“Salem’s Lot” (2024), based on Stephen King’s chilling novel, brings to life the terrifying story of a small town plagued by a vampire infestation. Now streaming on Max, as a hallmark of supernatural horror, it combines the eerie isolation of a town with a creeping, ancient evil, creating an atmosphere thick with tension and dread. If you’re a fan of the gothic and supernatural horror elements in “Salem’s Lot”, here’s a list of other movies that like the King adaptation evoke themes of dark forces lurking within seemingly ordinary places.
1. The Witch (2015)
Talking about movies Like Salem’s Lot, The Witch captures the dread of a close-knit community crumbling under the influence of dark supernatural forces.
Set in 17th-century New England, the film follows a family exiled to live near a mysterious forest, where they are slowly torn apart by paranoia and malevolent forces. The isolation of the family mirrors the small-town claustrophobia in Salem’s Lot (2024), and both movies hinge on evil infecting the innocent. The slow-burn tension and unsettling atmosphere make The Witch an excellent companion for fans of gothic horror.
2. Doctor Sleep (2019)
As a continuation of Stephen King’s “The Shining”, “Doctor Sleep” explores the battle between good and evil forces in a supernatural context. While it’s more expansive in terms of setting than “Salem’s Lot” (2024), the film still captures the essence of ordinary people facing extraordinary horrors.
Both “Salem’s Lot” and “Doctor Sleep” have protagonists who confront supernatural entities—vampires in the former and energy-feeding creatures in the latter. The slow build toward a violent climax is a signature of both stories, and of course that if Stephen King, with gothic overtones prevalent in Doctor Sleep’s darker scenes.
3. Let the Right One In (2008)
This Swedish vampire film explores the unlikely friendship between a young boy and a centuries-old vampire trapped in the body of a child. Like Salem’s Lot (2024), it is one of those movies that portray vampires as ancient, predatory beings whose presence corrupts the surrounding community.
The cold, bleak landscapes and somber tone of the film mirror the haunting atmosphere of Salem’s Lot (2024). Both stories dive deep into how evil manifests within intimate spaces—whether it’s a small town or a suburban apartment complex—and how human vulnerability feeds into the supernatural threat.
4. 30 Days of Night (2007)
30 Days of Night presents a terrifying scenario in which vampires descend upon an isolated Alaskan town during a month-long period of darkness. Like Salem’s Lot (2024), the film’s vampires are ferocious, unrelenting predators, and the setting emphasizes isolation and vulnerability.
The sense of impending doom, as the town realizes it is cut off from the outside world, feels very similar to that of Salem’s Lot (2024), where the residents slowly come to terms with the insidious spread of vampirism in their midst.
5. The Cursed (2021)
This lesser-known period horror film brings a small, remote village into the grip of supernatural terror. The Cursed focuses on werewolves rather than vampires, but its eerie, fog-shrouded setting and the sense of an ancient evil overtaking a community make it feel very much in line with Salem’s Lot (2024).
The film’s blend of folklore, curses, and the villagers’ futile attempts to fight against the inevitable supernatural onslaught feels strikingly similar to the helplessness of Salem’s Lot’s residents as vampires consume their town.
6. Fright Night (2011)
Fright Night (2011) is a remake of the 1985 horror-comedy. It follows Charley Brewster, a high school student who begins to suspect that his new neighbor, Jerry Dandrige, is a vampire. Jerry starts to terrorize Charley and those close to him, prompting Charley to seek help from a famous magician and self-proclaimed vampire expert, Peter Vincent.
Much like Salem’s Lot (2024), Fright Night is one of those movies that dives deep into the isolation of small-town life and explores the fear of pervasive evil that takes over an entire community. Charley Brewster in Fright Night and Ben Mears in Salem’s Lot both take on the responsibility of stopping the vampire, despite initial disbelief and fear.
