Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Sorry, this movie sucks

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

I haven't read the Stephen's King book or seen the 1979 Tobe Hooper's TV movie. From what I see this movie (or mini-series) is rather loosely adapted from the book. The story was heavily rewritten and the characters were updated for modern audiences ( Afghanistan , black homosexual). Those followers of King's novel will probably hate this movie. Those who have not closely read the novel will have a better chance of enjoying it. I didn't liked the movie not for the changes it made to the book ( loose adaptation can still be great movies - "The Shining") , but because of other problems.A frustratingly large amount of important events either take place inexplicably off-screen, or are simply bypassed and ignored. Lots of things are left unexplained. Even at three hours the plot somehow feels both rushed and bloated. The supporting cast is too large and poorly developed. The dialogues are weak too.The directing is also a problem . The mood changes from serious with attempts at social commentary to campy , from black humor to (not so) scary.This movie (or mini series) had 25 mln budget , yet there is nothing remarkable about production values and the special effects are rather poor. The music also feels cheap , especially the "dark" rock music.Good actors like Donald Sutherland and Rutger Hauer are wasted , because they have very little screen time . The leading star Rob Lowe is mediocre at best , same goes for James Cromwell and Andre Brauer. Samantha Matis (love interest) and Robert Mammone (doctor) were not bad.It's not the worst horror movie I've seen. It was mildly entertaining and engaging. There was a good movie here somewhere. At least it's better than "Dreamcatcher". I give it 2/10.

Salem's Lot is another television adaption of a Stephen King novel and definitely too long with a running time of three hours even though the ending definitely lacks of details and seems to be produced in a hurry. It's not a very thrilling movie but it has some entertaining moments, some intriguing characters and a solid acting. Note that the movie features legendary and skilled actors such as James Cromwell, Rutger Hauer and Donald Sutherland. Even though they don't always shine in this production, it's interesting to see them all together in this mini-series.The movie kicks off as a documentary when the sleepy town called Jerusalem's Lot is introduced by the protagonist. The introduction is definitely too long and bores a lot after an interesting opening sequence.The movie tries to introduce several story lines with different characters. Some of them are interesting like the love story of Eva and Ed but some are also quite boring like as the fate of the police officers. The movie feels a little bit stretched and lacks focus at some points.The second half of the movie has some thrills, some action elements and feels overall more dynamical. The main problem is that the ending of the movie is too predictable to surprise, convince or grab any attention.In the end, I can't really recommend this production as there are almost as many weak as there are strong points. If there's nothing else to watch late on television, it's a good choice but a purchase or loan is definitely not necessary.

I have been a Stephen King fan all of my life, and rank "Salem's Lot" and "The Stand" as his two essential, indispensible works. I read Salem's Lot at the ripe age of 8 (over three decades ago) and even after becoming an e-book lover still keep a paperback copy on the shelf so I can appreciate it in all of its yellowing-paged-original-glory.I saw the original "Salem's Lot" miniseries with David Soul and Lance Kerwin when it originally aired on television in 1979 and thought nothing could ever compare to the feelings of terror that it provoked in me. The scenes where Ralphie Glick (and later on Danny Glick) appear in the windows as vampires have haunted me to this day - and I was unsurprised to hear that many of my generation felt the same way.So I was with some excitement that I viewed this 2004 remake of the story, to see what was done with the tale. After having read the comments and reviews I must admit I was skeptical that it was adapted to the screen successfully. As things turned out, it was a decent piece of work. Not as good as the book or the first movie, but it had some strong components.This film doesn't start out particularly strong. I spent the first hour shocked at the sluggishness with which the plot moved, envisioning how I would trash it in this online review, frankly. The original story was set in Maine in the 1970's, and the advent of cell phones, e-mail and other technology seems so foreign to the story. I am also a fan of keeping as true to the original tale as possible - changing Matt Burke from an aging white man to a younger gay black man was an odd, though acceptable, course of action, but having Dr. Jimmy Cody involved in a sleazy affair with teenaged Sandy was an offense.However, as I watched past the weak beginning I could see some strong roots of this tale beginning to take hold. David Soul was a capable Ben Mears, but Rob Lowe outshined him, I feel. I could tell Lowe had really studied the character and tried to present his personality as realistically as he could. And while beautiful Bonnie Bedelia was believable as Susan Norton in the original film, Samantha Mathis takes the lead in this one. The 1979 miniseries transformed Jimmy Cody's character into Susan Norton's father, who was a bit player at best. It was good to see a real adaptation of Jimmy Cody - a likable and reliable figure in the book - show up in this movie. This isn't to say every cast member was an improvement; certainly Christopher Morris's Mike Ryerson doesn't belong in the same room as the character played by Geoffrey Lewis in the 1979 film - who was so frightening when he returned from the dead in Matt's house, unlike Morris's weak and confused appearance.Straker was magnificently played by James Mason in 1979. Donald Sutherland did his best in this role, but fell a bit short. However, Rutger Hauer's Barlow - though given a pitifully small amount of screen time - is far truer to the book than Reggie Nalder's "Nosferatu" version. One of the strongest elements of the book was Barlow's charming, intelligent, charismatic personality. His booming laughter, his easygoing guile, his believable role as the Master was better represented by Hauer, though woefully underutilized. I believe Hauer appeared in all of 3 scenes.Then there is the working relationship between Ben Mears and Mark Petrie. Of course the level of detail the book offers into the curious pairing of these two, so much alike, can't be fully transferred to the screen, but the manner in which all of their allies drop one by one, leaving these two as the sole survivors responsible for saving what's left of the town, seems a credible fit.An odd turn of events twists Father Callahan from a pathetic failure who flees the town into a pathetic failure who replaces Straker as Barlow's human sidekick doesn't ring true at first. However, after further inspection it seems to fit an appropriate niche. Who better to turn into a vampire's living henchman than a doubtful priest? The plot twist serves as an intro to the movie as well as providing material for the denouement and I think ultimately it works.Overall, I didn't find the sense of stark terror that I did in the original book and movie, but I found nearly comparable levels of suspense and intrigue. Some of the vampire scenes were a bit cheesy - Ed and Eva's "wedding" for instance, but I appreciated the fact that some elements not in the first film adaptation - Charlie Rhodes and his school bus from hell, for instance - were included this time around.In summary, some elements worked well, and others bellyflopped, but it was a valiant effort and a mixed bag of success. Worth the viewing to see how it compares to the book and first movie.

First out, I have to say that this show contains perhaps the worst editing I've ever seen. There will never be a reason to release an extended version of this debacle, as the original is the "every frigging scene ever shot" version. Were the editors constantly drunk, on strike, cut out of the budget or just fled the scene when they realized what was coming from the cameras? Or were they just forced to fill the drama out with every piece of crap they could come up with, to fill out the two incredibly drawn out episodes with the promised TV time? The progress of the story is so slow and dull that I actually considered turning the whole thing off at least four times and I regret I didn't. The subplots are aggravatingly numerous, surprisingly ill-timed - thanks again, non-existent editors - dragging the tempo down to a constant freezing point and of nothing but the "Who the frigging cares!", "Just stop this!" and "For the love of... *sigh*" kinds. To make matters even worse, you feel no sympathy whatsoever for the incredibly non-believable soap opera characters. And to put the stake in the heart, basically every single (non-believable) character has the standardized main flaw of having the rationality of a drunk ship rat, making you almost wish just everyone will perish before you do.For classifying itself as a horror movie, it really set the question in my head if this wasn't really a parody that I was watching. As it's my firm belief it certainly wasn't the intention of being so, I can only conclude this show was downright laughable and amateuristic in basically every important element.My final question is; did any of the actors choose to participate in this show for any other reason than the money? You probably just have to read the pathetic manuscript to realize what was coming. Perhaps they didn't.