Summary
- The 2024 remake of Salem’s Lot could revive the declining popularity of vampire films.
- In recent trends in vampire films, vampires are becoming more human and have lost their horror appeal.
- Despite resistance from studios, Stephen King’s adaptation is promising but will not be released in theaters.
An upcoming Stephen King Adaptation of Salem’s Lot could make vampires exciting again. Horror has always been a genre that captivates audiences and transports them into a world that enthralls viewers, but it also goes through trends and phases. The 1980s saw a huge rise in slasher horror films, and other trends surrounding zombies, science fiction, and entrapment all took the spotlight.
However, when it comes to horror films in theaters, box office numbers have been less favorable for a growing number of films in the horror genre. And while supernatural horror films centered around vampires have generally remained consistent, vampire films in particular seem to be declining in popularity. Films like Abigail received generally great reviews, but barely managed to break the $40 million mark on a $28 million budget (via The numbers). This kind of profit margin is not sustainable and if nothing changes, could lead to undead immortals being banished to their coffins.
The 2024 remake of Salem’s Lot could reverse the horror genre’s saddest vampire trend
Vampires are on the decline, but Stephen King could be the answer
In the 2000s and 2010s, it seemed as though a new vampire movie came out every few months. Of course, that meant there were a few hits and at least as many duds. But Vampires have been an integral part of horror since the first horror films. From 1922 Nosferatuuntil 1932 vampireand into modern times, there is something that makes a vampire story deeply compelling and disturbing and perfect for the horror genre.
Most The latest vampire trend has taken away vampires’ teethtransforming them from fearsome killing machines into brooding, statuesque wonders. dusk, True Blood, the Vampire Diaries and others have humanized these monsters so much that they no longer resonate in horror films as much as they once did. Fortunately, Stephen King, the legendary horror author whose work has been adapted dozens of times, may be the key to reversing this trend. According to King, the latest remake of his popular vampire story Salem’s Lot, is incredibly promising despite the studio’s resistance.
If the Stephen King remake is successful, the maximum release will be even more disappointing
Does “Salem’s Lot” deserve a theatrical release?
However, the success of this film could be a double-edged sword for vampires and horror in general. The film will not be released in theaters, despite being produced by Hollywood giant Warner Bros. Instead, The film will be released directly for streaming on Max. This seems like an odd choice, especially given the quality of King’s work in general and the original Salem’s Lot Adaptation is a celebrated story.
There is something that makes a vampire story deeply captivating and disturbing and fits perfectly into the horror genre.
If the film tops the charts on streaming, that’s great news for vampire horror, but it’s unlikely to have anywhere near the same impact as it would if released in theaters. King had the chance to see the film before February 2024 and praised the quality, but the studio has delayed the release in a way that might suggest they don’t believe in it. If the new Salem’s Lot If the film does well with Max, it would be a huge missed opportunity to get into theaters, and if it flops, it could mark the end of an era of vampire horror in general.
