Salem's Lot: Halloween will be a little darker and more foreboding this year when Warner Home Video unleashes the haunting Salem’s Lot: The Miniseries on DVD. Originally aired on Turner Network Television (TNT) to enormous ratings last June, Salem’s Lot: The Miniseries will be available in stores for the first time, starting October 12 for $19.98 DVD (SRP).

Based on the master of horror Stephen King’s classic bestseller, Salem’s Lot: The Miniseries follows the story of journalist Ben Mears (Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Rob Lowe, The West Wing, Dr. Vegas) who returns to his hometown, Jerusalem’s Lot to work on a novel and to deal with a traumatic childhood incident, which took place in the eerie and oppressive Marsten house on the hill. His attempt to rent the house is thwarted by the arrival of two new residents Richard Straker (Emmy and Golden Globe winner Donald Sutherland, Cold Mountain, The Italian Job) and Kurt Barlow (Rutger Hauer, Merlin) who set up an antique shop and move into the home that has terrified generations of town folk. Soon the closely held secrets of small-town life turn into unimaginable terror.

Salem’s Lot: The Miniseries also stars Samantha Mathis (The Mists of Avalon, Pump up the Volume), Emmy winner Andre Braugher (Homicide: Life on the Street) and Oscar nominee James Cromwell (Angels in America). TNT and Warner Bros. Television co-produced the four-hour miniseries with Mark M Wolper Productions (The Mists of Avalon, The Thornbirds) and Jeff Hayes. The miniseries was directed by Mikael Salomon (Band of Brothers), with the teleplay by Peter Filardi (Flatliners, The Craft).

Salem’s Lot originally aired in two-parts on TNT Sunday, June 20th and Monday, June 21st. The Sunday premiere out-delivered all programming for the night on ABC, CBS and NBC among adults 18-34, as well as all programming on ABC and FOX among adults 18-49 and 25-54.

Regarding the October 12 release date for Salem’s Lot: The Miniseries, Christine Martinez, WHV Vice President, Non-theatrical Franchise Marketing said, “We think everyone, from Stephen King devotees to horror genre fans to anyone who appreciates remarkable television will want this title in their DVD libraries. The cast is outstanding, the acting powerful and the special effects are superb. For anyone looking to stir up some thrills and chills this coming Halloween, Salem’s Lot is the perfect title for the occasion.”

Originally published in 1975, Salem’s Lot was King’s second novel and beat Anne Rice’s Interview With the Vampire by a year. The book was hailed as re-invigorating the horror genre and is considered to be one of the most terrifying vampire novels ever written.