Mediocre Stephen King Adaptation Reaches #1 On Max
Whether you’re a Stephen King fan or simply a lover of scary movies, you, like many of us, were likely looking forward to Thursday, October 3, for the arrival of Salem’s Lot on Max. There was a lot of hype surrounding the latest adaptation of King’s 1975 novel of the same name, especially considering the production hell it went through to arrive on the streamer last week finally. Perhaps proving to Warner Bros. that a theatrical release would’ve been the correct way to go with this one, Salem’s Lot is catching the eye of audiences around the world as it’s currently sitting in the #1 position on the streamer’s Top 10 list.
Salem’s Lot Is #1 On Max
Starring Top Gun: Maverick’s Lewis Pullman, Salem’s Lot on Max follows a novelist named Ben Mears who is returning to the Maine town of Jerusalem’s Lot after having been away for most of his life. The author has come back to his childhood town for a bit of inspiration and quickly hits it off with a few of the locals. But soon, Ben realizes he may have bitten off more than he can chew when it becomes glaringly obvious that the Lot has been taken over by a blood-sucking vampire, bent on turning the entire village into an army of the undead.
Along with Pullman, the movie also features the talents of a handful of other notable names including Bill Camp (Presumed Innocent), Alfre Woodard (The Gray Man), Mackenzie Leigh (Gotham), and Pilou Asbæk (Game of Thrones). Right now, Salem’s Lot is just one of many spooky titles that audiences can stream on Max as other classics – both new and old – like Scream, Final Destination, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and more are available.
Other Salem’s Lot Adaptations
This is far from the first time that the beloved Stephen King vampire-centered story has received an on-screen makeover, having previously been done by The Texas Chainsaw Massacre helmer Tobe Hooper in 1979 and a miniseries in 2004 that starred Rob Lowe. The latest Salem’s Lot project had a lengthy journey before it landed on Max last week, as it has been in the works since 2019. Previously serving as the writer of the scripts for both It and It Chapter Two, Gary Dauberman picked up a pen and got to work on the screenplay for the new King adaptation.
Faced Many Hurdles
Shortly after being announced as the project’s scribe, Dauberman was also revealed to be the movie’s director, with casting beginning shortly after. Like many other movies filming during the time, Salem’s Lot was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the virus would be far from its biggest hurdle to jump on its way to premiering on Max. Instead, many of the film’s issues came after the cameras were put down and production ended.
From Streaming To Theaters And Back To Streaming
In the original plan, Salem’s Lot wasn’t meant to be released onto Max but was instead set for a theatrical drop in April 2023, eventually losing its date to Evil Dead Rise. Then – allegedly due to the SAG-AFTRA strike – Warner Bros. changed its mind and instead slated the title for a release on the streamer in 2023. By 2024, fans were all but ready to say goodbye to the film which finally announced its October premiere at the end of August.
Now On Max
Opening to mixed reviews, Salem’s Lot may have fans and critics torn about Gary Dauberman’s take on one of Stephen King’s most popular pieces of writing but it’s drawing in viewers by the droves on Max. You can head over to the streamer now and decide for yourself if Salem’s Lot is a hit or a miss.
