Rob Lowe, who stars in TNT's upcoming new miniseries based on Stephen King's Salem's Lot, told reporters that he was a fan of King even before starring in a TV adaptation of The Stand 10 years ago. "I love Stephen King," Lowe said during a press conference at the Television Critics Association winter press tour in Hollywood. "When he's adapted well ... and this script is a really great adaptation ... and when the filmmakers spend time on the characters and don't rush right into the horror, I think he's one of the greatest people on the screen."
Lowe added, "I was really excited to be a part of it, because it's also [part of] the holy trinity: The Shining, The Stand and Salem's Lot. So [I've done] two out of three."
In the new version of Lot, which has been previously adapted for television, Lowe plays Ben Mears, a successful writer who returns to his small hometown of Jerusalem's Lot and uncovers sinister doings involving vampires. The miniseries also stars Donald Sutherland, Rutger Hauer, James Cromwell, Samantha Mathis, Andre Braugher and Rebecca Gibney.
Dealing with vampires proved difficult for Lowe in real life. "When I got back [from Australia, where the show was filmed], my right wrist was [in pain]," he said. "Anytime I shook somebody's hand, it was excruciating, and I couldn't figure out what I had done. And then as I was watching the dailies in post-production, I realized it's from staking people. ... I've got staking elbow. ... Vampire elbow." The two-part, four-hour Salem's Lot is slated to air on TNT in June.
Should be way cool! I just love Rob Lowe! I think he will make an excellent Ben Mears. Wonder who plays Callahan....
And I believe in you
altho you never asked me too
I will remember you
and what life put you thru.
~fly fly little wing, fly where only angels sing~
~this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you~
...for then I could fly away and be at rest. Sweet rest, Mom. We all love and miss you.
Looks like James Cromwell as Father Callahan, (an excellent choice for the Old Fella, imho, but maybe a little old for the 1976 Callahan....?) Rutger Haur as Barlow, Donald Sutherland as Straker, and Samantha Mathis as Susan.
They completely messed up Callahan's character...He doesn't murder Matt Burke, Ben certainly doesn't attack him, and Mark does NOT smother him!!
I thought it was okay, it followed the book events pretty good, except for the Callahan thing and turning Mark into a streetwise brat. Oh, and Ben's death never happened in the book either...
Well, I finally saw it Friday night. And Gunslinger, your right, it wasn't what I hoped it would be. Altho, I think Rob Lowe did a great job as Ben. The thing that bothered me the most was the whole Callahan thing as well. Maybe it is because of his appearance in the Dark Tower books. I really wanted to hear the line "Come, false priest. Learn of a true religion. Take my communion." And then, I wanted to see Callahan shamble back to the church and have it reject him. When I saw Ben attack him at the beginning of this whole thing, I went "what????" It made no sense, of course, until I saw how they made Callahan be the one to kill Matt in the hospital and turned him into the new "watch dog." So very wrong...
Ah well, another example of how I really don't like books being made into movies...
And I believe in you
altho you never asked me too
I will remember you
and what life put you thru.
~fly fly little wing, fly where only angels sing~
~this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you~
...for then I could fly away and be at rest. Sweet rest, Mom. We all love and miss you.
The problem I think is that the miniseries had been done once before in the 70's (very superior offering...creepy as hell!) by Tobe Hooper. In the rush to reinvent the wheel, they made it square.
I completely missed this new version. But judging by everyone's comments here, I don't need to kick myself over it. The original 70's miniseries scared the heck out of me, impressionable child that I was at the time. I seem to remember those years as my "horror movie era": Salem's Lot, Carrie, The Omen, The Exorcist, Exorcist II...yes, I was scaring myself silly.
(My dad basically didn't care what I watched on TV, as long as he got his wrestling fix. This was the days of the AWA, for you pro wrestling junkies out there. )
Sci-fi channel plays it every so often in its entirety. It is important you see the whole thing and not the 2-hour edit-down. Try to find the full DVD.
All in all, I think I prefer the new version, even though it has some serious flaws. My main problem was that I couldn't quite get a handle on what direction they were taking, while some of their atttempts at things were rather ham-fisted.
But the new mini-series did have some lovely bits.
--Donald Sutherland was a marvelously evil Straker.
--The typical sensual love story between vampire and victim being played out by senior citizens.
--The odd, dark "love story" with Dud.
--The weird hint that somewhere in the vampire remains the original person, but trapped inside a relentless demon.
--And the melancholy decision by the Sherrif.
--Plus the way-cool revenge of the kids on the bus driver!
Interestingly, I now do tend to see James Cromwell as Pere Callahan, but have little enough trouble making the leap.
"O let my name be in the Book of Love!
It be there, I care not of the other great book Above.
Strike it out! Or, write it in anew. But
Let my name be in the Book of Love!" --Omar Khayam
)