Watch A Return to Salem's Lot

A Return to Salem's Lot is a horror movie from 1987, directed by Larry Cohen and starring Michael Moriarty, Samuel Fuller, and Ricky Addison Reed. The movie is a sequel to the 1979 film Salem's Lot, which was based on a novel by Stephen King. The story follows Joe Weber, a lawyer from New York who inherits a house in the small town of Salem's Lot. Joe, along with his son Jeremy, moves to the town to renovate the house and sell it. However, things start to get strange in Salem's Lot. The town seems to be haunted by vampires, and strange things keep happening at night. Joe investigates the supernatural occurrences while trying to protect his son and escape the town.

The movie is a unique take on the vampire genre, as it explores the idea of vampirism as a contagion, which spreads like a disease. The vampires in the movie are not the elegant and seductive creatures often depicted in vampire stories. Instead, they are grotesque and animalistic, resembling more of a zombie than a traditional vampire.

The tone of the movie is dark and eerie, with a slow buildup of tension and suspense. The movie's setting, an isolated and eerie New England town, adds to the atmospheric horror. The movie also explores themes of family, responsibility, and redemption.

Michael Moriarty gives an engaging performance as Joe Weber, the lead character. Moriarty expertly conveys Joe's transformation from a reluctant protagonist to a determined hero. Ricky Addison Reed also delivers a convincing performance as Joe's son, Jeremy. Samuel Fuller, who played Van Meer, a vampire hunter, is a standout supporting character. Fuller's commanding presence brings a gravitas to the movie, and his character's unique approach to vampire hunting is intriguing.

The movie's visual effects are impressive for the time, with excellent makeup work on the vampires. There are several gruesome scenes that horror fans will appreciate. However, the movie's cinematography sometimes feels too dark and difficult to see. This could be a result of the movie's low budget, which prevented the filmmakers from shooting in optimal lighting conditions.

Overall, A Return to Salem's Lot is a solid horror movie that will appeal to fans of the genre. While it may not be as well known as other Stephen King adaptations, it stands on its own as a unique and engaging story. The movie is not without its flaws, but its strengths more than make up for them. If you are a horror fan looking for something different, A Return to Salem's Lot is definitely worth checking out.

A Return to Salem's Lot is a 1987 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.3.