All the drama surrounding the release of Gary Dauberman’s (“IT”) adaptation of Stephen King’s 1975 novel “Salem’s Lot” is coming to an end. The main issue was the film was being shot during a restructuring of its parent company Warner Bros. Discovery. A restructuring that caused nearly finished films like “Batgirl” and “Coyote vs. Acme” to be shelved in favor of tax write-offs.
The Long Road To Release
So it concerned fans when “Salem’s Lot” skipped its September 2022 release date, only to drop off the calendar altogether. King even took to social media to praise the film while condemning its lack of release. “Between you and me, Twitter, I’ve seen the new Salem’s Lot and it’s quite good,” he posted to X earlier this year. “Old-school horror filmmaking: slow build, big payoff. Not sure why WB is holding it back; not like it’s embarrassing, or anything. Who knows. I just write the fucking things.”
This lack of a theatrical date also sparked the rumor that the film would premiere on Max. “I had the same questions everybody else did,” Dauberman told Vanity Fair. “This movie was made at a time when that transition to the new ownership was happening, which was an interesting experience. At a certain point, it’s out of your control. People were asking me, ‘Where’s the movie? Where’s the movie?’ I wish I had an answer for them other than a shrug and ‘I don’t know.’”
It has now been confirmed that “Salem’s Lot” will debut on Max sometime in October. “I’m excited it’s finally getting out there and people can see it,” says Dauberman.
“Salem’s Lot”
The novel tells the story of author Ben Mears, who returns to his hometown to write a book about a house that has haunted him since childhood. Only to discover this isolated town is infested with vampires. Mears must convince a small group of believers to combat the undead before they claim more victims.
Dauberman’s will be the third adaption following the late Tobe Hooper’s (“Poltergeist”) 1979 CBS mini-series, and TNT’s miniseries remake in 2004. While modernizing older IPs is in vogue, Dauberman is taking a different approach.
The director decided to favor the 1970s aesthetic in which the novel was conceived. “Most of my stuff is set in the ’70s. I love the music. I do love the costumes. I just love the vibe of it,” Dauberman explains. And given that both his adaptions of “IT” and “Annabelle Comes Home” were set in the era, it all feels natural.
He also believes the camp of that era suits the story. “You could do a very dry version of this movie, but that’s just not my personality,” said Dauberman. “It’s trying to ride that wave’s ups and downs. You’re having fun with it, and then you can have a scare, and then you’re having fun again. Hopefully it feels like a complete ride at the end.”
A Streaming Release
Admittedly, the retro look is probably more suited for a drive-in or traditional theater but a streaming release can still absolutely work. “As with most horror movies, I think audiences really elevate the experience,” he says. “So I think getting as many people as you can cram on the couch would be my preferred way to watch this.”
The upcoming film stars Lewis Pullman, Makenzie Leigh, Alfre Woodard, Bill Camp, John Benjamin Hickey, Nicholas Crovetti, Jordan Preston Carter, William Sadler, Spencer Treat Clark, Cade Woodward, Debra Christofferson, and Pilou Asbaek.
“Salem’s Lot” will hit Max sometime this October. We’ll keep you posted on updates about the project as they become available. You can check out the rest of the first-look images below:
