The first official trailer has arrived for Salem’s Lot, the latest adaptation of Stephen King‘s classic 1975 vampire novel. Packed with eerie visuals and mounting dread, it hints a potentially chilling return to one of King’s most famous horror stories. Take a look above.
The plot centres on Ben Mears (played by Lewis Pullman, whose credits include Outer Range and Top Gun: Maverick), a writer who returns to his childhood home of Jerusalem’s Lot under the pretence of conducting research. However, his true purpose quickly unravels as he discovers the town is falling prey to a dark and sinister force. The trailer teases the horror that awaits; cue a young boy fleeing a creature with glowing blue eyes, corpses rising, vampires on the streets…
Directed by Gary Dauberman, who previously helmed Annabelle Comes Home and worked on the screenplays for both It and It: Chapter Two. The cast includes Makenzie Leigh, Alfre Woodard, Pilou Asbæk, Bill Camp, Spencer Treat Clark, and William Sadler.
The film was originally scheduled for US release on September 9, 2022, a date that had proven successful for Warner Bros.’ previous horror films. However, the film was delayed to April 21, 2023, reportedly due to COVID-related delays in post-production. That planned release was then pushed aside by Evil Dead Rise, leaving the film without a set premiere date. In February 2024, Stephen King himself expressed confusion over the delay. “Between you and me, Twitter, I’ve seen the new SALEM’S LOT and it’s quite good. Old-school horror filmmaking: slow build, big payoff,” King remarked on X/Twitter. “Not sure why WB is holding it back; not like it’s embarrassing, or anything.”
Salem’s Lot will finally be getting its release on streaming service Max in the US on October 3.
