Tarantino Couldn't Stand Stephen King's Cult 89%-Rated Horror Series: 'I Turned It Off'

For every successful Stephen King adaptation, there are several mediocre ones, but the projects that succeed remain in the memory of fans for a long time.

In 1979, the miniseries Salem's Lot premiered on CBS. Many missed the first adaptation of the novel, but those who saw the miniseries praise the project and consider it one of the best King adaptations.

Quentin Tarantino Thought 1979's Salem's Lot Was “Dull”

But not Quentin Tarantino. The director has his own view of cinema and his own opinion, and even a recognized classic can receive a negative review from him.

Salem's Lot is a kind of TV classic, but Tarantino could not even watch it to the end. In his book Cinema Speculation, the director wrote:

“When I finally saw it, I was prepared for something great. And man was I disappointed. To me, it just seemed like a stretched-out TV movie done in a very TV style (and I like TV movies)…I tried to watch it again a couple of years ago and it was just too dull. I turned it off after about twenty-five minutes.”

Even the fact that it was directed by Tobe Hooper, director of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Eaten Alive, which Quentin praised, did not save the series from Tarantino's criticism.

What Is Salem's Lot About?

Writer Ben Mears returns to his hometown to heal the wounds of the past. As a boy, Ben visited the Marsten House and has been haunted by nightmares ever since.

In his absence, the mansion has become the stuff of local legend. Around the same time, new residents arrive at the cursed address – Richard Straker and his mysterious business partner, whom none of the locals have seen.

Stephen King Praised Tobe Hooper for His Work on Salem's Lot

Warner Bros. bought the rights to Salem's Lot before the book was published: the success of Carrie promised big money. But like many other adaptations, the project found refuge on television after numerous production ordeals.

The storyline underwent significant changes: some characters disappeared from the narrative, some merged, and others were given much smaller roles than in the original book.

The search for a director ended with the hiring of Tobe Hooper. As Stephen King himself said, Hooper “did a terrific job directing the Salem's Lot miniseries.”

Though the original story has undergone changes, the transfer from one medium to another has only benefited from it – in the end, the duo of Tobe Hooper and Stephen King has given us an evergreen classic that deserves a revision and much greater respect.

What Did Critics & Fans Think of 1979's Salem’s Lot?

• Salem's Lot has 89% from critics and 65% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, Salem's Lot has a score of 6.7/10.