The novel Interview with a Vampire was begging to be made into a film. Ok, maybe Anne Rice didn’t intentionally write it for this purpose, but one day it was going to happen – it was too much of a temptation to resist.
And the result?
Surprisingly good – for Hollywood, that is. With a screenplay written by Rice herself; co-produced by David Geffen; directed by Neil Jordan (The Crying Game) and with countless young virile ‘luvvies’ it had to be good.
THE PLOT
A reporter (Christian Slater) follows a man in search of learning about the city’s inhabitants. After following the dark stranger to his apartment, the reporter is about to be stunned by the story that the man tells of his life. His interview is with Louis the vampire…
200 years ago Louis is a landowner in New Orleans. After the death of his wife in childbirth, he struggles to cope with life but hoping for death. He is then befriended by the vampire, Lestat (Tom Cruise), and is given the chance of his human death and immortality as a
vampire. Not understanding its implications he agrees.
What follows is Louis’s struggle to accept his new way of life in opposition to his love for Lestat (homoerotic it is, blatant it isn’t). As companionship Lestat then chooses a young girl to add to their ‘family’: the vampire-child Claudia (Kirsten Dunst). What ensues is the changing relationships between the three, Louis’ resistant to his own vampiristic urges: Claudia’s change from girl to woman-child and Lestat’s downfall.
Unlike many films that are evolved from novels, Interview with the Vampire the film is faithful to the original printed word. The fact that Rice was involved in its screenplay was probably the main reason for this.
The film suffers from exhaustion though. Having read the novel, I was probably only too aware of which bits of the film I was looking forward to, but I felt that the film was slow going throughout. Its scenes are set in New Orleans and Paris. A large proportion of the action of the film was in New Orleans but only a small amount of the story was told in Paris. Now it’s been a long time since I’ve read the novel, but I’m sure that there was more of the plot staged in Paris and in the context of on screen there could have been a lot more made of this.
THE ACTORS
Tom Cruise has certainly gone up in my estimations. His performance as Lestat was phenomenal. I imagined Lestat’s character to be childish, playful, camp and gruesome and this is what Cruise managed to do. You could really believe Lestat’s character.
Brad Pitt on the other hand, didn’t do it for me. Now as far as casting goes it always annoys me how the casting directors always go for ‘safe’ actors: actors who will pull in the punters to make a smash hit of a film, regardless of how dire it is. Pitt did portray mean, moodiness and confusion, but was also somewhat wooden at times. Whilst narrating his story to the reporter, it was more evident. I couldn’t help wondering why he felt that he had to talk in monotones so much.
I think the star of the film, has to be Kirsten Dunst who plays Claudia. Although, somewhat annoying (why do American child stars sound so cheesy?), this was a difficult part to play. As Claudia ‘grows up’ her body doesn’t – she remains physically a girl, but emotionally, mentally and intellectually she grows to be a woman. She could have ended up acting like a little madam, but instead, the maturity of Claudia’s years was spot on.
THE EFFECTS AND CINEMATOGRAPHY
Surprisingly, there aren’t many major effects in the film: The occasional bit of flying and a couple of large fires. But, the atmospheric effects were superb. Bearing in mind most of the scenes were night settings, the eerie feel of the surroundings offered a complimentary backdrop to the concept of the film.
It also had the feel to it of a very old black and white film. I’m not quite sure why it reminds me so much as it is a colour film, but I think that the amplified sounds of footsteps and the genre of the film reminded me of a Hammer Horror.
It might sound like a very gruesome film, but there is a heavy element of humour. Think of Cruise and Pitt as Morecombe and Wise, with Cruise as Morecombe and Pitt as Wise. It really does seem to be a double act! And that isn’t a criticism, but there is a large amount of black humour and farce in the film, especially at the end when the title credits roll and Guns ‘n’ Roses do a rendition of The Rolling Stones’ “Pleased to meet you”.
Production Year: 2005 - Horror - Director: Eli Roth - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Jay Hernandez, Derek Richardson, Shane Daly, Lenka Vlasakova, Eythor Gudjonsson, Jan Vlasak
I have read all Anne Rice's vampire novels. I agree with you that the film good and true to the novel and slow in places. I just hope that Hollywood doesn't decide to 'do' any of the other novels in the series, cos to me, they were even more slowgoing. A good op. Ali.
LostWitness 05.10.2001 18:51
I haven't read any of the novels so I watched the film in it's own right. I have to say that I wasn't overly impressed - I actually thought that Brad Pitt was much more interesting than Tom Cruise (which was pushing it!) - and I still think the best classic vampire film of recent years is probably Bram Stoker's Dracula. Good review though! :O)
peppersinclaire 05.10.2001 17:56
I love this movie, despite it being a vampire version of the 90's sitcom "My Two Dads". P$
When it was announced that Tom Cruise would play the vampire Lestat in this adaptation of ... more
Anne Rice's bestselling novel, even Rice chimed in with a highly publicised objection. The author wisely and justifiably recanted her negative opinion when she sa...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
When it was announced that Tom Cruise would play the vampire Lestat in this adaptation of ... more
Anne Rice's bestselling novel, even Rice chimed in with a highly publicised objection. The author wisely and justifiably recanted her negative opinion when she sa...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
The undead are among us and livelier than ever when Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and a talented ... more
group of young-bloods star in 'Interview With The Vampire', the spellbinding screen adaptation of Anne Rice's best seller that's 'one of the best films of the year...
Advantages: Excellent for horror fans as well as non horror, excellent acting, music score and direction Disadvantages: If you have read the book you will find flaws
Advantages: Excellent for horror fans as well as non horror, excellent acting, music score and direction Disadvantages: If you have read the book you will find flaws
![Interview With The Vampire [1995] [DVD]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78234942.jpg "Interview With The Vampire [1995] [DVD]")
Oct 5th, 2001
very helpful by (100%):
