Starting with a brutal sacrifice, the vampires quickly spread through town.
This brings them up against the mysterious monster known as Mister Barlow.
In some cases, the weaknesses are consistent with classic vampire lore.
In others regards,Salem’s Lot’s endingmakes takes some surprising diversions and tweaks that lore.
Here are the most important rules and weaknesses about vampires inSalem’s Lot.
Garlic is an infamous means of repelling vampires.
Image via Max
He carries out Barlow’s desires in the sunlight and takes measures to protect the vampire.
Luckily, there are other ways to slay vampires and repel them.
The vampires ofSalem’s Lotthat are killed are largely dispatched with wooden stakes to the heart.
Salem’s Lot is a 2024 remake of the movie of the same name released in 1979. The latest adaptation of Stephen King’s 1975 novel stars Lewis Pullman, Makenzie Leigh, and Bill Camp, with Gary Dauberman writing and directing the Max original film. The plot revolves around a writer who discovers a vampire in his hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot upon returning home for inspiration.
Although they can stalk the night freely,they can only enter closed structures if they are invited.
Mark can do this because he closes the windows and doors before any of them can enter.
This is a classic trope of vampire stories, but one thatSalem’s Lotplays with in a clever way.
This causes Mike to be forcibly ejected from the building, saving Burke’s life.
However, thevampires have their own unique take on consecrating their hunting grounds.
In some versions of vampire stories, killing the vampire that sired others can free them from their curse.
Once a person is bitten, they become increasingly sickly as the curse sets in.
Attempts to combat the infection largely fail, withthe marks on their neck seemingly fading as they pass away.
However, this seems to just be a precursor to their eventual transformation into a vampire.
This isn’t the only aspect of a vampire that fades after their death.
This differs from other famous vampire stories, where killing the undead creature can reduce the body to ash.
By contrast, vampires who are killed with crosses seem to fully collapse into mist.
However, Ben and Susan are able to destroy the vampire before she can kill Dr. Cody.
After a moment of uncertainty,this seems to actually fight back the infection and saves Dr. Cody.
A similar fate almost befalls Burke when he’s attacked by Mike.
Burke discovers crosses are a particularly useful tool in repelling vampires when one attacks him in his home.
Notably, doing this causes the cross to glow when in the presence of a vampire.
Extended contact can even seemingly destroy the vampire, as seen with Danny’s mother.
However, crosses aren’t necessarily an instant weapon against the undead.
Even a fewbrief moments in the sun can set the exposed skin on fire.
Prolonged exposure will cause the entire vampire to burst into flames.
This ends up being the key to killing the several vampires who awaken in the film’s third act.
Sunlight is the classic weakness of most vampires in fiction, and makes an ideal weapon inSalem’s Lot.
