Salem’s Lot Cast Discuss Making a Horror Movie Setting

The horror genre has been responsible for creating some of the most memorable movies ever made. Classics such as The Exorcist, The Shining, and It have stayed in audiences' memories long after the credits rolled. Stephen King, a name synonymous with horror fans, has had many of his books adapted to films over the years, including one of his first novels, 1979's Salem's Lot. It tells the story of vampires infesting a small town and wreaking havoc on its community. Although it has been adapted a couple of times, director Gary Dauberman's version of Salem's Lot on HBO Max is the first adaptation in 20 years.

The Best War Games caught up with Alfre Woodard (who plays Dr. Cody) and Spencer Treat Clark (who plays Mike Ryerson) in this HBO Max adaptation. These seasoned actors already have many big projects on their resumes, with Woodard working on movies such as The Lion King and Captain America: Civil War, while Clark is known for his roles in Gladiator, Unbreakable, and more recently its sequel, Glass. They discussed their feelings on working in the horror genre, how it differs from other genres, and how the movie's setting helped bring their performances to life.

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By Alyssa Avina

Salem's Lot Cast on Why Working on Horror is So Much Fun

Many actors like to avoid being typecast, so wherever possible they look for varied roles, with some preferring to be taken out of their comfort zone entirely. Salem's Lot, while undoubtedly a horror movie, is a story about a small group of people banding together to protect their neighborhood from the threat of the undead. This mix of drama and horror allows a degree of freedom for the actors seeking said variety, and Woodard was keen to point out just how important that was while filming Dr. Cody's scenes:

''As a little kid, I always got sent outside to play. Before we had all this technology, you made up stuff to keep yourself entertained. Characters, worlds, my friends and I believed it all. Doing horror is the quintessential 'go outside and play.' There's so much freedom and fun in horror movies.''

Of course, as well as the fact that the horror genre gives the actors more creative freedom, the movie's setting is also incredibly important. Salem's Lot was originally released in 1979, and this modern installment has chosen to remain faithful to that element of the story by keeping it set in the 1970s. The town of Salem's Lot slowly succumbs to the vampire threat as the movie goes on, and Clark discussed how even the times of year that they filmed had a role to play in ensuring the setting was just right:

''We filmed in the fall. There are locations that we used in early September when everything was green, but then, paralleling the decay of the town, by the time we finished shooting, the leaves had fallen, and the trees were bare. That makes a real difference to us actors.''

Each adaptation of Salem's Lot brings something new to the story, and it seems that this one will be no different. Keeping the novel's original setting and feel, the movie is a stylish reimagining of King's beloved book that should satiate fans of the original. It may even introduce some new ones too.