4. Salem’s Lot (2004 TV miniseries)
King’s 1975 vampire tale got the TV miniseries treatment in 1979, directed by no less a horror talent than Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Poltergeist), with acting legend James Mason starring as the vampire’s familiar, Richard Straker. And yes, there is a new Salem’s Lot feature film on the way, too. But lurking between the two is this two-part TNT adaptation from director Mikael Salomon (Band of Brothers); it stars Rob Lowe (who’s also in the 1989 The Stand) as well as Donald Sutherland (as Straker) and Rutger Hauer (as the bloodthirsty Kurt Barlow). It’s hard to top the first miniseries, and this version doesn’t. But it’s entertaining at least.
