A Return to Salem's Lot

"American Vampires as only Stephen King could create them."

1987 1h 40m EN

😐

6.0

MID

★6.0TMDB · 337

HorrorComedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Anthropologist Joe Weber takes his son on a trip to the New England town of Salem's Lot, unaware of its vampire population. When the inhabitants reveal their secret, they seek Weber to write a bible for them.

“American Vampires as only Stephen King could create them.”

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Cast

Michael Moriarty
Joe Weber
Samuel Fuller
Van Meer
Andrew Duggan
Judge Axel
Ricky Addison Reed
Jeremy
June Havoc
Aunt Clara
Evelyn Keyes
Mrs. Axel
Tara Reid
Amanda
James Dixon
Rains

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Larry Cohen
Writers: James Dixon, Larry Cohen, Larry Cohen
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

39 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Larry Cohen, shot by Daniel Pearl. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Michael D. Minard. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Armond Lebowitz shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Michael Moriarty and Samuel Fuller and Andrew Duggan carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "American Vampires as only Stephen King could create them.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0093855 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Larry Cohen directs. Daniel Pearl behind the camera. Michael D. Minard scores. Armond Lebowitz cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

139 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by Larry Cohen, shot by Daniel Pearl. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Michael D. Minard. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Armond Lebowitz shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Michael Moriarty and Samuel Fuller and Andrew Duggan carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "American Vampires as only Stephen King could create them.".
7IMDB entry: tt0093855 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Daniel Pearl
Original score: Michael D. Minard
Editing: Armond Lebowitz
Costume design: Catherine Zuber
Makeup / hair: Gigi Williams
Sound: Stanley Kastner
Stunt coordinator: Peter Hock
Runtime: 100 min · 1h 40m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $12,000,000
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: A Return to Salem's Lot (1987)

Also by

Larry Cohen

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Community reviews

What people are saying

kevin20192024-01-25
★ 1/10
"A Return to 'Salem's Lot" is a risible low budget washout, especially when compared to the superior spookiness of the original 1979 television production. This ill advised return is hampered throughout by a cast that possesses a persistent streak of amateurishness running through it and a pitifully obvious lack of budget. A dogged and grim weariness seems to overshadow the lacklustre production and it is almost as if everyone involved in front and behind the cameras have belatedly come to realise the folly of this insipid and generally unenthusiastic production after only a matter of days. What we are lumbered with is watchable enough and fortunately the vast majority of it has its tongue firmly in its cheek as the filmmakers have endeavoured to inject some dry black humour into the proceedings, although for the most part such business only raises a half smile at best and instead of producing a film skilfully imbued with genuine horror and some deft comedic touches they have delivered a joke instead.

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