Stephen King’s The Night Flier Remains Better (& Scarier) Than ‘Salem’s Lot

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Stephen King’s most famous vampire story is undoubtedly *Salem’s Lot*. The 1975 novel is one of his biggest successes and has been adapted for television and film three times. There was a two-part miniseries in 1979, directed by , followed by a less-known 2004 miniseries on TNT with Rob Lowe, Donald Sutherland, and Rutger Hauer. Most recently, an original miniseries premiered on HBO Max in 2024 starring Lewis Pullman. While all of these adaptations are decent, none quite live up to the quality of the book itself. It’s surprising that more of King’s vampire-themed stories haven’t been adapted, given how often vampire elements appear in his work. Many of his short story collections include vampire tales, and several of his villains in larger works are essentially vampires in all but name, like those in *Doctor Sleep* or *Sleepwalkers*. The character of Father Callahan from *Salem’s Lot* even plays a significant role in *The Dark Tower* series, and fans are curious if Mike Flanagan will include that storyline in his upcoming adaptation.

Often overlooked, the 1997 film *The Night Flier* is based on a Stephen King short story originally published in 1988 and later included in his 1993 collection, *Nightmares and Dreamscapes*. It was one of only two films directed by Mark Pavia, and starred Miguel Ferrer, known for *Twin Peaks*. While it only received a 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, many consider it a more faithful adaptation of the story than any other.

The Night Flier Is a Terrifying Commentary on Obsessive Media & Press

As a big Stephen King fan, I always thought *The Night Flier* really delivered. It’s basically a serial killer thriller, but with a cool twist. The story centers on this journalist, Richard Dees, who’s completely fixated on a string of murders happening at small airports across the country. He’s always a step behind, and keeps getting creepy warnings to back off, but he pushes on. Eventually, he comes face-to-face with a truly terrifying vampire in Wilmington, North Carolina, during a really intense storm. This vampire, nicknamed the Night Flier, flies around in his own plane – a Cessna Skymaster – hitting these small airports at night and preying on people waiting for late-night flights. It’s a genuinely unsettling concept.

The vampire in “The Night Flier” is visually more disturbing than those in the “Salem’s Lot” adaptations. It has a classic Count Dracula cape, but its face is horribly disfigured and wrinkled. This frightening appearance is made even worse when covered in blood, and its long, sharp fang is revealed.

Though the vampire in *Night Flier* appears frightening, its killings aren’t simply animalistic; it’s clearly intelligent and understands the reporter’s intense drive to uncover the truth. The vampire even gives the reporter opportunities to back off, and when he ignores these warnings, he risks serious consequences – a change from the original short story. *Night Flier* ultimately suggests that pursuing a story at all costs isn’t always worthwhile.

The Night Flier Short Story & Movie Connect to Other Stephen King Works

Stephen King fans know he loves to link his stories together. For example, the dog Cujo appears in “The Body,” characters from *IT* show up in *11/22/63*, and Father Callahan plays a key role in *The Dark Tower*. This connection also extends to his short story, “The Night Flier” – its main character, Dees, actually appeared years earlier, chatting with Johnny Smith about murders in Castle Rock. King has even hinted that the vampire from “The Night Flier” might be the same creature from another short story, “Popsy,” found in *Nightmares and Dreamscapes*.

The film also cleverly connects to other Stephen King stories. All the articles written by Richard Dees are designed like sensational tabloid headlines, referencing titles from unrelated works. For example, you’ll see headlines like “Springhill Jack Strikes Again” and “Kiddie Cultists in Kansas Worship Creepy Voodoo God!,” which allude to stories from King’s *Night Shift* collection. There’s also “Satanic Shopkeeper Sells Gory Goodies!” and “The Ultimate Killer Diet! Gypsy Curse Flays Fat Lawyer’s Flesh,” the latter being a nod to King’s novel *Thinner*, published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman.

With its straightforward but unsettling plot, creepy villain, and insightful themes, *The Night Flier* is a worthwhile ‘90s horror movie that doesn’t get enough attention. While it’s not readily available on most streaming services, you can watch the full film on YouTube.

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2025-10-17 05:06