The Story of Salem's Lot (1979) - Review & Retrospective 

The vampire kid floating outside the window is the most creepiest and terrifying vampire scene ever made, period.

Never slept with the curtains open after seeing this as a kid...a true classic, over here in the U.K. it has a fine reputation with the over 40's as the best Vampire film ever

Still scares me after all these years, floating kids, glowing eyes, Barlows menacing looks and a solid terrifying story..........the best!!

This was my mother's favorite Vampire show. I watched it with her when I was 14 and I'm now 53 and wish so badly I could sit and watch it again with my mother.

"You'll enjoy Mr.Barlow. And he'll enjoy you." Best and creepiest line in the movie

As a kid, that vampire Glick boy scared the crap out of me.

As a 10 year old kid, I saw both parts on Television in 1979. As I recall, there were warnings on TV about not letting younger children watch because it was so scary. To date, it is still one of the scariest movies I’ve ever seen. Well done on this retrospective!!

This used to (and still does) scare the crap out of me. David Soul and James Mason did an amazing job 😍

This movie stuck with me as a kid. The opening credits, the bald vampire, and the little boy hovering into his brother's room were chilling.

Brilliant, still holds up well. James Mason is fabulously creepy, by far the best of the King miniseries adaptations. Love how the first half plays out as a creepy melodrama and then part two accelerates as the town spirals

I’m 58 years old and this movie still scares me like no other movie I’ve watched. The vampires freak me out! Also the music was itself very frightening and set up each scene perfectly.

This movie scared the piss out of me as a child. That kid floating and scratching the window still gives me chills. The music was also a big part of scary scenes. Very well done flick. The book is great too.

I love this one... Scared the crap out of me when I was a kid. The Glick boys are still my reason for not looking out the window at night.

I remember when this 1st aired in the Uk was in 2 parts. My folks owned a B&B in Blackpool in those days people didnt stay out late and SL was on the tv in the bar...Almost immediately everyone (about 40 guests) stopped talking and started watching. The next night was the last part and folks had cancelled shows and the bar was packed to watch this...After it finished it was very quiet and many had drunk too much for dutch courage. Well my dad jumped out from behind the bar in a sheet and mask he had stashed! pints went up in the air and screams could be heard down the street...For people to stay in whilst on holiday just shows how genuinely creepy and scary this was for the early 80's especially as it was shown on BBC1...Thanks for the memories.

Rewatched Salem's Lot last night after many years. Had to turn on the lights and leave them on, I was not expecting it to scare me sideways all over again!. It is definitely the best book and best Vampire film of all time.

Mrs. Glick returning to life in the morgue is one of the scariest vampire scenes ever.

I remember this coming on TV. I remember that this was the scariest movie I had ever seen. I, also, remember that this was an exceptional movie being on TV. This scared me. Still does. Brilliant. Terrifying vampire. Mason was brilliant.

I was 11 when it first aired on TV in the UK. It's my go to horror film and always will be. Mike Ryerson in the rocking chair at Jason Burke's house was a stand-out moment, "look at me teacher!" Outstanding acting from everyone, especially David Soul.

Am 52 years old.... saw this for the first time back when I was about 12 or 13 years old...... scared the hell outta me!...... And STILL one of the scariest vampire films I've seen to date!

It was weird to have such a modern and 'hip' star like David Soul in the lead. Weird because he was really so GOOD! I think it was difficult for people to 'place' such an effective performance.

A perfect example of a movie where everything just worked. Pure magic, and what a cast! I love how Tobe Hooper emulated Hitchcock and brought his own artistic sensibilities, shooting it like a film and not just a TV movie.

Watching this in November 1979 was an experience. One that has aged like fine wine.

A classic. So many scary scenes and the fact that children were victims increased the stakes and tension. The rocking chair scene with Ryerson, the morgue with Mrs. Glick, the floating vamp kids at the windows (all those scenes profoundly creepy even today); honestly the entire production was first-rate. Makes a lot of current horror movies look cheap and superficial. And Harry Sukman's classic score is both dramatic and subtle in it's ability to really amp up the creepiness. Of course Stephen King's source material can be thanked for pushing this production in the right direction. Mr. King's method of grounding supernatural experiences firmly in the real world(coupled with fantastic cinematography) makes it all the more convincing.

I remember not able to sleep alone for days after watching this movie for the first time! Truly one of the most scariest made for TV movie to date. Great cast truly horror.

Even after all these years I'm still traumatized by the vamp kid scratching the window xDDD

AWESOME vid! David Soul is terribly underrated, and I wish he would have been in more movies like this.

RIP David Soul! Gawd, i was just watching this last week! It hurts so bad whenever we lose a 70s icon. I was a 70s kid, and am a 70s junkie now. This one hurts more than others though...almost as bad as losing James Garner. David Soul 80 years old. Damn. 1/6/2024

James mason is definitely the class in this film. His presence gives it an elevated feel.

This scared the absolute crap out of me as a 10 year old when it was on.

David Soul was so damn cool.

Still the scariest movie/tv show I’ve ever seen. A master class in how to create effective horror without excessive gore.

Best horror tv movie ever made. A masterpiece.

i was in 4th grade when this came out. this was the "Psycho" for my generation.... monday morning in school all the terrorized students could talk of nothing else. can't stress enough how unusual it was for a TV movie to be this intense and scary. Parents had no idea what their kids were in for.

Remember so well being terrified by "Salem's Lot" as a 13 year old kid- Halloween coming twice within a three week period of '79. Thanks for a really great overview of this Stephen King Television Classic. Enjoyed this so much! 👏

"Salem's Lot"(1979) is one of the best Vampire horror movies of all time, and the most scariest of them for sure!

Fantastic video, really well done, Salem’s Lot still scares me to this day.

This might be the nearest thing we'll ever get to a filmed documentary on an absolute classic. I really enjoyed that, and well done! Subscribed.

It's so difficult to get a genuinely scary image on a tv screen...and this miniseries had several that are still effective today.

I saw it on the BBC in 1984 and I still cannot bring myself to watch it again. The production values being so good, Still puts ice up the back watching this brilliant review.

James Mason did a heck of a job in this film.

Wow! Comprehensive doesn't even begin to describe the amount of work you put into this. What a labour of love. I appreciate the work and detail. I love all the extra information, right up my street.

I was so terrified as a kid watching this that when the second part came on the next night, l closed my eyes as soon as it began and refused to open them again until my parents realised how scared l was and sent me to bed...that scene with the dead kid scratching at the widow was the scariest thing I'd ever seen.

This was a fantastic documentary on one of the greatest vampire movies ever created. I'm 34 now and I remember watching it as a kid. Barlow scared the absolute crap out of me and actually gave me nightmares as a kid. Even now, he atill gives me the chills every time he shows up on the screen. This movie has become a staple for me every October and will continue to do so for many years to come!

I've watched HUNDREDS of horror films, and in my humble opinion, NO ONE demonstrates pure terror better than David Soul in the latter part of this film, particularly in the morgue scene, where Mrs. Glick begins to revive from the dead right in front of him. He's trying to say the Lord's prayer as this is unfolding, and he begins yelling for his friend Bill, and his display of abject terror is as good and convincing as it gets. A truly gifted and underrated performance and actor.

Alongside The Dead Zone, Salem's Lot remains my favorite adaptation of King's work. Had the old snap jewel case dvd then upgraded to the bluray upon discovering it has the Tobe Hooper commentary. I was born in '69, so saw the original mini series airings as a kid ...and what I recall most is how since it played around the holidays, both parts I ended up watching at different relatives' homes as my family were visiting on both of those nights. One in particular I remember a bunch of my cousins and I watched it while the adults played cards/drank, ha Anyway, thanks for this fantastic overview upload! Well done.

This is one of my favorite horror movies of all time, Barlow was so scary looking not a man sometimes and a vampire the other times he was all monster.

The floating vampire brother scratching the windows=100s of sleepless nights!!!

The conversation between David Soul and Lew Ayres in the diner where Soul talks about his memories of going up to the old Marsten House as a kid on a dare was and still is bone chilling stuff. The 1970s was a masterpiece decade of classic horror films.

My favorite horror movie of all time, been watching for 40 years, Great review!

I'm 46 now and I remember watching this in junior high on a Friday in class because we finished all of our assignments. 2 parts have stuck with me and it's all I remember. The child at the window scene and the rocking chair "look at me" scene. That type of horror is timeless.

True story, I grew up in a ranch house, and was reading the book one night. As I’m reading, my buddy, unbeknownst to me, was outside and starts scratching his fingernails on my bedroom window. I nearly had a heart attack!

A Stephen King story brilliantly told through the direction of Tobe Hooper from start to finish. I came to love the characters and it felt like denial as their hometown was overtaken by evil. Great video.

This was one of the best mini-series of all time. It differs from the book but it's one of the few times in my opinion is better than the book. You did an awesome job with this video.

This film truly portrays what the vampire is truly about - a nightmarish blood-sucking ghost. Few films have nailed it like this one.

When this made for TV movie premiered on CBS in November of 1979, I was "house-sitting" for a pal and his wife. Their house was a semi-restored century house located in a rural setting. The nearest neighbor was a few miles away -- yeah, isolation. During the scene in the movie where the little Glick boy was scratching at the window, a wind-blown tree branch scraped against the window next to where I was sitting. Talk about the full effect of momentary fright. Thanks, Layton Eversaul, for this informative and fun video.

I remember two scenes in this movie as a kid the one with the glitch boys hovering in the window and the one with David Soul in the morgue the Blake's mother turned into a vampire the expression on David Souls face was priceless of fear this movie was truly a classic and before its time.

Layton Eversaul has emerged from his crypt to bring us an awesome retrospective. Let's hope his next video is just as chilling.

Excellent video. First saw this film as a teenager after reading the book. I'm only 25 but have a nostalgic love for this film/tv series. Love all of the extra information mentioned, as well as the comparisons between the novel and tv series.

I remember watching this as a boy when it first aired, was scary indeed and still is. Many years later as a young man I had a job as a security guard. We had a place where they was redoing an old hospital. With nothing but lots of time on my hands I grabbed Salem's Lot the book and started to read it. Working nights at the site was interesting to say the least, and being the only one on site had it's pros and cons. One of the wings got glass put in the windows but the metal studs for all the rooms and hallway was still without walls. Only light was one bulb at one end of this "hallway" and at the other, so between the lights.. it was very dark. Now had been reading the book and came to the part where Ralphie was floating outside the window and scratching it to be let in.. So here I came up the stairs with this on my mind.. and I seen my reflection in the glass window about 2 stories high from the ground.. my heart stopped... LOL.. Yeah.. that's how good the book was and still is. Thanks for posting the vid. Sweet dreams..

If I remember correctly, I was 10, this played out over 2 nights (Mon.Sun.). There was a small blizzard in Northern Virginia and it created a cozy atmosphere, perfect for watching a 2 night horror mini-series…with the added bonus of school-closed-cushion for those of us too scared to sleep.

Saw this way too young, 6 or so, because ferndale is right down the road from where I grew up in Humboldt. Still a favorite that I revisit often.

Easily one of the best vampire epics I ever saw and still stays with me to this day. Great review, thanks for making it.

Still has the greatest jump scare ever, the jail scene gets me everytime

What freaked me out as a kid was seeing Danny with glowing yellow eyes as his coffin was opened.

Last week, I couldn’t stop thinking about this and The Dark Half (both novels and adaptations) for some reason. Watched your Dark Half video, and now you’ve satisfied my craving!

So in 1979, I was 8 years old and begged my parents to let me watch this on TV. The first half scared me so bad that I then begged them to not watch the second half. They refused as they wanted to see the end. I spent most of the second half listening from the kitchen. The vampires in this still give me chills.

I love this film. One of the few made for tv films I count as classics. The haunting music score. Even the title sequence is brilliant.

This was absolutely incredible. Thank you so much for your hard work and attention to detail. Salem’s lot premiered when I was five years old and it absolutely terrified me to my core. Over time the film struck a cord with me and became my favorite film. It has remained my favorite film and just two years ago I had the opportunity to attend the 40th anniversary event for the film in the town of Ferndale CA. Ron Scribner who played Ralphie Glick was in attendance and I had a great conversation with him. I covered the film extensively on my channel in memorabilia and on location videos which includes the 40th anniversary event. Again, this a wonderful retrospective/ break down of the film and I thank you for all of the hard work that went into it

I was fourteen when this movie was originally cast, on two consecutive Saturday nights in November 1979. My mother was already a big Stephen King fan and I watched this with her. It scared the crap out of both of us :D really enjoyed your review!

One of the best horrors ever made and very unique and original for the vampire genre.

This movie, to me, was the second scariest movie made at the time, behind the Exorcist. But it was an extremely well made movie with lots of chilling moments and surprises and is my favourite. The floating boy, with his bright eyes, set the tone for that film and frightened the hell out of me. Thanks for the opportunity to see behind the scenes.

You deserve far more attention, man.

Gotta say, you did an amazing job with this

Me and my sister Emma watched this in the UK when we were kids. It terrified us! We still watch as adults every now and again. It’s still brilliant. 👌

As a Brit this absolutely terrified me as a kid when it first aired here. Most scared I have ever been. Watching Armchair Thriller, alone, comes a very close second.

EXCELLENT! I still remember the premiere over two nights. I watched it in my film school's equipment room so I wouldn't be distracted while working the night seminars. Great score by Harry Sukman with unforgettable moments courtesy of the great Tobe Hooper. Many Thanks. BTW, I like "Supernatural" as an unofficial follow-up.

this is the best retrospective on Salem's Lot I have ever seen! Good job and ty!

I'm 56 and still love the film. Like others here I watched the two part series in 1979. Scared the pants offa me. One positive thing about the Rob Lowe remake--- it does explain how and why the ancient bloodsucker arrived in Salem's Lot. See the "Eva Miller " character for more details.

This established my lifelong fear of vampires! Thanks Stephen King!!

One of the best vampire movies ever

Excellent take on an underrated gem. The spirit of the book was captured expertly the first time. Any and all remakes disintegrate in the sun like an unprotected vampire. The producer knew what wanted and did everything he could to make it happen. The results are there for all to enjoy.

A great horror book and made for TV movie!! Great cast too. David Soul is great, and James Mason is outstanding as the half vampire/human. The scene with the vampire at the window, scared the living, crapola, out of me. I only wish the would show this more.

The floating vampires at the window, that was and still is so original and genius.

This is a wonderful video with some great behind the scenes information, well done. It's my favorite book and a great movie

You can't leave out the fact Bedalia also starred in another King adaption ..."Needful Things!"

I love this deep dive, just like everyone else here -- I'll throw out in passing that the Tobe Hooper DVD commentary is so good it's worth buying the BluRay just for that feature.

The way the opening credits made the old Marsten house a character in its own right along with opening score was a master stroke . The characters were also great and using the undead Danny Glick and Mike Rireson to tempt and taught their once former friends was very unsettling and memorable.

Great stuff Layton. I really love how you take a look at movies that are often forgotten but still have interesting stories behind them. Keep up the great work.

I was a 13 year old horror fanatic when this came out and to me it was an opus! I was thrilled to the gills when I watched it, everything about it was perfect to me!

This video has the honor of bring the first successful time I put it in WiFi and watched from my Smart TV! I am very satisfied that I was able to do it, not just once but twice watching it over 2 nights. While I am congratulating myself I would be remiss not to say how much I enjoyed your work and have added it to my subscription list. I was very pleased with this film adaptation and will now try to watch it again, knowing it not to be a waste of time.

I have not watched this for decades but I still remember the scratching sound of Danny Glip floating outside the bedroom window tapping on the window glass. Creepy. Also Ken Hutchinson was in it 😄

Another fantastic, epic breakdown. Loved learning all the behind-the-scenes info and the movie is still spooky AF.

I love Salems Lot it terrified me as a child. I bought the box set and it still scares me as an adult, yes it has that incredible atmosphere that I haven't seen duplicated.

*'Your faith! Against the masters face!'* That scene in the kitchen still gives me the chills

My favorite scary movie, and one of my favorite stories by Stephen! Thank you for this! I try to share Salem's Lot with anyone that has never experienced it.

This video contains a copyrighted image owned by Ian S. Bolton of "Salem's Lot Then and Now" (the blue house that was used as the base for the Marsten House set). Check out his website for more "Salem's Lot" behind the scenes facts and insights: www.salems-lot.com.

Nice video. This was a movie that truly creeped me out as a kid. Some of the scenes are still super scary today.

Glad to see this extensive look at the 1979 Salem's Lot. Still seared into my memory as an experience in pure terror. Many others connected have passed besides those mentioned here; RIP Lance Kerwin very early this year. Thanks for mentioning the original Fright Night, a classic itself. 👍

If is amazing how a made for TV movie can stay with someone since they first watched it all those years ago while these big budget blockbusters are soon forgotten. One of the scariest images that remains with me today is the Glick boy floating and scratching at the window with those horrifying eyes! And of course Mr Barlow's entrance.

This ranks in my top 3 King adaptations and I still watch it at least once a year. Excellent work on this review & retrospective. Best I've seen and I learned a few really cool things about the making-of that I didn't know!