As a lifelong horror enthusiast who has spent countless nights huddled under the covers, peering through my fingers at the screen during some of the genre’s most iconic films, I must say that the 2024 reboot of Salem’s Lot left me feeling more drained than a vampire after a long night of feeding.
The remake of “Salem’s Lot” debuted on Max on October 3, and it’s an understatement to say that viewers were disappointed with the film. Directed by Gary Dauberman, this new adaptation fell short in many aspects, particularly in character development which was a key strength of both the original novel and Tobe Hooper’s 1979 miniseries. It has been revealed that Dauberman’s initial version of the movie was three hours long but was reduced to a concise 113 minutes, prompting numerous “Stephen King” fans and horror enthusiasts on social media to demand that Max releases the Dauberman cut, similar to how DC fans pushed for the release of Zack Snyder’s cut of “Justice League” in 2017.
Although the hashtag “#ReleasetheDaubermanCut” hasn’t gained enough popularity to become a trending topic on X, fans continue to employ it as an outlet for their dissatisfaction towards Salem’s Lot. This film currently boasts a 50% rating from critics and a 41% rating from the audience on Rotten Tomatoes. User @joinmycult opines that the movie isn’t terrible, but criticizes Warner Bros. Pictures for what they consider a poorly executed production. Ouch!
As a movie enthusiast, I’d say Stephen King’s “Salem’s Lot” is quite an engaging watch – if you can ignore the butchery done by the studio interference! Here’s hoping they release the Tobe Hooper cut someday. #releasethedaubermancut
User @bdc777 shared similar thoughts in his response to the recent adaptation of King’s novel, labeling it a “simplified” or “condensed” version. He believes that if it had been directed by acclaimed filmmakers like Frank Darabont or Mike Flanagan, it would have been much more satisfying.
What Went Missing From Salem’s Lot?
In Dauberman’s adaptation of Salem’s Lot, while many crucial scenes from King’s novel were included, one significant absence stood out: the bond between Ben Mears (Lewis Pullman) and the Martsen House. Eagle-eyed fans will remember a scene in the book where Mears, as a child, ventures into the foreboding house and encounters the spectral figure of Hubie Marsten hanging from the rafters. In an interview with Den of Geek, Dauberman explained that this opening scene was meant to be part of his movie, but ultimately got cut due to time constraints. This omission is one reason why viewers felt that Salem’s Lot seemed hurried and disjointed, as the connection between Mears and the house was never fully developed for the audience.
In the book, Ben secretly enters the Marsten House and encounters Hubert Marsten’s ghost, as detailed by the director. Originally, this scene opened the film, but it proved confusing for viewers since it involved a ghost tale within a vampire story. The director found it crucial because it explains why Ben accepts the vampire lore, yet we’re not telling that story in our current narrative. Removing that sequence was one of the most challenging decisions due to its appeal.
It’s particularly disheartening that Marsten, a character of significant importance, was portrayed by Derek Mears – an established horror icon who gained notoriety for his role as Jason Voorhees in the 2009 reboot of Friday the 13th, as well as his performances in Predators, Hatchet 3, and the short-lived TV series Swamp Thing.
Dauberman didn’t specify which additional scenes were eliminated from the initial draft, but it’s evident that much more than just one scene was removed for the film to be reduced from three hours to slightly under two hours. For now, it’s uncertain if his complete version of the movie will ever be released. However, considering how long Warner Bros. delayed the film’s release, we won’t anticipate seeing it anytime soon.
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2024-10-07 19:04