The newest adaptation of Stephen King’s ‘Salem’s Lot has dropped on Max, and it’s chock-full of Easter eggs and nods, both to the King of Horror and to the horror genre in general. The long-gestating adaptation was a victim of the Covid-19 pandemic and then the writer’s strike, taking years to get to the screen. It adapts one of Stephen King’s most beloved novels, and his first foray into the vampire genre, telling his own version of the Dracula story. The 2024 ‘Salem’s Lot movie changes the book in significant ways but remains faithful to the spirit of the story.
Written and directed by Gary Dauberman, the new movie assembles a strong cast of character actors: Lewis Pullman (Ben Mears), Makenzie Leigh (Susan Norton), Jordan Preston Carter (Mark Petrie), Alfre Woodard (Dr. Cody), Bill Camp (Matt Burke), John Benjamin Hickey (Father Callahan), Nicholas Crovetti (Danny Glick), Spencer Treat Clark (Mike Ryerson), Pilou Asbæk (Richard Straker), and Alexander Ward as ‘Salem’s Lot big bad Kurt Barlow. The 2024 ‘Salem’s Lot cast faithfully brought to life some key moments from the Stephen King book, and the movie has Easter eggs and references for fans sprinkled throughout its runtime.
1 The ‘Salem’s Lot 2024 Movie Poster
It’s A Nod To The 1979 Miniseries
The first visual nod in the new ‘Salem’s Lot happened before the movie was even released. A Max Original poster for ‘Salem’s Lot was released and those around for the 1979 miniseries by Tobe Hooper immediately recognized it as an update of the poster for the original miniseries. Both posters show Kurt Barlow in his vampire form looming as a shadow over the Marsten House, clawed hands outstretched.
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The framing symbolizes the sinister, insidious way that Barlow’s vampirism creeps over the town, slowly taking it over. It also is a visual nod to the many shots in ‘Salem’s Lot of the way the shadows grow as the sun sets, bringing death with them. Both posters, as well as Barlow’s character design itself, are reminiscent of Nosferatu/Count Orlok, who is often depicted in the artwork of the era and after as a shadowy presence or the shadow of a reaching, clawed hand, rather than as a flesh-and-blood figure.
2 Gary Dauberman As The Director
His Connection To Stephen King Is In The Movies
As the director, Gary Dauberman himself is a returning member of the Stephen King movie universe. He’s more readily linked to the James Wan and the Conjuring universe as the writer of all three Annabelle movies and the director of Annabelle Comes Home, as well as the writer of both The Nun movies.
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However, he was also the writer of It and It: Chapter Two, by far the biggest hits of any Stephen King movie adaptation. Considering how well done those movies are, and that Dauberman has expressed that the final cut of ‘Salem’s Lot is not nearly the one he wanted, it would be really interesting to see Dauberman’s original almost 3-hour cut of ‘Salem’s Lot.
The
It
movies made a combined nearly $1.2 billion at the worldwide box office.
3 A Bangor Land Corporation Paper In The Opening Credits
Longtime Stephen King Fans Know What Bangor Means To King
Eagle-eyed viewers may have spotted a paper in the opening credits that read “Bangor Land Corporation.” In the book, this is but briefly mentioned during Straker’s negotiation with Larry Crockett to purchase the old Marsten House and the space that will become their cover of the antiques store: “Your client in the matter of the house is a land corporation in Bangor.” That said, Constant Readers know Bangor has a much deeper connection to Stephen King, being the Maine town in which he resided for decades; the family’s old house now serves as the headquarters of the Stephen & Tabitha King Foundation.
Stephen and Tabitha King now split their time between Maine and Florida; unsurprisingly, more of his books and short stories in recent years have been set in the Florida Keys.
4 The Movie’s Logo/Title Card
It’s A Nod To The First Edition
The movie logo on all the promo material thus far shows a straightforward white title with the “t” in “Lot” shaped to look like a cross. However, the title card and logo of the movie that appears at the end of the opening credits is another deep-cut Easter egg, similar to the throwback poster. The logo features vintage font with a miniature version of the town of Jerusalem’s Lot being framed in the “o” in “Lot.” Longtime Stephen King readers of a certain age will recognize how similar it is to the original Doubleday cover of the 1975 first edition, the design of which featured the town framed in the globe of the “O.”
5 The Movie’s 1975 Setting
It Works On Two Levels
‘Salem’s Lot‘s 1975 setting is also a throwback to the original novel. Plenty of modern Stephen King adaptations update the time period in which they were written and set, including the 2004 ‘Salem’s Lot miniseries. Gary Dauberman, however, remains faithful to the book in two ways by setting it in 1975: First, it matches the book’s mid-70s setting, and it also is a nod to the year that the novel was first published: it hit bookshelves just in time for Halloween, releasing on October 17, 1975. By keeping the 1975 setting, the new ‘Salem’s Lot honors the Stephen King original in a fundamental way.
‘Salem’s Lot
was Stephen King’s second published novel. His first,
Carrie
, was published on April 5, 1974.
6 A Plymouth Fury In The Garage
But Is It The Real Christine?
One of the most obvious and loving nods to Stephen King is the red and white classic Plymouth Fury spotted in the mechanic’s shop in Jerusalem’s Lot a little over minutes into the movie. That car is, of course, a nod to Stephen King’s possessed killer car, Christine, which was a 1958 Plymouth Fury painted a bright cherry red with white side panels and wings. It’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, but, with the interconnectedness of Stephen King’s universe, it’s fun to think that it might not just be a car that looks like Christine, but is the Christine, simply awaiting her next victim. Considering Christine was set in 1978, it means it’s three years before poor Arnie Cunningham buys her and unleashes his doom.
7 William Sadler As Parkins Gillespie
He’s A Familiar Face To Stephen King Fans
The early scene in ‘Salem’s Lot that first introduces protagonist Ben Mears to audiences is also the scene that introduces William Sadler’s jaded, tired Constable Parkins Gillespie. Parkins Gillespie is well known to readers of the book, the aging town constable who just wants to relax and log easy hours behind a desk until he can retire. However, William Sadler, the actor playing him, should also be known to Stephen King fans and those who have watched various adaptations of his work. If Sadler’s face looks familiar, it’s both because he’s a great character actor and horror movie stalwart, but also because he’s already been in several Stephen King adaptations: ‘Salem’s Lot is his fourth.
|
William Sadler Stephen King Adaptation Appearances |
|
|---|---|
|
Movie |
Character |
|
The Shawshank Redemption (1994) |
Heywood |
|
The Green Mile (1999) |
Klaus Detterick |
|
The Mist (2007) |
Jim |
|
‘Salem’s Lot (2024) |
Constable Parkins Gillespie |
8 Mark Petrie’s Creature From The Black Lagoon T-Shirt
The Creature Shows Up In A Few Places
Mark Petrie is established early in the movie as a kid who is fascinated by all things spooky and scary, an avid reader of campy horror comics and a watcher of B-movie popcorn goodness. His immediate acceptance of vampires and intuitive knowledge about what to do and not do with monsters is what saves him in the book and movie. Therefore, it’s fitting that when Mark is first introduced in ‘Salem’s Lot, he’s wearing a Creature from the Black Lagoon t-shirt. Those paying attention to the credits may have also spotted the face of the Creature in the opening titles.
9 Mark’s Horror Monster Figurines & Stickers
Classic Monsters Litter His Room
Of course, The Creature from the Black Lagoon isn’t the only classic horror movie monster Mark loves. Indeed, the first scene set in his room shows just how deep his love of horror goes, with Universal Classic Monsters plastered all over his room. The first shot focuses on his radio, which has stickers of Dracula, Frankenstein, and a zombie. Another shot in the room shows a partial toy skeleton sitting on his desk, while other shots reveal figurines of Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Phantom of the Opera, as well as a model graveyard. For Mark Petrie, monsters are as real as anyone in the town.
10 The Trog Poster In Mark’s Room
It’s A Deep B-Movie Cut
One of the deepest and most fun B-movie references in Mark’s room is a poster on his wall. The orange and black poster is for Trog, the 1970 British sci-fi horror movie starring Joan Crawford. At the time, it was panned by critics, and understandably so. The plot is absurd, with an Ice Age caveman, or a “troglodyte,” being discovered in modern Britain and accidentally unleashed upon a modern populace. It’s since been reevaluated as a kitschy classic and appreciated on its own terms, but in 1975, it would have been exactly the kind of cheesy late-night horror movie that Mark would have watched and loved.
11 Merrill’s Photo
“Merrill” Is A Familiar Name
The town of Jerusalem’s Lot is stuffed full of small Easter eggs and nods, and while most of them aren’t technically Easter eggs, but named locations in the book, a few of them stand out. One of those is a sign for Merrill’s Photo, shown in the first third of the movie as the camera pans over different streets and storefronts. “Merrill” is a name familiar to King fans. Ace Merrill is, of course, a recurring antagonist in multiple Stephen King books and short stories.
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Jerusalem’s Lot is the central setting of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot, and the Maine town has an interesting history dating back to the 1700s.
Reginald “Pop” Merrill, Ace’s uncle, is also well-known to readers, running The Emporium Galorium in Castle Rock. The shop name is perhaps a cheeky nod to how Pop died in the Stephen King universe: a supposed “paranormal” camera he bought exploded while he was holding it, splashing a glob of molten plastic on his face and neck.
12 The Balloons In Danny Glick’s Room
The Pennywise Connection Is Strong
The nighttime scene in Danny Glick’s room when he hears the sound of a harmonica coming from outside also reveals another Easter egg. When he gets up to open the window and listen, his bedside table shows a cluster of balloons. It’s not clear what it is – a table lamp, most likely – and the balloons are in various colors. The bundle is strongly reminiscent of the scene in the 1990 It miniseries where Pennywise is spotted in the daytime holding a bunch of balloons. Another shot when the lamp is in background shows the red balloon prominently at the top. Few people can watch or read a Stephen King story and see a red balloon, or even balloons in general, without immediately thinking of Pennywise the Dancing Clown, a.k.a. It.
13 The Scene Of Vampire Danny Glick Hovering In Front Of Mark Petrie’s Window
It’s The Most Iconic Scene Of ‘Salem’s Lot
Arguably the most memorable scene in both the original ‘Salem’s Lot book and both the 1979 and 2004 adaptations is the one where a now-turned and vampiric Danny Glick comes to Mark Petrie’s window to entice him to let him in. It’s a haunting visual of an eldritch child with glowing eyes suspended in midair, nothing but darkness and the night behind him. Stephen King has crafted many striking visuals over the years, and certain adaptations have driven them home, including this scene. While it plays out exactly as it does in the book, with Mark driving him away with the toy cross in his model graveyard, it’s the haunting image of Danny hovering in front of his window that lingers.
14 The Vampires’ Glowing Eyes
The Miniseries Started A Trend
More generally speaking, the vampires’ glowing eyes is a visual nod to Tobe Hooper’s 1979 miniseries adaptation, which also incorporated the neat visual trick. The new ‘Salem’s Lot has several nods to the miniseries, which is great; similar to Mike Flanagan’s Doctor Sleep movie, the new movie incorporates elements of the original book and also the equally beloved earlier adaptation, blending both.
|
Salem’s Lot Adaptation |
Release Year |
Kurt Barlow Portrayed By |
|---|---|---|
|
Salem’s Lot (2 ep. miniseries) |
1979 |
Reggie Nalder |
|
Salem’s Lot (2 ep. miniseries) |
2004 |
Rutger Hauer |
|
Salem’s Lot (feature film) |
2024 |
Alexander Ward |
As is expected of any author whose dozens of books span decades and are interconnected, the mythology and lore of Stephen King’s vampires have grown and changed over the years and been minorly retconned. In the books, it’s only Kurt Barlow and other “Type One” vampires whose eyes glow, while Type Two vampires, like the townsfolk of Jerusalem’s Lot, have yellow eyes. Tobe Hooper’s miniseries kept the yellow eyes but also gave them the addition of them glowing in the dark, similar to an animal’s reflection, and Gary Dauberman wisely kept that eerie visual.
15 The Vampire Comic Books Mark Reads
Stephen King Was A Big EC Comics Fan As A Kid
Of course, It’s unsurprising that while teacher and scholar Matt Burke digs through ancient folklore and history to research vampires, Mark Petrie turns to his pulp comic books for information after his nighttime visit by Danny Glick. Stephen King has often written of his love of the old EC Comics, which published horror, sci-fi, dark fantasy, and other genre stories, and he put a bit of his childhood self into Mark Petrie in ‘Salem’s Lot. Specifically, Mark is reading a comic book titled Rave of the Vampire, which is right in line with the pulp horror comic books of the mid-century.
16 Father Callahan Reading Dracula
It Suits The Priest And His Personal Conflicts
For his own part, Father Callahan is seen holding and reading a copy of Bram Stoker’s Dracula during the scene where Ben, Dr. Cody, and Matt go to the church and first tell him their theory that vampires are preying upon the folks of Jerusalem’s Lot. Besides being an obvious pop culture vampire reference, Dracula is a fitting book for Father Callahan to read, as it deals with a number of themes he finds himself also grappling with in ‘Salem’s Lot (though most of his story was cut from the movie). Specifically, the conflicted priest is also working through questions of good versus evil and Christian salvation vs. damnation. Dracula is also a fitting nod to how Kurt Barlow as portrayed in the book, as a more refined and elegant, Bela Lugosi-like figure.
17 “Play With Us, Mark.”
It’s A Common Refrain From Creepy Stephen King Kids
One Stephen King Easter egg isn’t visual, but auditory. The penultimate night in the movie reveals a lot of bloodshed: Mark’s parents and Father Callahan are killed by Kurt Barlow, and Susan Norton turned by a new vampire. Mark runs away from Barlow while the ancient vampire is distracted by the priest, and hides in his tree house. As Mark frantically closes the windows and trapdoor, the child vampires can be heard outside: “Play with us, Mark.” It’s reminiscent of the oft-repeated lines from the ghost twins in The Shining, when they pester Danny Torrance to play with them, as well as the reanimated Gage Creed in the 1989 adaptation of Pet Sematary as he asks his father, Louis, to play.
18 Ann Norton’s Entire Vibe
Margaret White, Anyone?
This one is less a concrete Easter egg and more of a similar feel, but there are definite shades of Carrie‘s Margaret White in the character of Ann Norton, Susan’s mother. She’s also controlling and suspicious of Ben Mears in the book, but the changes to her story in the ‘Salem’s Lot adaptation emphasize this. In the book, she’s turned into a half-vampire by Susan.
In the movie, however, she becomes Barlow’s new familiar, and the intensity of her devotion to him and newfound zealotry is strongly reminiscent of Margaret White’s religious fanaticism in Carrie. This eventual fanaticism is seeded in a brief moment in the first third of the movie when Ann is playing a church hymn on the organ. The idols they’re devoted to are far different, but their glaze-eyed violent fanaticism is cut from the same cloth.
19 The Movies Playing At The Drive-In
They’re Horror-Adjacent
‘Salem’s Lot 2024 did a good job of planting the movie firmly in 1975, and little touches add to the immersion. One of those touches is the movies playing at the drive-in and displayed on the drive-in marquee sign during the final battle: The Drowning Pool and Night Moves, both released in 1975. The former, starring Paul Newman, and the latter, starring Gene Hackman, aren’t firmly in the horror genre, but certainly thrillers that revolve around investigators who are, much like the characters in ‘Salem’s Lot, trying to put pieces together and unravel sinister mysteries unfolding in small, quiet towns.
20 The Shot Of Kurt Barlow Standing Atop The Drive-In Office
The German Expressionism Is Strong
As mentioned above, Kurt Barlow’s design in the 1979 miniseries and the new adaptation is strongly influenced by Count Orlok in Nosferatu. There are some genuinely gorgeous shots in the new ‘Salem’s Lot, and a very distinct visual look for most of Kurt Barlow’s scenes. His appearance brings with him noir lighting and the shadowy, dark aesthetic of Nosferatu‘s German Expressionism. That aesthetic is never more pronounced than the shot of Kurt Barlow standing atop the drive-in office roof, turned into an elongated shadow form by backlighting and dressed in a long black coat in a clear homage to Count Orlok.