The first trailer for the new adaptation of Stephen King's Salem's Lot is finally here, and it looks just as creepy as the novel.
The trailer begins with protagonist and horror author Ben Mears returning to his hometown to “investigate,” and before long it becomes clear what exactly he’s looking for. From a young boy running from a creature with glowing blue eyes to a priest confessing that townspeople have reported strange experiences, we can see that the “Lot” is being overrun by dark denizens of the night. Then, in a mix of shadowy clips, each creepier than the last, the trailer shows corpses coming to life, Mears being hunted by fanged enemies, and a group of local do-gooders trying to get to the bottom of the vampire outbreak. Watch the full clip below.
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Based on King's legendary 1975 vampire novel, Salem's Lot follows a writer who learns that an undead creature has set up camp in the place where he grew up. The official synopsis from Warner Bros. reads: “Haunted by an incident from his childhood, author Ben Mears returns to his hometown of Jerusalem's Lot in search of inspiration for his next book, only to discover that the town is under attack by a bloodthirsty vampire and his loyal servant.”
The film is written and directed by Gary Dauberman (Annabelle Comes Home), whose credits include previous King adaptations It and It: Chapter Two. This isn't the first time the vampire story has been adapted, though, as it was brought to life in 1979 in one of Stephen King's best adaptations by Texas Chainsaw Massacre director Tobe Hooper, and then again in 2004 with a miniseries starring Rob Lowe.
It hasn't all been plain sailing for Dauberman's film either, as Salem's Lot was originally set to hit screens in 2022 but was delayed and then scrapped altogether. The film will now premiere on HBO's Max streaming service. In an interview with Total Film magazine, Dauberman said that King was a driving force in helping the film get released: “I'm extremely grateful for Steve's support,” he said.
The film stars Top Gun: Maverick's Lewis Pullman as Ben, Makenzie Leigh, Alfre Woodard, John Benjamin Hickey, Bill Camp, Jordan Preston Carter, Nicholas Crovetti, William Sadler, Spencer Treat Clark, Cade Woodward, Debra Christofferson and Pilou Asbæk.
Salem's Lot is released on Max in the US on October 3 and in cinemas in the UK and Ireland on October 11. For more, check out our list of the best horror movies or keep up to date with upcoming horror movies coming out this year.