Salem's Lot (1979)
A landmark CBS horror miniseries that brought Stephen King's vampire nightmare to television, terrifying audiences and defining a generation of small-screen horror.
Salem's Lot - Series Information
- Original Title: Salem's Lot
- First Air Year: 1979
- Last Air Year: 1979
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Mystery
- Content Rating (US): TV-PG
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode: 92 minutes
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 2
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: November 17, 1979 (United States - TV-PG), November 17, 1979 (United Kingdom - 18), November 17, 1979 (Germany - 16), November 17, 1979 (France - 12), November 17, 1979 (Brazil - 14)
- Networks: CBS
- Production Companies: Warner Bros. Television, Warner Bros. Pictures
- Production Countries: United States of America
- Alternative Titles: Las brujas de Salem (AR), Сейлъмс Лот (BG), Les vampires de Salem (FR), A Mansão Marsten (BR), Pueblo maldito (CO), Der Schrecken im Marsten-Haus (DE), Salem's Lot - kauhujen kaupunki (FI), La noche del vampiro (CL)
Salem's Lot - Plot
Ben Mears has returned to his hometown to write a book about the supposedly haunted Marsten House. When people around the Marsten House start dying mysteriously, Mears discovers that the owner of the mansion is actually a vampire who is turning them into an army of undead slaves.
Salem's Lot - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the terror that awaits in the town of Salem's Lot:
The ultimate in terror!
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Salem's Lot - Cast & Crew
Main Cast
- David Soul
- James Mason
- Lance Kerwin
- Bonnie Bedelia
- Lew Ayres
- Julie Cobb
- Elisha Cook Jr.
- George Dzundza
- Ed Flanders
- Clarissa Kaye-Mason
Writers
- Paul Monash
Executive Producers
- Stirling Silliphant
Salem's Lot - FAQs
Is Salem's Lot based on a Stephen King novel?
Salem's Lot is a direct adaptation of Stephen King's 1975 novel of the same name. King's second published novel, it follows a writer who returns to his Maine hometown only to find it overrun by vampires. The 1979 miniseries was one of the earliest and most celebrated adaptations of King's work for television.
Is Salem's Lot (1979) worth watching today?
Absolutely worth revisiting. Directed by Tobe Hooper of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre fame, the 1979 miniseries remains genuinely unsettling, particularly its iconic floating vampire children. Critics and horror fans consistently regard it as one of the finest Stephen King adaptations ever produced, praised for its slow-burn dread and committed performances.
Who directed the 1979 Salem's Lot miniseries?
Tobe Hooper directed the 1979 Salem's Lot miniseries for CBS. Already celebrated for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), Hooper brought a masterful sense of creeping dread to the production, crafting atmospheric horror that felt genuinely threatening within the constraints of network television — a remarkable achievement for its era.
Where can you watch Salem's Lot (1979)?
Streaming and rental availability for Salem's Lot (1979) varies by region. Check JustWatch for the most current viewing options in your area, including streaming services, digital rental, and purchase platforms. Physical media editions are also widely available for collectors who prefer a permanent copy of this classic miniseries.
Who plays the vampire master Barlow in Salem's Lot?
The vampire master Kurt Barlow is portrayed as a terrifying, near-wordless creature rather than a suave aristocrat — a deliberate departure from King's novel. James Mason plays Barlow's sinister human familiar Richard K. Straker, delivering an icily elegant performance that many viewers consider the most memorable in the entire production.
Has Salem's Lot (1979) been remade or adapted again?
Stephen King's Salem's Lot has been adapted multiple times. A second TV miniseries aired in 2004, and a theatrical film adaptation was released in 2024. The enduring appeal of King's vampire novel has made it one of his most revisited works, with each version bringing a fresh interpretation to the story of Barlow's undead invasion.
What is the scariest scene in Salem's Lot (1979)?
The most iconic and widely cited scene involves young Danny Glick floating outside his brother's bedroom window, scratching at the glass with pale fingers and hollow eyes. Inspired by imagery from King's novel, this moment became one of television horror's most enduring images and continues to unsettle viewers decades after its original broadcast.
What are good shows to watch after Salem's Lot?
Fans of Salem's Lot tend to enjoy Chapelwaite (2021), another Stephen King vampire adaptation starring Adrien Brody, and Castle Rock (2018), a King-universe anthology series. The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020) offers similarly atmospheric supernatural dread, while True Blood (2008) takes a more expansive approach to vampire mythology across multiple seasons.
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