As a Stephen King fan, I really wanted to love the 2024 Salem’s Lot adaptation. King’s 1975 novel is a classic, and the 1979 TV miniseries almost perfectly captured the novel. Unfortunately, this latest take just doesn’t have the time to do the story justice. At nearly two hours, the movie feels rushed, like a vampire trying to run before it’s even turned. Important details from the novel are glossed over, and the movie jumps from one moment to the next without giving the story any room to breathe.

The cast is solid, with Lewis Pullman and Jordan Preston Carter giving strong performances. But no matter how good the actors are, they can’t save the choppy pacing. The movie races from one vampire hunt to the next without letting the tension build. Gone is the eerie mood of the book, replaced by a frantic, almost disjointed series of scenes. The movie never reaches the terrifying heights of King’s novel or even the 1979 adaptation. It’s more of a surface-level scare fest than the deep, unsettling horror Salem’s Lot fans were hoping for.

If you’re in the mood for a Halloween movie to throw on late at night, this one will get the job done. But if you’re looking for a truly great King adaptation, you’re better off revisiting the old miniseries. This version of Salem’s Lot is entertaining enough, but it’s missing what made the original story so memorable.

In short, it’s not bad, but it’s not great either. Perfectly serviceable for the Halloween season.