Salem’s Lot star Lewis Pullman would have been “terrified” to have Stephen King on set

Salem’s Lot star Lewis Pullman would have been “terrified” to have Stephen King on set

As a movie enthusiast who has grown up with the chilling tales spun by Stephen King, I must say that the upcoming adaptation of Salem’s Lot has me both excited and apprehensive. Having lived through the terrifying reign of vampires in small-town America portrayed in King’s novel, I can relate to Lewis Pullman’s fear on set – even though he managed to escape the “terrifying” presence of King himself!


Without a doubt, Stephen King stands out as one of the most productive and thriving masters in the realm of horror literature. His influence extends far beyond books, reaching the silver screen where directors like Stanley Kubrick, Brian De Palma, and Rob Reiner have adapted his works into timeless cinematic masterpieces.

After half a century, the Horror Monarch remains a consistent presence in Tinseltown, and he is currently taking on the role of executive producer for the movie rendition of his second book, Salem’s Lot.

In this new rendition, the film revolves around character Ben Mears, portrayed by Lewis Pullman, who returns to his old hometown seeking creative fuel for his upcoming novel. However, what he uncovers is a bizarre phenomenon where townsfolk are inexplicably transforming into blood-drinking creatures, eerily similar to vampires.

Although he served as an executive producer, Stephen King wasn’t able to make it to the film set, which was a breath of fresh air for the main actor, Pullman.

According to Pullman, Gary [Dauberman, director] often shared small updates regarding Stephen and sought his input. This was wonderful as he seemed like an enigmatic entity who wasn’t physically present. If he had been on set, I believe I would have been quite intimidated.

Salem’s Lot star Lewis Pullman would have been “terrified” to have Stephen King on set

In a different phrase, although Pullman somehow evaded the intimidating aura of the King, it didn’t prevent him from feeling “nervous” on set, given that he was deeply engrossed in the perilous environment they constructed for their project.

The authenticity of the situation became strikingly evident when Pullman’s character darted from a church into the vacant streets of Jerusalem’s Lot to evade the vampires, and at that moment, it all seemed incredibly genuine to the actor.

He stated, “Using a Steadicam for such a shot implies it’s a 360-degree set, since the camera can capture footage from any direction. The cameras surrounding me gave no indication that this was a movie set, which felt quite surreal and even a bit frightening.

Mackenzie Leigh, Mackenzie who portrays Ben’s romantic interest Susan Norton, added: “Additionally, we encountered a few pits that if stepped into, could easily twist an ankle and cause injury, keeping us out of the movie. This meant there were real risks and feelings of apprehension.

The original television miniseries of Salem’s Lot, broadcast in the late ’70s, sent shivers down spines with performances by James Mason and David Soul. Yet, unlike prior adaptations, the upcoming version will mark the first big-screen interpretation of the timeless book.

Approximately half a century after its release, the book maintains an ageless allure that resonates profoundly with contemporary film viewers. This enduring impact is attributed to Stephen King’s innovative use of vampires as symbolic representations of the deterioration of small-town America, as noted by star Spencer Treat Clark.

He described the town as if it were the leading character in a movie. It’s where you encounter various people, and the town seems to have its own life – there’s the milkman and postman, and everyone knows each other so well they often interfere in one another’s lives. But then, this ‘virus’ starts taking over the town, and it becomes a heartbreaking tale of loss and submission.

 

One more actor from the movie, Alfre Woodard, echoed this viewpoint and stated that Salem’s Lot remains significant because it reflects the global political and societal environments of the past ten years.

She stated that we’re facing an issue that spreads silently among people. This problem is particularly dangerous because it manipulates individuals, gaining access to their thoughts and emotions, leaving a lasting impact.

She stated: “Similar events have occurred in history, and the indicators are present, but since many of us don’t delve into past events, we often fail to identify when they recur. In the previous adaptations of Salem’s Lot, we were not facing times that mirrored the need for collective action or inaction, flight, resistance, or simply succumbing so clearly. We can now see the consequences of such choices.

Starting this Friday, 11th October, Salem’s Lot will be screening at UK cinemas. Meanwhile, you can catch the first two movies right now on Amazon Prime Video and Paramount Plus streaming platforms.

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2024-10-10 19:04