Rob Lowe starred in two Stephen King miniseries that defined TV horror of the ’90s and ’00s

Some Stephen King adaptations are best suited to the television format, particularly those in miniseries. Notable entries include, among others, Tommy Lee Wallace’s influential rendition of “It” and the underrated but effective “Storm of the Century.” But if we turn our attention to the miniseries adaptations of “The Stand” and “Salem’s Lot” – released in 1994 and 2004 respectively – Rob Lowe emerges as the (surprising) common thread between the two. “The West Wing” star may not typically be associated with the horror genre, but Lowe has starred in not one, but two seminal Stephen King adaptations that shaped television horror and its evolving vignettes.

King was personally involved in Mick Garris’s “The Stand” (he even has a minor role in the series), which was nominated for six Primetime Emmy Awards in 1994. While it doesn’t completely capture the brilliance of King’s novel, it makes good use of its all-star ensemble to bring this epic, surreal story to life. Here, a military-created bioweapon with a high mortality rate breaks containment, paving the way for the fall of civilization at an astonishing rate. But some remain immune and are forced to survive in an apocalyptic wasteland claimed by the opposing forces of good and evil. Lowe plays Nick Andros, a young drifter who survives the outbreak and plays a vital role in the events of the series.

In the TNT version of “Salem’s Lot,” Lowe plays writer Ben Mears, who chronicles the grisly events that unfold in Jerusalem’s Lot after his return. This is a rather straightforward adaptation that sticks to the source material – a worthwhile effort, save for the exposition-heavy opening where Mears babbles on and on about the titular location. Whatever changes director Mikael Salomon makes, they’re inspired enough to fit comfortably into King’s strange, vampire-infested world.

While a vampire story like “Salem’s Lot” relies on visceral horror and competent character portrayal, atmospheric terror ultimately does most of the heavy lifting. The TNT version gets this right, which is why the events take place in a desolate winter environment, where Marsden House exudes an aura that is palpable even to passersby. This house, occupied by the vampire Barlow (Rutger Hauer) and his human guardian Straker (Donald Sutherland), is utterly magnificent and brooding, complementing the fantastical nature of the setting.

Solomon also ramps up the brutality, relying on the grisly microdetails that precede vampire attacks and nasty falls down stairs. The talented cast ties it all together, with Lowe slipping into the role of a haunted artist quite well, and the Hauer-Sutherland duo brilliantly showcasing the hypnotic lull in the darkness that their respective characters embody.

As for Garris’ “The Stand,” the miniseries opts for a languorous pace, which ends up working in favor of characters who don’t do it get to the end. We end up caring about (almost) everyone alongside our central protagonists, including everyone Stu Redman (Gary Sinise), sociology professor Glen Bateman (Ray Walston), and meek Tom Cullen (Bill Fagerbakke). Lowe’s Nick can of course be grouped with them, as they represent a radically different brand of morality from the villainous Randall Flagg (Jamey Sheridan), who is the literal embodiment of evil on the show.

This version of “The Stand” has some glaring flaws, but it’s the kind of cheesy, dated adaptation that’s still worth watching today. It’s not subtle, either, because the source material itself isn’t wired that way — it’s a dense, sprawling examination of good versus evil that unambiguously highlights who you should support.