Backtalk Flick Talk – "Her neck was tanned, beautifully muscled.

She was wearing a colorful print shift that hinted at a good figure." That's on page 11 of my used ppbk copy of 'Salem's Lot. A few pages of awkward flirting later, Ben Mears notices "She had a very pretty face, with candid blue eyes and a high, clear, tanned forehead. 'Is this town your childhood?' he asked." 

Bonnie Bedelia is Susan Norton, the "girl" with a neck and forehead

Anyone else see a very pale woman with a strip of tan on her (beautifully muscled) neck and (high, clear) forehead? I was eleven when I read it originally, so I'll forgive my tween self for thinking this was an example of fine wordsmithing. 

Samantha Mathis is Susan Norton, the "girl" with a neck and forehead

After rewatching the 1979 miniseries and watching the recent movie released on MAX last Friday, I was curious how Susan Norton was written in the novel. Bonnie Bedelia in the mini is drawing in her sketchpad when Ben (David Soul) greets her. She graduated with a degree in Art and is teaching kids until she finds a job in New York. In the movie, Mackenzie Leigh is also an art major, but no current job is mentioned. In the other mini with Rob Lowe, Samantha Mathis has an art degree and is waitressing. All are biding their time until they leave the Lot, but employed or not, the job in the end is inconsequential. She is first: sexy love interest with a beautifully muscled neck. Second: Future victim with a tanned forehead and therefore, the male hero's call to action. An NPC. So it is written in the book. The book itself is broken into chapters with titles like "Susan (IV)" or "The Lot (III)", facilitating my search for the scene of their meet-cute. Skimmed through some parts of it and remembered some things, but yeah. I'm not rereading it. Anything about it that impressed me when I was eleven is long gone. (But sometimes they come back?)

Mackenzie Leigh is Susan Norton, the "girl" with a neck and forehead

I'm not good at reviewing movies, good or bad ones, so instead I'll comment on how close the iterations of Susan Norton's neck and forehead come to the book description, along with characteristics of SK's feminine ideal circa 1975:

Bonnie: High forehead, muscly neck, submissive, demure. Has some actual color on her face.

Samantha: Pale, but has a high forehead. Neck is also pale but appears strong. (haven't watched the '04 mini) Waitress, so likes to serve maybe.

Mackenzie: The image above is the first time you see her forehead. She wears bangs. Her neck is thick, strong. No discernible tan unfortunately. A bit too independent-minded and smart-mouthed for an NPC.

They're all good looking, but you've got to give it to Bonnie, don't you? She's tan (on her neck and forehead, and alas, elsewhere) and shy and pretty. 

CONCLUSION: Watch the '79 miniseries. Don't bother with the others.

CONCLUSION 2: Given the choices, watch something other than anything called 'Salem's Lot. It was basically conceived as a retelling of Dracula, so go read or watch Dracula. If you need a modern retelling, watch either version of Fright Night. If you want a story about a small town under siege, watch Night of the Living Dead or The Crazies by Romero. If you MUST watch a version of 'Salem's Lot, take a long walk first, play with your dog, make a peace quilt, clean your bathroom and then a stranger's bathroom. After that, if you still want to watch it, I won't stop you.

TL;DR – spaced99 warned me that the AV Club had given it a D+. I think that's generous. Playing frisbee by yourself is more fun.