BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU INVITE INSIDE.
In the 1970s, writer Ben Mears (Lewis Pullman) returns to his hometown, which is about to fall under the sway of a powerful vampire.
Material that cried out for the Mike Flanagan miniseries treatment ended up crammed into a movie that runs barely two hours, resulting in an adaptation that has a few scares and even moments of beauty, but feels too rushed.
The depiction of a town about to be sucked dry, and its citizens, needed a more thoughtful approach and a chance to build dread. Fine cast, though.
2024-U.S. 113 min. Color. Widescreen. Written and directed by Gary Dauberman. Novel: Stephen King. Cast: Lewis Pullman (Ben Mears), Makenzie Leigh (Susan Norton), Alfre Woodard (Dr. Cody), Bill Camp, John Benjamin Hickey, Jordan Preston Carter.
Trivia: Co-produced by James Wan; co-executive produced by King. Filmed in 2021-2022. First shown at Beyond Fest, then released on Max; shown in theaters in some countries. The novel was previously filmed as a miniseries, Salem’s Lot (1979).