You can tell the new ‘Salem’s Lot movie wasn’t filmed in Maine. I say this because, as a writer who’s lived and worked in Maine for the past seven years, I can instantly spot a faux-cinematic Maine. Like the underrated 2019 Pet Sematary remake, the new ‘Salem’s Lot was shot in Massachusetts, despite taking place in the state where Stephen King created and set so many of his haunting novels.

But authenticity isn’t really the point of this remake, since we also know it wasn’t shot in 1975, even though that’s the year it takes place. This romp is an almost intentionally unconvincing period piece right from the start. The strength of the new‘Salem’s Lot is its basic unreality, and once you accept that, you can enjoy yourself.

Filmed in 2021, and originally scheduled for a theatrical release in 2022, its release was delayed by post-production issues and is only now hitting Max. Was it worth the wait? Will hardcore Stephen King fans have their vampiric appetites satisfied? Kind of. It may not be great, but if you can cut the new ‘Salem’s Lot a break, you’ll find there’s a fun horror movie lurking in this remake. And if you’re a serious Stephen King fan, its retro vibes and uncanny aesthetic ultimately make it essential viewing.

Toxic masculinity and the world of fine dining are inextricably linked — at least, that’s the thesis that drives so many culinary thrillers. House of Spoils, the latest offering from Prime Video and Blumhouse, is no different. It shares a few big ideas with cutthroat kitchen dramas like The Menu and (of course) The Bear, but it does well to leave its claustrophobic, spartan kitchen and occasionally play in the dirt. House of Spoils acknowledges that culinary art is — or at least could be — a primal experience. Preparing food and consuming it should connect us to the earth, and even to the divine feminine.

A dark fantasy with a grotesque sense of humor, House of Spoils is at its best when subverting familiar tropes. It’s equal parts The Bear and Hansel & Gretel, a parallel that just barely scratches the surface of this bonkers tale. Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy (our co-directors and co-writers) create a world teeming with ideas worth chewing on. But its twisty narrative, while promising, ultimately comes out undercooked.