Salem's Lot (1979)

Salem’s Lot (1979) is an American two-part vampire miniseries based on the 1975 horror novel ‘Salem’s Lot by Stephen King. Directed by Tobe Hooper. At a church in Guatemala, Ben Mears and Mark Petrie are gathering holy water when they suddenly realize they are being pursued. Despite the ominous presence, they decide to stand their ground and confront it. Two years prior, Mears, a successful writer, returns to his hometown of Salem’s Lot, Maine. His plan is to research and write about the infamous Marsten House on the hill, known for its ghostly reputation. However, upon trying to rent it, Mears discovers it has already been purchased by another newcomer in town: the enigmatic Richard Straker. Straker is in the process of opening an antique shop with his often-mentioned but never-present business partner, Kurt Barlow.

Instead, Mears moves into a local boarding house run by Eva Miller and develops a romantic relationship with Susan Norton, a woman from the town. He also befriends Dr. Bill Norton, Susan’s father, and reconnects with his former school teacher, Jason Burke, who he confides in about his unsettling feelings towards the Marsten House. Mears is reminded of the house’s dark past and its former owner Hubie Marsten, who is rumored to have been a child molester and committed suicide within its walls. He also recalls a distressing childhood experience where he saw Hubie’s ghost after breaking into the house on a dare. However, things take a sinister turn when a large crate is delivered to the Marsten House one night and strange occurrences begin to happen in the town such as people disappearing or dying under mysterious circumstances.