The Major Differences Between Stephen King’s ‘Salem’s Lot’ and its Movie Adaptation

Director Gary Dauberman’s adaptation of ‘Salem’s Lot’ is now available on Max, just in time for Halloween, making it an ideal moment to revisit Stephen King’s classic vampire novel. Running just under two hours, this film is the shortest adaptation of the book to date, but it makes several significant changes that affect character motivations and fates while retaining the core plot and familiar characters. While King acknowledges the film's overall faithfulness, he has expressed disagreement with specific alterations.

One notable change involves the backstory of Ben Mears. In the film, Ben returns to Jerusalem's Lot as a child after losing his parents in a car accident, aiming to find closure, particularly regarding his fixation on the Marsten House, a detail that remains unexplained. Conversely, in the novel, Ben returns following the death of his wife, Miranda, in a motorcycle accident, which drives his haunting obsession with the house. This pivotal detail is absent from the film, stripping Ben of a key personal connection to the Marsten House.

Image Courtesy: IMDb

Another major alteration is the role of Father Callahan. In King’s version, Callahan’s internal struggle with his faith adds depth to the narrative, culminating in a tragic confrontation with the vampire Barlow. The film, however, reduces his importance and alters his fate, which diminishes the emotional weight of his character arc.

Additionally, the film omits several secondary characters, weakening the sense of community and the haunting atmosphere of Jerusalem's Lot that is so integral to King’s narrative. Other discrepancies include a gender-swapped Dr Jimmy Cody and a change to the climax, which moves the final confrontation from the boarding house to a drive-in theatre.

Image Courtesy: CBR

Overall, while Dauberman's adaptation captures some essence of the original, it sacrifices crucial elements that define the novel's depth and richness.

–Farheen Ali