WARNING! This article contains major SPOILERS for Salem’s Lot (2024)!The 2024 adaptation ofSalem’s Lotleaves out some crucial details about Ben Mears’ story from Stephen King’s original book, as well as some revelations about his life from the author’s related novellas. Thecast ofSalem’s Lot(2024) is led byLewis Pullman as Ben Mears, an author who returns to his childhood home to research the sinister Marsten Houseand discover more about the tragedies from his youth. However, Ben arrives at Jerusalem’s Lot at the same time that a mysterious new resident has moved into the Marsten House, which culminates in the titular town being overrun by vampires.
Max’sSalem’s Lotmovie ends with Ben Mears and Mark Petrie killing thelead vampire Kurt Barlow, hoping to end the chaos in town. Unfortunately, killing Barlow proves ineffective in destroying the other creatures of the night, withthe final moments of the film seeing Ben and Mark drive out of town to safety. However, Stephen King’s 1975 book of the same name ends with an epilogue that reveals what happened to both Ben Mears and Mark Petrie after fleeing town that night, which may indicate the potential for aSalem’s Lot 2movie on Max.
Ben Mears Returned To Salem’s Lot A Year Later To Burn The Town
Ben & Mark Returned To Battle The Vampires Again After A Year
TheSalem’s Lotbook includes both a prologue and epilogue that give important details about Ben and Mark’s whereabouts and fate after killing Kurt Barlow, though they don’t make it into the 2024Stephen King movie adaptation. The prologue takes place shortly after Mark and Ben escape the titular town, revealing thatthe two flew to a seaside location in Mexico in order to recover and plan out their next steps. During that time, Mark visits a Catholic Priest at a local church and confesses what he and Ben experienced withSalem’s Lot’s vampires.
Salem’s Lot’s 10 Biggest Changes To Stephen King’s Book
Max’s Salem’s Lot movie is the latest adaptation of Stephen King’s 1975 book, and the 2024 version makes some notable changes to the vampire tale.
However, it isn’t until much later that Ben and Mark’s story truly continues. The epilogue of Stephen King’s book reveals that Mark and Ben return to Jerusalem’s Lot a year later, planning to confront the vampires again and rid the town of them for good. To accomplish this,Ben decides to start a brush fire in the woods nearby, draw the vampires out of their hiding places, and destroy the town. Sadly, King’s other books that reference the town afterSalem’s Lot’s events reveal that it wasn’t entirely destroyed, but Ben and Mark still successfully took down many vampires.
Ben Mears Died In His 50s
Mark Petrie Spoke At Ben’s Funeral In Mexico
Though Ben Mears’ whereabouts and actions after burning down Salem’s Lot in 1976 are generally unknown, the larger Stephen King universe does give an update on the character in another story. InWolves of the Calla, thefifth book in King’sThe Dark Towerseries, theSalem’s Lotcharacter Father Callahan explains that he was sent to Los Zapatos, Mexico and witnessed Ben’s funeral. The novel reveals that Ben Mears died in his 50s, but doesn’t reveal exactly how he passed away.
Father Callahan survived the events ofSalem’s Lotin Stephen King’s book, but the character dies in the 2024 movie adaptation.
In addition to Father Callahan, Ben’s funeral in Mexico was attended by a grown-up Mark Petrie. It’s later learned that the fire Mark and Ben set lasted about three days, suggesting the two had destroyed many of the vampires inhabiting the town before returning to Mexico. Callahan also explained thatMark referred to Ben as his father in his eulogy, indicating Ben raised the orphan after his parents’ deathsinSalem’s Lot. It’s still unclear what exactly Ben and Mark had been doing for the decades afterSalem’s Lot’s ending, but they seemingly never returned after the fire.
Salem’s Lot
Cast
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.
