In a discussion, Gary Dauberman delves into his perspectives on Salem's Lot and horror film adaptations.
Spooky season has finally arrived, and after years of waiting, we're finally getting a fresh take on Stephen King's classic 1975 vampire novel, Salem's Lot. HBO Max is giving us an invite to join Ben Mears and the rest of the townsfolk in Jerusalem's Lot as they face off against a get-togethers-of-evil-in-one-place drive-in theater encounter with some blood-thirsty creatures. To discuss all things Salem's Lot and more, we sat down with writer-director Gary Dauberman, who's no stranger to the horror genre after his work on the Conjuring Universe, especially the Annabelle and Nun series, as well as his screenplays for It and It Chapter Two.
Cheryl Eddy, io9: So, Salem's Lot was originally intended to be a theatrical release. What was the journey like coming to finally become a streaming release on HBO Max?
the latest take on
Gary Dauberman: It was like riding blindfolded in a car on a bumpy road, always fearing that we'd hit an obstacle at any moment. I'm just glad folks can finally see it, despite the journey's anxiety and frustration.
Stephen King’s 1975 vampire novel
io9: The original book is quite dense. How did you choose what elements to carry over from the book and what to change to make your own?
Salem’s Lot is finally being invited into homes thanks to its new release on Max. io9 got a chance to talk to writer-director Gary Dauberman—a fixture in the horror realm thanks to his extensive experience in the
Dauberman: King's books are filled with rich character development. However, the challenge was to decide which characters and storylines were essential to condense the story into a digestible piece of entertainment without losing its essence. Needless to say, I had to leave some beloved elements behind, but hopefully, it still retains the feel of a larger story left to our imagination.
It and
io9: Now, I wanted to discuss some changes that were made in this version. Certain elements felt de-emphasized, particularly Ben Mears' backstory and the history of the Marsten House. Why was that decision made?
It Chapter Two—
Dauberman: The Marsten House is still in the movie, and it serves as a beacon of evil. We considered taking the Marsten House storyline further, but it became a question of balance between making it a ghost story and a vampire story. In the end, we decided that Ben's backstory would be a better fit as part of the movie's dialogue rather than providing excessive detail like some previous adaptations have done.
io9: In any vampire story, there are always unique rules, so how did you determine what you would include in this movie, especially the glowing crosses?
Dauberman: In the book, God's light shines from the cross. That's what inspired me to include the glowing crosses that wouldn't hide that dynamic from the audience. Plus, I wanted to create a visually striking representation of faith and belief in the face of darkness.
io9: A fresh new addition to this version of the story is the drive-in theater. Where did the inspiration for that come from?
Marvel,
Dauberman: Maine has a rich drive-in culture, and I grew up visiting them. So, when brainstorming different places for our leads to encounter vampires, I decided to use a drive-in as a unique setting that would put them in a situation to confront their enemies en masse.
Star Wars, and
io9: How did you approach the 1970s setting for this adaptation?
Star Trek releases, what’s next for the
Dauberman: I love working in the 70s universe because of its texture and sound. I feel that it gives horror movies a great atmosphere and is perfect for storytelling. Plus, Salem's Lot is set in the same decade, so I wanted to stay faithful to the original book.
DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of
io9: Lastly, what projects do you have coming up besides Salem's Lot?
Doctor Who.
Dauberman: Upcoming projects include a live-action Gargoyles series, an Until Dawn adaptation, and the Train to Busan remake. I'm also collaborating on several original stories that are still under wraps, but I'm excited to share them with audiences soon.
Salem's Lot is now streaming on Max, so grab your popcorn and prepare for a spine-tingling journey through the quaint town of Jerusalem's Lot.
Cheryl Eddy, io9: In the new version of Salem's Lot, there's a unique addition of a drive-in theater. Could you tell us where the inspiration for that came from?
Gary Dauberman: Growing up in Maine, I had a fondness for drive-ins. They served as a unique setting for our leads to confront their enemies en masse, and the town's 1970s culture perfectly suited the story.
io9: Speaking of the 1970s, how did you approach recreating that era for this adaptation?
Dauberman: The 70s have a rich texture and sound that provides an excellent atmosphere for horror movies. Salem's Lot, being set in the same decade, allowed us to stay faithful to the original book and create an authentic period piece.
io9: Now, let's talk about the use of technology in this film. How did you decide to incorporate CGI and visual effects into Salem's Lot?
Dauberman: We used CGI sparingly to enhance certain scenes, such as the glowing crosses, to create a visually striking representation of faith and belief in the face of darkness. It was important to strike a balance between modern technology and keeping the overall feel of the story intact.
io9: Could you share any insights about your upcoming projects, such as the live-action Gargoyles series or the Train to Busan remake?
Dauberman: I'm currently working on a live-action Gargoyles series, an Until Dawn adaptation, and the Train to Busan remake. I'm also collaborating on several original stories, which will be released soon. Stay tuned for more updates!