Movie

A Return to Salem's Lot

1987 · 100 min

An offbeat, satirical vampire movie with odd humor, a weird small-town vibe, and a touch of horror.

Directed by: Larry Cohen
Genres: Horror
Starring: Michael Moriarty, Samuel Fuller, Andrew Duggan

Tagline: American Vampires as only Stephen King could create them.
Overview: Anthropologist Joe Weber takes his son on a trip to the New England town of Salem's Lot, unaware of its vampire population. When the inhabitants reveal their secret, they seek Weber to write a bible for them.

Your rating is saved. See your suggestions, or find titles like this one below.

Rate it, and Mesmero finds titles that feel like it. You do not need an account.

Search YouTube for a trailer

Add to a list: A Return to Salem's Lot

Rent or buy in the UK

Apple TV Store
Rakuten TV
Amazon Video

More options Data from JustWatch

Directed by: Larry Cohen
Genres: Horror
Starring: Michael Moriarty, Samuel Fuller, Andrew Duggan

In your watch list

How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone: darkstrength 2 of 3
satiricalstrength 2 of 3
eeriestrength 2 of 3
campystrength 1 of 3
Pacing: measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention: engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes: family
identity
isolation
morality
betrayal
Places: small town
Era: contemporary
Audience: adult
Form: single location
nonlinear
Content intensity: Gore mild
Language mild
Violence strong
Sex mild

All scales, 0 to 10

Scales, 0 to 10
Scale	Value	0 to 10
Action	5
Horror	6
Humour	5
Realism	5
Romance	3
Tension	5
Darkness	6
Complexity	6
Emotional weight	5

Titles like A Return to Salem's Lot

Movie

Sinners

2025

A slow-burning, atmospheric horror that blends historical drama with supernatural terror, building to a tense and emotional climax.

Dark, eerie · about family and identity · nonlinear

Via: dark
eerie
family
identity
nonlinear
Pacing: slow-burn
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 138 min

Details

SinnersHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

ParaNorman

2012

A spooky, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt stop-motion adventure about being an outsider and standing up for yourself.

Satirical, eerie · about family and identity

Via: satirical
eerie
family
identity
Pacing: brisk
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 93 min

Details

ParaNormanHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Ginger Snaps

2000

A slow-burn horror that blends teenage angst with body horror, leaving a lingering sense of dread and tragic intimacy.

Dark, eerie · about family and identity

Via: dark
eerie
family
identity
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 108 min

Details

Ginger SnapsHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

1974

A grimy, sun-scorched descent into rural dread that tightens like a wire and leaves you rattled and exhausted.

Same cinematographer: Daniel Pearl · Dark, eerie · about family and isolation · single location

Also: Same cinematographer: Daniel Pearl
Via: dark
eerie
family
isolation
single location
Pacing: slow-burn
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 83 min

Details

The Texas Chain Saw MassacreHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Near Dark

1987

A stylish, gritty road movie that blends horror with Western atmosphere, delivering tense set pieces and a brooding, romantic edge.

Dark, eerie · about family and identity

Via: dark
eerie
family
identity
Pacing: brisk
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 94 min

Details

Near DarkHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

The Lost Boys

1987

A stylish, funny, and slightly scary ride with a rebellious teen spirit and a memorable vampire gang.

Eerie · about family and identity

Via: eerie
family
identity
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 97 min

Details

The Lost BoysHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

The Howling

1981

A sweaty, slyly funny creature-feature that slides from urban dread into woodsy body horror, with practical transformations that still make you wince and grin.

Dark, satirical · about identity and betrayal

Via: dark
satirical
identity
betrayal
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 91 min

Details

The HowlingHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

It's Alive III: Island of the Alive

1987

A grim, satirical creature feature that feels like a bitter courtroom drama colliding with schlocky monster horror.

Same director: Larry Cohen · Dark, satirical · about family and isolation

Also: Same director: Larry Cohen
Via: dark
satirical
family
isolation
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 94 min

Details

It's Alive III: Island of the AliveHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Trick 'r Treat

2007

A wickedly fun, interconnected Halloween treat that balances ghoulish horror with dark humor and a mischievous sense of tradition.

Dark, satirical · about morality · nonlinear

Via: dark
satirical
morality
nonlinear
Pacing: brisk
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 82 min

Details

Trick 'r TreatHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Martin

1978

A grimy, unsettling character study that blurs fantasy and reality, leaving you uneasy and fascinated by its lonely outsider.

Dark, eerie · about family and identity · nonlinear

Via: dark
eerie
family
identity
nonlinear
Pacing: slow-burn
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 95 min

Details

MartinHidden from your suggestions.

TV series

True Blood

2008–2014

A steamy, blood-soaked Southern gothic that lurches between campy fun and genuine horror, always entertaining.

Dark, satirical · about family and identity

Via: dark
satirical
family
identity
Pacing: brisk
Attention: engaged
Seasons: 7

Details

True BloodHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Fright Night

2011

A slick, playful vampire thrill ride that balances jump scares with cheeky humor and a surprisingly warm teen core.

Dark, satirical · about identity and betrayal

Via: dark
satirical
identity
betrayal
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 106 min

Details

Fright NightHidden from your suggestions.

Where to watch in the UK

Rent or buy

Apple TV Store
Rakuten TV
Amazon Video
Sky Store
YouTube

Streaming data from JustWatch.All options on TMDB

Details

Genres: horror
Directed by: Larry Cohen
Written by: Larry Cohen, James Dixon
Starring: Michael Moriarty, Samuel Fuller, Andrew Duggan, Ricky Addison Reed, June Havoc, Evelyn Keyes, Tara Reid, James Dixon
Music: Michael D. Minard
Cinematography: Daniel Pearl
Runtime: 100 min
Country: United States of America
Languages: English

TMDB IMDb Letterboxd Wikipedia Wikidata

Something wrong on this page? Tell us.

A Return to Salem's Lot

How it feels

More like this

Titles like A Return to Salem's Lot

Where to watch in the UK

Details