Mike Flanagan’s Horror Show Proves Stephen King’s Book Needs A Remake

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As a horror fan, I have to say one of Mike Flanagan’s Netflix series really nails it. It proves that a certain Stephen King story – even though it’s been adapted for the screen before – absolutely works as a TV show. It’s a testament to Flanagan’s skill and a reminder of King’s enduring source material.

Mike Flanagan made a name for himself with a string of horror series on Netflix that really redefined the genre. His first show, The Haunting of Hill House, is widely considered one of the greatest adaptations of a horror novel ever, and it still holds up incredibly well on repeat viewings. Despite a couple of less successful shows like The Midnight Club, Flanagan has built a large and dedicated fanbase thanks to his consistently strong work.

As someone who loves horror, and especially Stephen King, it really struck me how one of this director’s shows subtly points out why a particular Stephen King novel is begging for a new TV adaptation. He clearly gets a lot of inspiration from literary horror, and it shows!

Midnight Mass Proves Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot Deserves A TV Remake

Although Midnight Mass isn’t directly based on a horror book like many of Mike Flanagan’s other series, a lot of viewers felt it played out very much like an adaptation of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot. The show’s small-town atmosphere and the way the story eventually introduced its creatures strongly reminded people of King’s novel.

Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot has seen a number of adaptations over the years. It was first adapted as a TV miniseries in 1979, followed by a 3-hour television version in 2004, and most recently as a movie in 2023.

As a big fan, I was really disappointed with the movie version – it just didn’t have the same emotional impact as the source material, and they revealed the monster way too quickly. The TV adaptations were better received, thankfully, but honestly, they’ve faded from memory over time. Looking back, both miniseries feel a bit old-fashioned visually, clearly made for television and not the big screen, which definitely hasn’t helped them stand the test of time.

Mike Flanagan’s Midnight Mass successfully shows how a modern take on Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot can be just as effective as the original novel. Previous adaptations of Salem’s Lot were constrained by their limited runtime. Flanagan’s series demonstrates that the story would be truly compelling as a slow-building, character-focused horror if given the space of an 8-10 episode series.

Let’s hope we see a new TV adaptation of Salem’s Lot soon.

It Is The Best Time For Stephen King’s TV Adaptations

Stephen King had a successful 2025 with his TV adaptations. Both The Institute and It: Welcome to Derry were popular on streaming platforms and have been renewed for additional seasons. This success signals a potential turning point for Stephen King adaptations, as his stories haven’t consistently resonated with audiences on television in the past.

Even some of the most exciting Stephen King adaptations are TV shows:

  • Mike Flanagan’s Carrie
  • J.J. Abrams’ Billy Summers
  • Paul Greengrass’ Fairy Tale

With many of Stephen King’s stories already finding success on TV, now is a great moment to revisit ‘Salem’s Lot. If a talented director like Mike Flanagan were to take on the project, it would make the remake even more anticipated.

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2026-01-13 06:48