Salem’s Lot (1979) Limited Edition 4K UHD Review

5 star fantastic 4K restoration of an all time horror classic.

Once again, Arrow have taken one of the greats and restored it to beautiful crispy clarity. This time they have set their sights on th 1979 adaptation of Salem’s Lot, based on the 1975 horror novel of the same name written by the master himself, Stephen King (Sleepwalkers, Castle Rock, A Good Marriage), They have given this popular classic new life (after death) with a choice of versions as well as a whole host of new special features.

Directed by Tobe Hooper (Lifeforce, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, The Mangler) it is available to own on Limited Edition 4K UHD from 30th March 2026, courtesy of Arrow Video.

“Do you believe a thing can be inherently evil? Marsten House, for instance. Can it be evil in it’s stone foundations, in it’s wooden beams?”

Ben Mears (David Soul – Starsky and Hutch (TV Series), Magnum Force), now a successful author, has returned to his home town of Salem’s Lot to write another book, this time about an old house in the town that has always fascinated him, the Marsten House. He wants to rent it, but it’s already been sold, to mysterious and sinister newcomer Mr. Straker (James Mason – Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Frankenstein: The True Story) an antique dealer who is setting up a shop in town along with his as yet unseen partner Mr Barlow.

Ben settles in to the local guest house, run by Eva Miller (Marie Windsor – The Killing, The Narrow Margin), reconnects with his mentor and former teacher Jason (Lew Ayres – All Quiet on the Western Front, Holiday) and starts seeing local art teacher Susan (Bonnie Bedelia – Die Hard, Violet). But things are afoot in the sleepy town of Salem’s Lot. Mr Straker hires Susan’s ex and local ruffian Ned (Barney McFadden – Intersection) and cemetery worker Mike (Geoffrey Lewis – Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, The Devil’s Rejects) to collect a very heavy and cold crate, with very specific instructions. Shortly afterwards, local boy Danny Glick (Brad Savage – Red Dawn) goes missing in the woods and is later seen by his brother Ralphie (Ronnie Scribner – Split Image) tapping at his window.

A strange ailment begins to spread through the townsfolk and Ben and local schoolboy Mark Petrie (Lance Kerwin – Enemy Mine, Outbreak) both reach the same conclusion. Somehow the town has become infested with vampires. But what can they do about it and will anybody believe them?

“You will procure four stout padlocks. And your men will leave the keys for all four locks on the basement table. And when they leave, they will padlock the bulkhead door, the front door, the back door and the shed door.”

Salem’s Lot is a brilliant film/mini series which has benefited enormously from this 4K restoration. It looks better than ever but still retains the ability to scare after all these years. The decision to make the head vampire Kurt Barlow into a speechless and scary monster lends a charming small town America meets Nosferatu vibe to the whole thing and he looks just as terrifying after the restoration.

The acting is excellent of course and the sense of creeping dread and impending doom is excellently captured. This release offers the opportunity to watch the original mini series as it was intended as well in the form of an extended movie. These both come in at over three hours long, but offer the chance to really get to know the characters and allow the tension to build. For those who want the story a little more condensed, it also includes the original theatrical cut.

A glorious boxset, with lots of new special features and a fine addition to any horror fans library.

“Do you know what will happen to you if we whisper a word of what you just told me? Right. “Funny old duck living alone on Taggot Stream Road”.

Salem’s Lot is available to own now on Limited Edition 4K UHD.

4K ULTRA HD LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
• Brand new 4K restorations of both the original two-part miniseries and the shorter theatrical cut distributed internationally
• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentations in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) of both versions of the film
• Original lossless mono audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Reversible sleeve featuring two original artwork options
• Collectors’ perfect-bound booklet containing new writing on the film by critics Sean Abley, Sorcha Ni Fhlainn, and Richard Kadrey, plus select archival material including interviews with director Tobe Hooper, and stars Lance Kerwin and Julie Cobb
• Salem’s Lot town sign sticker
• Double-sided foldout poster featuring two original artwork options

DISC 1 – ORIGINAL TV MINI-SERIES VERSION
• Two viewing modes: Play as miniseries in two parts as per the original broadcast or as extended movie
• Brand new audio commentary by film critics Bill Ackerman and Amanda Reyes
• Archive audio commentary by director Tobe Hooper
• Alternate TV footage: commercial bumpers and original broadcast version of the antlers death
• Original shooting script gallery

DISC 2 – THEATRICAL VERSION & EXTRAS
• Brand new audio commentary by film critic Chris Alexander
• King of the Vampires, a new interview with Stephen King biographer Douglas Winter
• Second Coming, a new appreciation by author and critic Grady Hendrix
• New England Nosferatu, a new interview with filmmaker Mick Garris
• Fear Lives Here, a new featurette looking at the locations of Salem’s Lot today
• We Can All Be Heroes, a new featurette with film critic Heather Wixson, co-author of In Search of Darkness
• A Gold Standard for Small Screen Screams, a new featurette with film critics Joe Lipsett and Trace Thurman, co-hosts of the podcast Horror Queers
• Trailer
• Image gallery