Stephen King slams Warner Bros for holding back ‘old-school horror’ based on classic novel

"Not sure why WB is holding it back... Who knows. I just write the f*****g things."

Legendary author Stephen King has slammed film studio Warner Bros. for "holding back" the new movie adaptation of Salem's Lot from the public. Salem's Lot was King's second novel and was released in 1975 in between the publishing of his classic books Carrie and The Shining. It centres around a writer named Ben Mears, who returns to the titular town he lived in as a boy only to discover that the residents are becoming vampires. Beloved by horror fans, the novel has been adapted for TV several times - the most notable of which is the acclaimed 1979 two-part miniseries version directed by Tobe Hooper (Poltergeist, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre).

Stephen King slams Warner Bros for holding back Salem's Lot.

The new big screen take on the story is written and directed by Gary Dauberman, best known for his work on some of The Conjuring Universe films, as well as the recent adaptations of King's novel It. It also stars Lewis Pullman (Top Gun: Maverick) as Ben. Having wrapping up filming in mid-2022, the Salem's Lot movie has had its release date postponed twice and it is currently unclear when it will be made available to watch. This has led to fears the film will be permanently shelved, a fate which has already befallen two other Warner Bros. projects - Batgirl and Coyote vs. Acme. In a new Tweet on this matter, King wrote: "Between you and me, Twitter, I've seen the new Salem's Lot and it's quite good. Old-school horror filmmaking: slow build, big payoff. "Not sure why WB is holding it back; not like it's embarrassing, or anything. Who knows. I just write the f*****g things."

Between you and me, Twitter, I've seen the new SALEM'S LOT and it's quite good. Old-school horror filmmaking: slow build, big payoff. Not sure why WB is holding it back; not like it's embarrassing, or anything. Who knows. I just write the fucking things.

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) February 19, 2024

This is not the first time he has tweeted about the movie, as he wrote back in November: "The Warner Bros remake of Salem's Lot, currently shelved, is muscular and involving. "It has the feel of 'Old Hollywood,' when a film was given a chance to draw a breath before getting to business. When attention spans were longer, in other words. "It feels like a horror movie version of slow-burn movies like The Great Escape. It builds very well. There are diversions from the book I don't agree with, but on the whole, faithful. "Best scene: Danny Glick in the hospital, trying to claw down a blood bag. The Glick scene could have been directed by John Carpenter in his prime."

The Warner Bros remake of SALEM'S LOT, currently shelved, is muscular and involving. It has the feel of "Old Hollywood," when a film was given a chance to draw a breath before getting to business. When attention spans were longer, in other words.

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) November 1, 2023

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