When HBO Max announced the 2024 adaptation of Salem’s Lot, I couldn’t help but wonder—would it stay true to Stephen King’s eerie novel, or would it take liberties that change the core of the story? After finally watching it, I can say it’s a bit of both. While the movie does hold on to some key elements from the book, there are significant differences that have sparked both delight and disappointment among fans.
Check our Book Review of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot HERE
Spoilers ahead (duh)!
Let’s dive into the 10 biggest differences between the Salem’s Lot book and the 2024 movie adaptation. Brace yourselves—things get a little batty!
1. Kurt Barlow: The Monstrous Transformation
In the book, Kurt Barlow is a vampire that could almost pass as human. Think Dracula: sophisticated, intelligent, and terrifying because of his actions, not his appearance. His evil comes from his mind games, his cunning nature, and the psychological torment he inflicts.
The 2024 movie, however, turns Barlow into a more typical horror monster—pale skin, fangs, and grotesque veins. He’s visually striking, but the nuance of what made him chilling in the book is lost. Barlow is now a beast you fear at first sight, not because of his intellect but because of his monstrous form.
I wish the filmmakers had stuck to the source material. What made Barlow terrifying in the book was his human-like presence, which contrasted sharply with his malevolent deeds. In the movie, he’s just another vampire monster.
2. Ben Mears’ Backstory: A Tragic Shift
Ben Mears, our protagonist, has a different backstory in the movie compared to the book. In the novel, Ben’s trauma stems from a bicycle accident that tragically led to his wife’s death—a key piece of his character development. This loss haunts him throughout the story.
The 2024 film shifts this entirely, portraying his parents’ death in a drunk driving accident as his main source of pain. While this change didn’t drastically affect the plot, it felt like an unnecessary tweak. The film seems less invested in Ben’s past than the novel, glossing over his grief and its impact on his actions.
3. The Ending: A Change in Location
Let’s talk about the ending—because, well, it’s kind of a big deal. In the movie, the climax plays out with the vampires found in car trunks. The book, however, has them hidden under the houses in town. This may seem like a minor detail, but it’s indicative of a broader shift in the film’s pacing and urgency.
In the book, the hidden vampires make the climactic moments feel more harrowing and calculated. The change in the movie feels more rushed, lacking the nail-biting tension that King built so well in the novel. Personally, I preferred the book’s version—it had a creepier, more calculated feel that aligned with the methodical nature of the town’s downfall.
4. Priest Callahan’s Fate: Faith vs. Death
Father Callahan’s arc in Salem’s Lot is one of the most intriguing elements of the story. In the book, he’s a priest who loses his faith and ends up becoming a servant to Kurt Barlow—an outcome that is arguably worse than death. His internal struggle with his loss of belief is one of the most powerful moments in the novel.
In the movie, this pivotal scene is completely glossed over. Instead of becoming Barlow’s servant, Callahan is simply killed off. This was a huge disappointment, as Callahan’s moral downfall is one of the more profound threads in the book. His loss of faith and subsequent damnation to serve Barlow is a chilling commentary on vulnerability and evil, and I wish the film had given this arc the weight it deserved.
5. The Marsten House: Lacking Lore
One of the eeriest settings in Salem’s Lot is the Marsten House, a dilapidated mansion steeped in evil and Satanism. In the book, we learn a lot about its dark history, making it an even more ominous presence in the story. It’s not just a haunted house—it’s a symbol of the town’s slow descent into darkness.
The 2024 movie barely scratches the surface of the Marsten House’s lore. It’s mentioned in passing, but we don’t get the deep dive into its sinister past that made it so creepy in the book. This felt like a missed opportunity. The Marsten House is a character in its own right, and the film’s lack of attention to its history made its scenes less impactful.
6. Matt Burke’s Fate: A Grim Substitution
In the novel, Matt Burke dies of a heart attack in the hospital after witnessing the horrors that plague the town. It’s a fitting end for a character who has seen too much, his death symbolizing the overwhelming dread that has overtaken Salem’s Lot.
In the 2024 film, Matt’s role is drastically changed. Instead of him dying in the hospital, he accompanies Mark Petrie to the Marsten House, replacing Susan in this pivotal sequence. Matt’s death now happens at the hands of Barlow in the basement of the Marsten House. While this change gave us more screen time with Matt, it felt unnecessary, and it altered the emotional impact of Susan’s character arc.
7. Dr. Cody: A Gender Swap Done Right
Dr. Cody, originally a male character in the novel, is played by the talented Alfre Woodard in the 2024 adaptation, bringing a much-needed female presence to the crew. This change worked well for the movie, providing a refreshing update without altering the character’s core role in the story.
In a novel that centers so heavily on male characters, it was nice to see more gender diversity in the film without losing the essence of the plot.
8. The Lot’s Side Characters: MIA
One of the things that make Salem’s Lot so haunting in the book is the multitude of side characters who inhabit the town. King masterfully gives us small glimpses into their lives before they fall victim to the vampires, making the town feel alive and tragic.
Unfortunately, the 2024 movie skims over most of these characters. Sure, there are a few name drops and Easter eggs for die-hard fans, but the rich tapestry of side stories is absent. The town feels more like a backdrop than a living, breathing community, which weakens the emotional impact of the vampire takeover.
9. Susan’s Family and Love Life: A Dark Twist
In the book, Susan’s family is more concerned with her love life, constantly urging her to settle down with someone other than Ben Mears. While her mother’s disapproval of Ben is present in the movie, it takes a shocking turn when Susan’s mother becomes Barlow’s new servant after Straker’s death.
This change is unexpected, adding another villainous layer to the final act of the film. However, it felt forced, as if the writers just wanted to throw in one more gun-toting baddie for the final confrontation. Susan’s mother’s role as Barlow’s minion doesn’t add much to the story and detracts from the emotional weight of the film’s climax.
10. Mark and Ben’s Final Intentions: Unfinished Business
In both the book and the movie, Ben and Mark are the sole survivors of Salem’s Lot. However, in the novel, they make their intentions clear—they plan to return to the town and burn it down to finish off the vampires for good. This resolution gives the story a sense of closure, as Ben and Mark refuse to let evil win.
The movie, on the other hand, leaves things much more open-ended. We see Ben and Mark driving away from the town, but there’s no indication of whether they will return to finish the job. It’s a small but significant omission that leaves the film feeling incomplete.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the 2024 Salem’s Lot movie has its moments of good but ultimately falls short of the book’s depth and complexity. While some changes, like Dr. Cody’s gender swap, worked well, others—like the glossing over of Priest Callahan’s fate and the lack of focus on the town’s side characters—detract from the overall impact. For fans of the novel, the film is a mixed bag, but if you’re looking for a creepy vampire flick, it’s still worth a watch.
If you’re a die-hard King fan, though, prepare yourself for a few head-scratching moments!
Looking for more deep dives into your favorite fantasy and horror stories? Stay tuned for more book vs. movie comparisons right here on Fantasy Archives!