buckee1

I watched a bit of this on the Sci-Fi Channel today and wanted to pick this title up. While checking around I've only seen discussion regarding the poor quality of the print on the DVD. Is there a fairly decent -good version of the mini-series currently available anywhere?

speedy1961

I am only aware of the Region 1 version buckee1.

I believe that I have this in my collection. Full frame I believe and kinda on the dark / grainy side.

Julie Walker

Fullframe IS the OAR btw as it was made for tv.

I have the dvd & I thought it looked very good. Now given I'm watching it on a standard tv set,as I don't have HD/WS etc sets. Yet from my eyes. It looked very nice & only had the ocasional film grain. Yet thats normal..& it seems to have been toned down abit since I remember seeing earlier VHS releases which were darker & plagued with excessive grain. Grain is good btw,but not when it plagues any entire screen & makes things incomprehensible.

So it may not be the most impressive restoration ever. Yet it looks good enough..& I wouldn't want it any other way. I don't think the film would look right if it was pristine,clean & perfect like it were made today. That would take away some of the atmosphere & feel to the film.

buckee1

Thanks Speedy & Julie. I wasn't looking for something matching current digital standards but I didn't want another "Evening with Edgar Allen Poe" visage, if you know what I mean. I can get it for about $10 shipped so I think I'll go ahead and get it based on your comments.

Squirrel God

buckee1,

You won't be disappointed. It's no masterpiece in the picture quality department for sure, but it's very watchable indeed and has no horrific compression artefacts, which would be the real killer. It just shows its age on DVD is all

cracksky

FYI- there's a brand new version of 'Salem's Lot being made right now.

Sonicflood

Do you mean a remake of the film or is the original is being cleaned up/remastered? If you are refering to the original film, would you mind telling us your sources???

Sonicflood

Morrison

No It's a remake for TV once again It's with Rob Lowe.

Salem's Lot 2004

Kevo

'Once again'?

But he wasn't in the original was he?

Groucho

I think he's saying that it's for TV once again.

Morrison

Yes That's it sorry If there was some confusion.

cracksky

An impressive list of actors for the upcoming 4-hour remake for TNT. I love the original but it's very much a tv movie of its time. Very dated looking. I think the DVD is perfectly fine.

Rob Lowe - Ben Mears
Samantha Mathis - Susan Norton
Dan Byrd - Mark Petrie
Rebecca Gibney - Majorie Glick
James Cromwell - Father Donald Callahan
Andre Braugher - Matt Burke
Rutger Hauer - Kurt Barlow
Christopher Kirby - Registered Nurse
Donald Sutherland - Richard Straker

Groucho

That is quite the cast. I don't remember well enough...which of those is the vampire? I'm guessing Rutger Hauer.

buckee1

This is all really great news! The only problem I have with the casting is Rutger Hauer as Barlow. Reggie Nalder was Barlow in the original and his appearance and performance are what truly creeped me out. I don't know how his presentation stacked up against King's actual character but for the sake of pure terror you don't get monsters more scary than Nalder's Barlow.

Don't get me wrong, I love Rutger Hauer but I don't see him nearly as terrifying as Nalder.

The only Vampire I've seen him play was in "Buffy" and that was admittedly campy as all get out. Hopefully he'll surprise me and deliver a performance that will curdle my blood.

pagansoul

I love Rutger. He can be very menacing when he wants to.

philo

I think it's gonna be tough to top the creepiness of the original. There's some really great moments in that one. Plus it had James Mason!