Summary
An upcomingStephen Kingadaptation ofSalem’s Lotcould make vampires exciting again. While horror has always been a genre that captivates and transports the audience into a world that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, it tends to go through trenhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/ref=nav_logods and phases. The 1980s saw a huge spike in slasher horror films, and other trends revolving around zombies, sci-fi, and being trapped have all had their time in the spotlight.
However, when it comes to horror movies in theaters, thebox office has been less than favorable for a growing number of movies in the horrorgenre. And, while supernatural horror movies revolving around vampires have remained generally consistent throughout, vampire movies in particular seem to be bombing in popularity. Movies likeAbigailreceived generally great reviews, but it barely managed to cross the $40 million dollar mark against a $28 million budget (viaThe Numbers). This kind of profit margin is unsustainable, and unless something changes, itcould result in undead immortals being retired to their coffins.
Upcoming Stephen King Movie Adaptation Is Like The Horror Spinoff To Toy Story I Never Knew I Needed
After watching the new teaser for the upcoming Stephen King movie adaptation, I can’t help but notice how it comes off as a Toy Story horror spinoff.
2024’s Salem’s Lot Remake Could Turn Around The Horror Genre’s Saddest Vampire Trend
Vampire’s Are On A Downward Trend, But Stephen King Could Be The Answer
Back in the 2000s and 2010s, it seemed like a new vampire movie was being released every couple of months. Of course, this meant that there were a few hits, and at least an equal number of duds. But,vampires have been a staple of horror ever since horror movies were first made. From 1922sNosferatu, to 1932sVampyr, and up into the modern era, there is something that makes a vampire story deeply compelling and unsettling that is perfect for the horror genre.
However, the mostrecent vampire trend has defanged the vampires, turning them from horrifying killing machines, into brooding statuesque marvels.Twilight,True Blood,The Vampire Diariesand more have humanized these monsters to the point that they don’t seem to resonate in horror quite like they used to. Thankfully,Stephen King, the legendary horror writerwhose work has been adapted dozens of times, could be the key to reverting the trend. According to King, the latest remake of his popular vampire story,Salem’s Lot,is incredibly promising, despite studio pushback.
If The Stephen King Remake Is Successful, It Will Make Its Max Release More Disappointing
Does Salem’s Lot Deserve A Theatrical Release?
However, the success of this film could be a double-edged sword for vampires and horror as a whole. The movie is not receiving a theatrical release, despite being produced by the Hollywood giant, Warner Bros. Instead, themovie will be released directly to stream on Max. This appears to be an odd choice, especially considering the quality of King’s work in general, and the originalSalem’s Lotadaptation being a celebrated story.
There is something that makes a vampire story deeply compelling and unsettling that is perfect for the horror genre.
If the film tops the charts on streaming, that is great news for vampire horror, but it is unlikely to have nearly the same impact as if it were released in theaters. King was given a chance to see the movie prior to February 2024, and spoke highly of the quality, but the studio pushed the release back in a way that could suggest they don’t believe in it. If thenewSalem’s Lotmovieperforms well on Max, it will be a major missed opportunity to be released in theaters, and if it flops, it could ring in the end of an era for vampire horror in general.
Salem’s Lot
Cast
Salem’s Lot is a 2024 remake of the movie of the same name released in 1979. The latest adaptation of Stephen King’s 1975 novel stars Lewis Pullman, Makenzie Leigh, and Bill Camp, with Gary Dauberman writing and directing the Max original film. The plot revolves around a writer who discovers a vampire in his hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot upon returning home for inspiration.
