Where was Salem's Lot filmed? All filming locations explored

The 2024 supernatural horror film Salem's Lot, directed by Gary Dauberman, is based on Stephen King's 1975 book of the same name. The movie premiered at Beyond Fest in September 2024 and was subsequently released on Max in October, after facing several delays. As the first big-screen version of the book, the movie aims to bring King's scary vampire story to life with a modern cinematic touch.

The plot centers around writer Ben Mears, who returns to his hometown, the fictional Jerusalem's Lot, looking for inspiration. However, he soon discovers that his hometown is under threat from a terrifying vampire. To stay alive, Ben joins a small group to fight against the growing evil.

The cast features Lewis Pullman as Ben Mears, Makenzie Leigh as Susan Norton, Bill Camp as Matt Burke, Pilou Asbæk as Richard Straker, and Alfre Woodard as Dr. Cody. The movie's main filming took place in 2021, with various locations in Massachusetts as the backdrop for the fictional town of Jerusalem's Lot.

The official synopsis of the movie reads:

“An author returns to his hometown of Jerusalem's Lot in search of inspiration for his next book, only to discover that the townspeople are being attacked by a bloodthirsty vampire.”

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Salem's Lot was filmed in various locations

1) Ipswich, Sterling, and Clinton

Most of Salem's Lot was filmed in Ipswich, Sterling, and Clinton, Massachusetts, US. Clinton served as the main location for scenes set in the fictional town, with several characters' homes filmed there.

To make it look like the 1970s, they had to move modern things like cars out of the way during filming. The streets and houses in Clinton were transformed to give the movie a real 1970s look.

Sterling, another small town in Massachusetts, provided the setting of several key scenes, including when Matt Burke meets Mike Ryerson, who has become a vampire because of Danny Glick. One of Sterling’s taverns was transformed for this scene, immersing viewers in the dark, suspenseful atmosphere that defines the film.

Ipswich was used in several different scenes, like showing the town's police station and jail cells. In one scene, Father Donald Callahan (played by John Benjamin Hickey) wakes up in a jail cell after a night of drinking. Using real places like this helps make the movie feel more real and makes the story more exciting as it goes on.

These towns in Massachusetts were picked because of their classic small-town feel, which mirrors the isolation and vulnerability central to Jerusalem's Lot.

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2) Princeton Public Library

The Princeton Public Library played a significant role in establishing the spooky atmosphere of Jerusalem’s Lot. The makers filmed both the interior and exterior of the library, incurring a fee of $20,000 for three days.

To maintain the 1970s look, the production team removed all modern electronics and made adjustments to the decor. The library becomes important in the movie as Ben Mears conducts all his research there, which helps him find out about the town's sinister history.

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Previous adaptations and filming locations

The 2024 adaptation of Salem's Lot was shot in Massachusetts, while previous adaptations used different settings. The 1979 movie was mainly filmed in Ferndale, California, which represented the Marsten House and other important places.

On the other hand, the 2004 miniseries picked Creswick, Victoria, Australia, to show Jerusalem’s Lot, making a town that looked like Maine with its shops and snowy weather.

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Fans of supernatural horror films can watch Salem's Lot on Max.