This is one of my all time favorite vampire films, right up there with Nosferatu and Subspecies. He is a wonderful vampire, a truly hideous beast, a fine salute to what a vampire should be - ugly, vile and obscene. But though he may be unnecessary, he is not unwelcome. The paranoia has already decimated the town, and the fear of the unknown is the greatest monster of all. By the time he makes his appearance, it is almost unnecessary. He is the frosting on the cake for this excellent film. Reggie Nalder as Barlow, the ancient Master whom James Mason serves, is a disgusting parasite, a physical homage to Nosferatu with his rat-like teeth, his long bony fingers and his hypnotic eyes. When the vampire finally appears, it is a frightening, exhilarating experience. It is up to the outsiders - the author who knows, the teenager who believes and the human who is a monster - to solve the mystery. These three characters are drawn together by force as more people go missing and the small town residents, with their narrow vision, cannot accept what is really happening. Yet another outsider is Mark, a new teen in town with a morbid collection of horror movie paraphernalia. He returns as a semi-successful author and a recent widower, haunted by childhood memories of the Marsten House - the local haunted house in which James Mason now resides. Mears was born and raised in Salems Lot, having moved away as a small child. So too does the arrival of Ben Mears also cause local tongues to start wagging. His European accent, expensive suits and somewhat prissy manners make him a hot item of gossip. James Mason is elegance personified as the "Renfield" character who sticks out like a sore thumb in this tight-knit community and makes himself the object of suspicion when he moves into the local haunted house and opens up an antique shop. This is a story about a small town that just happens to have a vampire in it. Everyone knows everyone else's business, gossip is a way of life and the town's mistrust of outsiders is both expected and justified when two men show up in town and a little boy goes missing. This movie is an odd cross between "Peyton Place" and "Nosferatu".and it works! Set in the small, isolated and somewhat inbred community of Jerusalems Lot (called Salems Lot by the locals) this film is more about small town dirty secrets which are really not secret at all.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |