Rob Lowe is in this version of the miniseries, made in the early 2000s, a couple decades after the 1979 TV mini-series. This one was released in 2004.

The older version costarring Starskey and Hutch’s David Soul and a younger actor as the heroes. This new remake is about 3 hours long.

It has been updated: the waitress slings lattés, the kids listen to iPods, the antique dealer sells his wares via the Internet. Though these fixtures define our times, they were barely known, if even existent, back when the original TV miniseries aired.

I was watching most of the first part in the morning. That was a lot less scary than the last part, which I watch after dark. Now that part was scary.

The general idea of the story is unchanged. The details and the action seem pretty different than I remembered. Other than the small town boy becomes big time writer and comes back home somewhat of a minor celebrity, he remembered something sinister from his youth, and intended to face it again.

If you saw the 1979 TV miniseries and assume this will be like watching a repeat of it, you needn’t worry. For all intents and purposes, this is a completely different movie.

It starts slowly but the suspense builds. Toward the end this flick gets really scary. Watch after dark for the full effect. If you’re not afraid!

And no, the ending is not the same.