John Guilbault

I read Stephen King's book when I was a teenager. Creepy story, masterfully told. The first TV movie version didn't do it justice, but wasn't that bad, either. That can't be said for this 2024 version. When I saw that HBO was airing a remake of the movie, I thought of all the interesting things they could do to distinguish it from the original. They could set it in 2020, during the pandemic, and work COVID-19 symptoms and face masks into the story in creepy ways. Or, go really outside the box and set it in modern day Ukraine, contrasting the terror of the supernatural with the horrors of war. But, they did none of that. Instead, we got a straight up remake, still set in 1975, with few changes in the story. No real surprises or twists. They even used some of the original dialog. Throw in wooden acting, bad direction, cheesy special effects and glaring plot holes (vampires can drive! But, they park their cars in the sunniest, most wide open space in all of Maine) and you've got yourself one hell of a stinker. There's absolutely zero chemistry between the cast, especially the two romantic leads, and I found myself not caring at all when some of them died. And the special effects, what few there were, would do the 1980s proud... Too bad it's 2024. Save two hours of your life, and take a hard pass on this steaming pile of vampire dung.