Plot: What’s it about?
Ben Mears (Rob Lowe) is a writer who has drifted from his hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot, but he has no returned. The small Maine town is better known as Salem’s Lot and Mears has come back to work on a novel, as well as to catch up with his own past. His career has been profitable, but of late, his books haven’t been best sellers. So he thinks that perhaps a return to his roots on a book based in Salem’s Lot could push him back to the top. The town is eerie and locals have countless stories about ghosts, ghouls, and strange encounters. So the potential is there and with Mears’ local connections, the book should write itself. Mears had his own experience with the supernatural as a child, so he knows the phenomenon well. His book will focus on the Marsten House, a place that has a haunted history. Even Mears own brush with the other side happened in the Marsten House, where he witnessed a most gruesome scene of slaughter. As he settles back in, he learns that he isn’t the only fresh face in town. A man named Straker (Donald Sutherland) has opened up an antique store, with the help of his rarely seen partner Kurt Barlow (Rutger Hauer). When darkness begins to fall on Salem’s Lot soon after the arrival of Straker and Barlow, can Mears lead the charge to end the reign of terror once and for all?
Stephen King has penned countless scary stories, but perhaps none as eerie as Salem’s Lot, which is thick with atmosphere and tension. In 1979, Tobe Hooper directed a mini-series version of Salem’s Lot, a project which was a success. Although some disliked some of Hooper’s changes to King’s original storyline, the mini-series was eerie and packed with atmosphere, especially for a made for television production. A less that impressive sequel followed, but Salem’s Lot is back and once again, the material has been turned into a mini-series. This time around, the original source was restored in some places, while new changes were also made. The end result isn’t bad, but Salem’s Lot is mediocre in this incarnation. The original mini-series was eerie, eerie, eerie, but this new one seems content to be dark, without much else to lean on. The atmosphere is thin, the scares aren’t frequent, and the while the cast is impressive, there is minimal emotion. Donald Sutherland, Andre Braugher, James Cromwell, and Rutger Hauer were all excellent casting choices, but none seem that interested in the project. So the performances come off as flat, though Rob Lowe is acceptable in the lead role. I like Salem’s Lot, but not this new version, so if you want to check out the material, do yourself a favor and seek out the original mini-series.
Video: How does it look?
Salem’s Lot is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. As this film was intended to be dark, bathed in shadows, and on the dingy side, I worried about how well it could be moved to DVD, but there was no real need for concern. Warner has drummed up a terrific looking presentation and while it isn’t perfect, it does showcase the film’s visuals in fine form. The black levels look sharp and refined, although some scenes don’t come off as well as others, due to the methods used to create the visuals. Even so, the contrast is well presented here and with the subdued color scheme intact, this is one great looking visual effort.
Audio: How does it sound?
This disc uses a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track, which provides a better experience than you might expect. The film’s music makes good use of the surround channels, as do the somewhat sparse sound effects. A few scenes really light up the system, but there’s much less audio presence than you’d expect from this kind of material. I don’t fault this sound mix though, as the material just never pushes the action too much. The dialogue is sharp and crisp at all times as well, no problems to discuss here. I did expect a more eerie, atmospheric soundtrack here, but even as it stands, this is a more than solid presentation.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes no bonus materials.
