Cheap A Return to Salem's Lot (Video) (Michael Moriarty, Samuel Fuller) (Larry Cohen) Price

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Customer Reviews of A Return to Salem's Lot

Cohen's version of the Stephen King vampire classic
In the late 1970's, when Stephen King was just beginning to be well-known, Warner Brothers bought the rights to his second published novel, "'salem's Lot", and went about developing it for the screen. The list of directors considered for the film is a veritable "Who's Who" of Hollywood horror directors; even George "Night of the Living Dead" Romero was approached. The job ultimately went to Tobe Hooper, at the time best known for "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre."

Eight years after Hooper's version saw life as a TV miniseries, director Larry "It's Alive!" Cohen released this "sequel", which is really more of an interpretation. "A Return to Salem's Lot" is reportedly what Cohen wanted to do with the original film. Rather than have an outside vampire come in and wreak havoc, as was the story in King's novel, Cohen envisioned a town settled and inhabited entirely by vampires.

Fortunately, he was taken off of the project.

Cohen's "Return" is a quirky, occasionally uneven horror film, with mediocre production values. Cohen seemed unsure whether he wanted to do straight horror or a horror comedy, and mixing them didn't work in this case. This film is best suited for hardcore horror fans or, if there are any, Cohen fans.

PS Fans of the first film may be interested to note that some of the "burning mansion" shots from that film were included in the climax of this erstatz "sequel."

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surprisingly good vampire movie
Having seen the first movie, read the book, and being a big Stephen King fan, I didn't have my hopes up for this "sequel" (when I was finally able to find it). However, I was surprised to find that this is actually a very enjoyable movie.

A Return to Salem's Lot doesn't really have anything to do with the first film or the book, but it stands on its own as a good vampire movie. The music for the film, mostly fast-paced organ music, seemed original and was strangely effective. The violence was occasionally remiscent of Romero's Living Dead series. The acting was decent and some of the dialogue is (sometimes unintentionally) funny. And you can't forget the scenes of vampires sucking the blood from a cow!

I'm not a huge vampire movie fan per se, but this was a very enjoyable film. I'd even go so far as to say that this is what all horror movies should be like. Highly recommended.

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Corny piece of "terror"
I just saw this movie. I actually enjoyed the first one and the book, but this is kind of a mix between a cheese comedy and a very low budget horror film. The history develops around a town of vampires, settled since the colony times, and an antropologist "invited" to write a revindicative book about them. Well, it might sound interesting, but it looses interest at the mid point.
Save some bucks and buy other thing, or if you are too curious, rent it.