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It is healthier to await a book’s second adaptation than one of the multiple remakes plaguing the beginning of the millennium. Salem’s Lot is the second interpretation of Stephen King’s commercially successful novel of the same name.

Jerusalem’s Lot is reminiscent of Castle Rock village in Needful Things with its conflicting and vicious inhabitants. The term silence before the storm takes on a most particular definition here. The evil that is about to strike the village already seems to be watching the inhabitants. Power trips, rejection, hatred, drunkenness, adultery and incest are common place in this small town. Curiously, we still manage to sympathize with them when evil strikes. The reason for this is that we spend a good hour (of three) developing the characters.

Some will find that the film doesn’t go anywhere. I agree that it is a bit slow but we are in good company. Rob Lowe is very appropriate for this role as he is the hero by choice. Donald Sutherland inherits a bit of airtime and while we don’t witness his best performance, his presence is welcomed. The most human, the most truthful, character is in my opinion the one played by Andre Braugher. He is sympathetic, rational and vulnerable.

‘Salem’s Lot was broadcast in two parts on Turner Network Television on June 20th and 21st 2004. It is in fact a miniseries made for television. Even though dialogue is king in this production, it contains its share of special effects. It is in this area that we can sadly notice a budget barrier which is the film’s biggest defect.

The vampires of ‘Salem’s Lot are darker and more savage that what we are used to seeing. The global atmosphere is also very particular. I better recognize Stephen King’s style in this adaptation that in the Salem’s Lot released in 1979.