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'Salem's Lot' 4K UHD Review

Updated: 6 hours ago

Physical Media Release Date: 03/31/26.

Label: Arrow Video.

Form of Release: Limited Edition 4K UHD. [1 Movie, 3 Cuts]

The Verdict: A Must-Buy


THE ULTIMATE IN TERROR!

From Tobe Hooper, director of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Poltergeist, comes the mini-series that scarred a generation. Based on Stephen King's all-time classic of small town terror, welcome to Salem's Lot. Population two-thousand and thirteen, but falling fast!


Author Ben Mears (David Soul) returns to the town of Salem's Lot after 25 years to write about the Marsten House, an old mansion with a bad reputation that has haunted the writer since childhood. But the sleepy town of Ben's youth is beginning to change. There's an antiques store about to open, run by the mysterious Richard Straker (James Mason) and his unseen partner Mr. Barlow (Reggie Nalder), and they're living in the Marsten House. A series of deaths and disappearances leads Ben to believe that a vampire is feeding on the town. But how can he stop them, and will anyone believe him?


With a script by Paul Monash (producer of De Palma's Carrie, writer of Peyton Place and The Friends of Eddie Coyle) and a superb cast that includes Bonnie Bedelia (Die Hard), Fred Willard (Best in Show), Geoffrey Lewis (Every Which Way But Loose) and Elisha Cook Jr. (The Killing), Tobe Hooper breathes vivid life and chilling un-death into the characters of King's novel. The children of the night await... in Salem's Lot.

Special Features:

DISC 1 - ORIGINAL TV MINI-SERIES VERSION

  • Two viewing modes: Play as miniseries in two parts as per the original broadcast or as extended movie

  • Brand New audio commentary by film critics Bill Ackerman and Amanda Reyes

  • Archive audio commentary by director Tobe Hooper

  • Alternate TV footage: commercial bumpers and original broadcast version of the antlers death

  • Original shooting script gallery

DISC 2 - THEATRICAL VERSION & EXTRAS

  • Brand New audio commentary by film critic Chris Alexander

  • King of the Vampires, a new interview with Stephen King biographer Douglas Winter

  • Second Coming, a new appreciation by author and critic Grady Hendrix

  • New England Nosferatu, a new interview with filmmaker Mick Garris

  • Fear Lives Here, a new featurette looking at the locations of Salem's Lot today

  • We Can All Be Heroes, a new featurette with film critic Heather Wixson, co-author of In Search of Darkness

  • A Gold Standard for Small Screen Screams, a new featurette with film critics Joe Lipsett and Trace Thurman, co-hosts of the podcast Horror Queers

  • Trailer

  • Image gallery


Rotten Tomatoes Scores:

  • Tomatometer: 86% (as of 04/01/26)

  • Popcornmeter: 65% (as of 04/01/26)


Physical Release Specs & Other Details:

  • MPAA: Rated PG

  • Runtime: 183 minutes

  • Original Release: 1979


Video

Codec: HEVC / H.265

Resolution: Native 4K (2160p)

HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10

Aspect ratio: 2.39:1

Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1


Audio

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)


Subtitles

English SDH


Discs

4K Ultra HD

Blu-ray Disc

Single disc (1 BD-100)


Digital

Not Included


Packaging

Slipcover in Original Packaging

Reversible Cover


Physical Bonuses

  • Reversible sleeve featuring two original artwork options

  • Collectors' perfect-bound booklet containing new writing on the film by critics Sean Abley, Sorcha Ni Fhlainn, and Richard Kadrey, plus select archival material including interviews with director Tobe Hooper, and stars Lance Kerwin and Julie Cobb

  • Salem's Lot town sign sticker

  • Double-sided foldout poster featuring two original artwork options


Playback

4K Blu-ray: Region free

Positives and Negatives

+ Positive Critical and Audience Reception

+ A Stephen King Mini-Series LONG Before IT

+ First Time on 4K UHD

+ One Movie - 3 Cuts

+ x04 Physical Bonuses

+ x14 Special Features

+ x03 Audio Commentaries

- NO Digital Code Included

 
 
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