Warning: spoilers for 2024’s Salem’s Lot.
After many delays and obstacles, theSalem’s Lotmovie adaptation was finally released on Max, and it made a couple of changes to the book, including cutting one of the most disturbing deaths but replacing it with a brutal twist. Stephen King’s second published novel,Salem’s Lot, introduced readers to his type of vampires, becoming one of his most popular and beloved works.Salem’s Lotwas adapted into two TV miniseries in 1979 and 2004, and it finally got a feature-length adaptation in 2024, directed by Gary Dauberman.
Salem’s Lottakes the audience to the 1970s to follow Ben Mears (Lewis Pullman), a writer who returns to hishometown of Jerusalem’s Lotlooking for inspiration for his next book. His arrival coincides with the disappearance of a young boy, and though he’s initially a suspect, subsequent deaths and disappearances reveal a disturbing truth: Salem’s Lot is being preyed upon by a bloodthirsty vampire named Barlow (Alexander Ward). Ben and other residents team up to take Barlow down, but not all of them make it to the end, and one of those deaths went through some changes.
The Salem’s Lot Movie Cut Dr. Cody’s Death Caused By Falling On Knives
In Dauberman’sSalem’s Lot, the first person to realize they are dealing with vampires is Matt Burke (Bill Camp), after Mike Ryerson (Spencer Treat Clark) transforms into one in his home. Matt shares his discovery with Ben, Susan (Makenzie Leigh), Father Callahan (John Benjamin Hickey), and Dr. Cody (Alfre Woodard), though the latter is skeptical at first. It isn’t until she witnesses Marjorie Glick rising again in the morgue as a vampire that she understands what they are dealing with.
In the novel, Dr. Cody is a man, but the character was changed to a woman in the movie.
Dr. Cody joins the mission to find and kill Barlow, and comes close to being one of the survivors along with Ben and Mark Petrie (Jordan Preston Carter). In the novel, Cody is also close to surviving the horrors of the Lot, but he has a horrible death that didn’t make it to the movie.Cody doesn’t notice the missing stairs in the dark cellar where Barlow rests and falls onto multiple knivesset up by the vampires, impaling himself.
All 14 Major Deaths in Salems Lot, Explained
Salem’s Lot sees many deaths thanks to vampire Barlow feeding on town residents, but not all of them return as vampires at some point.
In the 1979 TV series, Cody’s death was changed and he was killed by Straker, who impaled him on a set of horns and antlers on the wall. The 2004 miniseries also made a couple of changes to Cody’s death, and instead of being impaled by knives, he falls into an electric buzzsaw.
How Dr. Cody Died In The Salem’s Lot Movie
Salem’s Lot Gave Dr. Cody An Unexpected Death
In Dauberman’sSalem’s Lot, Dr. Cody survives the visit tothe Marsten Housebut not the reveal of the real resting place of the vampires. Ben, Mark, and Cody discover that the vampires live in the drive-in, hiding themselves in the trunks of the cars and using them as coffins. Ben finds Susan’s car and opens the trunk, finding her asleep. Ben knows he has to kill her but can’t bring himself to do so, so Cody decides to do it. Unfortunately, right before she does,Susan’s mother, Anne, shoots Cody and kills her, as she’s now serving Barlow and must protect the 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.
Dr. Cody’s death in theSalem’s Lotnovel was horrifying and frustrating as he could have been one of the survivors along with Ben and Mark, but the movie made it even worse. Cody being killed by Anne is surprising and brutal, even more so as it happened in the third act, during the setup for the final fight in the drive-in.
Salem’s Lot
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.
