcs, and the scare elements rarely achieve sustained dread. Despite moments of atmosphere and style, the film struggles to leave a lasting impact.
The Movie Echo Score Breakdown for Salem's Lot
Art & Craft
In terms of art and craft, the film presents a polished visual approach tempered by a lack of inventiveness. Critics praised Michael Burgess’s cinematography and the nostalgic color grading, noting effective framing and mood. However, some described the production design as uninspired and the editing occasionally stale. Overall, the visual execution is competent but seldom surprising.
Character & Emotion
When it comes to character and emotion, performances are generally assured but lack depth. Several reviewers noted that the cast delivers competent portrayals, with occasional moments of genuine chemistry. Yet the screenplay provides little room for emotional resonance, leaving character arcs feeling truncated. The emotional stakes rarely build beyond surface-level connections, resulting in characters that engage momentarily but fail to leave a lasting imprint.
Story & Flow
In terms of story and flow, the narrative struggles with coherence and originality. Multiple critics pointed to jarring transitions and a rushed pacing that undermines engagement. The adaptation offers few fresh ideas, and the plot often follows predictable horror conventions. As a result, the storyline feels generic and lacks compelling momentum.
Sensory Experience
When considering sensory experience, the film delivers polished audio-visual elements but stops short of true terror. Several reviews praised the atmospheric score, restrained sound design, and coherent visual style, noting moments of effective tension. Nevertheless, the scare sequences often rely on familiar jump cuts and lack sustained dread. Overall, the sensory execution is refined yet only sporadically unsettling.
Rewatch Factor
When assessing rewatch factor, the film offers limited appeal for repeat viewings. Its generic storyline and predictable scares diminish potential enjoyment, and character underdevelopment reduces emotional engagement on subsequent watches. Although visual style and brief atmospheric moments may reward a second viewing, the overall experience lacks sufficient novelty to sustain lasting appeal.
47
Metascore
4.4
User Score
46%
TOMATOMETER
38%
User Score
5.6 /10
IMDb Rating
61
%
User Score
2.4
From 21 fan ratings
2.00/5
From 1 fan rating
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What is Ben Mears' profession?
Read the complete plot summary of Salem's Lot, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.
Ben Mears, an aspiring writer, returns to his childhood hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot, hoping to find inspiration for his new book. He quickly rekindles his romantic feelings for local resident Susan Norton, immersing himself in the comforting familiarity of the place. However, the tranquility is shattered when a mysterious European named R.T. Straker opens an antique shop in town. Straker’s arrival coincides with unsettling events as he takes residence in the notorious, long-abandoned Marsten House.
Stranger still, a large coffin is soon delivered to the basement of his new home, leading to the chilling disappearance of Ralph Glick, a middle school student. It becomes apparent that Ralph has been kidnapped, sacrificed to Straker’s master, a terrifying vampire named Kurt Barlow. Despite a frantic search by townsfolk, Ralph’s fate remains a mystery, and newcomer Ben finds himself unfairly blamed for the bizarre occurrences that ensue.
Barlow, a force of terror, preys upon Ralph’s brother, Danny Glick, who meets a tragic end only to resurrect as a vampire, inflicting his curse on gravedigger Mike Ryerson. Concerned for Mike’s well-being, Matt Burke, a school teacher, discovers his ill state at a bar and brings him to the local physician, Dr. Cody. Observing troubling symptoms, Matt senses something sinister. Events take a drastic turn when they witness Danny soaring into Matt’s home, prompting him to warn Ben, Susan, Cody, and Sheriff Parkins Gillespie.
As they investigate Mike’s lifeless body, they realize he has succumbed to vampirism. A desperate group forms to confront the horrors unfolding in their town, encountering Danny in the process. When Danny attempts to manipulate his friend Mark Petrie into letting him in, Mark bravely stands his ground, resisting the sinister temptation. The following day assures another crushing blow as Cody learns of Danny’s mother’s tragic death, furthering the despair engulfing Jerusalem’s Lot.
Cody boldly confronts Matt about the vampire menace, and he reveals essential knowledge on how to defeat them. In a moment of bravery, Mark and Matt initiate a dangerous mission to invade the Marsten House, hoping to eliminate Barlow. However, Straker cunningly captures them, sealing their fate in the basement, resulting in Matt’s horrific fate of becoming one of Barlow’s minions. With chaos reigning, Straker also snatches Mark, forcing Ben, Susan, and Cody to investigate a fresh lead regarding Danny’s mother at the morgue. In a dreadful twist, they discover her powers have been corrupted, and while trying to protect themselves, Cody narrowly avoids transformation using a rabies shot.
As Barlow’s minions unleash terror on Jerusalem’s Lot, turning a significant number of residents into vampires, the desperate struggle intensifies. The following day offers fleeting hope as Mark manages to escape and confronts Straker, ending his dark influence. Seeking guidance, Ben, Susan, and Cody turn to Father Callahan for insight on Barlow. Mark relays critical information about the vampire lord’s whereabouts, and as they venture towards the Marsten House, they fall victim to Matt, now undead.
In a sweeping tide of horror, the vampires overrun the town as chaos ensues. Sheriff Gillespie, instinctively trying to flee, faces a brutal end at the hands of the very monsters they seek to combat. In a heart-wrenching betrayal, Susan learns that her mother has allied with Barlow, leading to her own bite in a bitter twist of fate. [Father Callahan] attempts to warn Mark’s parents, but the ruthless Barlow arrives, delivering an unmerciful end to them.
Desperate and fearful, Mark seeks shelter in his treehouse while Ben takes Susan to the protection of the church. Unfortunately, Cody struggles to cure her, and as Susan fully succumbs to her transformation, she escapes into the night, leaving behind an emotionally shattered Ben.
Eager for vengeance, Mark seeks out Barlow, discovering fresh horrors in Straker’s shop, where he finally confronts Danny. Together, Ben and Cody connect the dots, suspecting the local drive-in theater holds vital clues about the vampires’ activities. In a gripping scene where they prepare to confront the now-vampiric Susan, tragedy strikes as Cody finds herself shot by Susan’s mother.
As dusk settles, the vampires converge, launching a deadly assault on Ben, while Mark manages to finish off Susan’s mother, inadvertently exposing the remaining vampires to sunlight, resulting in their destruction. Amidst the chaos, Barlow emerges as a final obstacle for Mark, but Ben steps forward to protect him, ultimately delivering the fatal blow to Barlow with a staking maneuver. In the wake of devastation, Ben and Mark drive away from their beleaguered hometown, carrying with them the burden of loss and resilience as they leave the wreckage of Jerusalem’s Lot behind.
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