Salem’s Lot

A successful author returning to Salem's Lot to write about the ominous Marsten House, he intuits an underlying evil. He becomes the primary investigator, forming bonds with Susan Norton and Dr. Norton while resisting the town's creeping dread. He ultimately helps destroy Barlow and is forced to confront the brutal cost of victory, including the stake-driven death of Susan.

A wary, perceptive local boy and horror-film buff who recognizes the supernatural danger early on. He helps fend off Danny Glick with a cross and stays steadfast as the vampiric threat spreads. He accompanies Mears on the grim flight from Salem's Lot, remaining a key ally against the undead.

A restrained, secretive newcomer who runs an antique shop and appears to operate with a partner sheathing a darker purpose. He serves as the human conduit for Barlow’s invasion, kidnapping victims to feed the vampire plot. He is fatally shot by Mears after killing Dr. Norton, revealing his true nature as a pawn to the ancient evil.

An ancient vampire who arrives in Salem's Lot and commands the spreading outbreak with a cold, predatory intelligence. He manipulates Straker and exerts influence over the town by preying on fear and superstition. Barlow meets his end when his coffin is discovered and destroyed by Mears and Mark.

A local woman who attracts Ben Mears and becomes entwined in the town's crisis. She ultimately succumbs to the vampiric threat, returning as a vampire who is slain by Mears in Guatemala, illustrating the personal costs of confronting evil.

One of the first victims who rises as a vampire after his death, proving that the terror can begin with a single child. He becomes a predatory presence that exacerbates the town's fear and expands the undead threat.

A young boy who returns as a vampire to claim his brother, illustrating how vampirism corrupts even the innocent. His revival signals the rapid spread of the curse through the community.

A gravedigger who becomes undead after infection, joining the ranks of Salem's Lot's nocturnal predators. His fate underscores the danger of the town's outbreak and the blurring line between the living and the dead.

A local realtor who encounters the supernatural dread when Barlow appears, dying in fright as the vampires reveal their true nature. His death marks one of the town's early, shocking losses.

A trusted local physician who becomes a casualty in the battle against the undead, killed by Straker’s brutal act. His loss underscores the reach of the vampire threat into everyday life.