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NOTE: This article is about the version of Kurt Barlow from the Tobe Hooper adaptation. You may be looking for information on his mainstream counterpart.
“
You can do nothing against the Master.
„
~ Richard Straker, on his master Kurt Barlow.
Kurt Barlow is the overarching antagonist of the 1979 miniseries Salem's Lot, the first screen adaptation of Stephen King's novel of the same name.
He is an evil master vampire who seeks to infect the entire town of Jerusalem's Lot to create an army of vampires for himself. He was based off of the villain of the same name from the novel. Barlow was altered significantly in his appearance in the 1979 miniseries adaptation - as he is depicted as mute and more closely resembles Count Orlok, albeit with an even more horrific and inhuman appearance looking more like a demon than a vampire.
It is unknown who Barlow really was, he could have been a demon manifesting into an undead foul creature, or could be an ancient former human who had somehow become a vampire without losing his free will. His real name/or original name is unknown, (if he even has one), but, like in the novel, it was said that he used the alias Briechen before changing it into Barlow. Kurt Barlow had wandered the Earth for centuries, infecting people into becoming vampires. It is no where stated or implied if Barlow came into an agreement with Hubie Marsten like in the novel. He at one point made Richard K. Straker his servant, using him as a mortal watchdog, and have Straker translate for his master. Barlow also was implied to have given Straker a few powers, though he is still mortal.
In the miniseries, Barlow first sends Straker to make a deal with Larry Crockett into buying the Marsten House. Barlow`s coffin was seen in a crate and was being shipped from Europe to Salem`s Lot. One of drivers of the truck shipping Barlow Ned Tebbets complained that it was cold, before sending it into the basement of the Marsten House. He breaks out at night time and infects Ralphie Glick. Later, he is briefly seen attacking Larry Crocket, draining him of his blood, he is also later seen attacking Ned in his cell, turning him into a vampire.
Later, Barlow comes and kills Mark Petrie`s parents, and grabs Mark. Speaking through his servant Straker, Barlow threatened Father Callahan that he will kill Mark, unless he battles with their faiths. Callahan agreed, and Barlow let`s Mark go. Callahan fails in his faith, and Barlow grabs his cross and throws it away, before either killing the priest or infecting him into a vampire.
Offscreen, Barlow turned Susan Norton into a vampire.
Barlow is last seen in his coffin in the basement of the Marsten House. Barlow attempts to hypnotize Mark Petrie into killing Ben Mears, but Mears knocks out Petrie. Kurt Barlow rises up to attack Ben, but the latter hits Barlow with his elbow, knocking him back into his coffin. Mears stabs Barlow in the heart with a wooden stake, and Ben Mears hammers it down to his heart. Barlow dies. Barlow slowly dissolves, his eyes melt and disintegrate, his ears disintegrate, his skin melts and dissolves into dust, and his skull is wide open. Barlow becomes a dry skeleton, and, right before dying, lets his jaw out wide open. Barlow eventually withers away into nothing more than dust.
Appearance[]
Barlow is a pale gray sickly blue humanoid in appearance, with pointy ears. He has fangs that point out of his mouth. He has yellow eyes and pupils, and long fingers with sharp claws. He wears a long, black cloak and attire, and has faint yellow lines across his cloak.
Personality[]
Kurt Barlow is mute, as he is too demonic and animalistic to be human, however, he is very intelligent. He communicates through the minds of his servants, such as Straker, who speak for him. Barlow is a cruel and sadistic vampire who wants to spread chaos wherever he goes. He seeks to spread an army of mindless vampires to humanity.
Powers and Abilities[]
Barlow has all the powers of the traditional vampire. Here he is given the power of telepathy, which he did not have in the novel. His henchmen and followers tend to speak to humans on his behalf as he is unable or unwilling to speak directly to humans himself. Presumably he talks to his allies via telepathy.
Gallery[]
Barlow resting in his coffin.
Barlow awakening.
A publicity photo of Barlow getting staked.
Barlow attacking Mark Petrie.
An artist picture of Barlow with Susan Norton.
Barlow, attacking Ned Tebbets.
Barlow confronting Father Callahan.
Barlow getting staked by Ben Mears.
Barlow bleeding to death (publicity photo)
Barlow, lying dead and slowly dissolving.
A publicity photo of Reggie Nalder as Kurt Barlow.
Trivia[]
He was inspired and designed after Count Orlok from Nosferatu.
In a loose adaptation of Tobe Hooper's Salem's Lot miniseries, a 1987 low budget film called A Return to Salem's Lot, Barlow is changed to a completely different Vampire who thinks that vampire society should fit in the human world. His name was changed also, to a vampire named Judge Axel.
Barlow appears in A Return to Salem's Lot's poster, though he doesn't appear in the film at all nor does he exist in the film's universe.
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