Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles
3/4
Starring: Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Kirsten Dunst, Christian Slater, Antonio Banderas, Stephen Rea
Rated R for Vampire Violence and Gore and for Sexuality
When Anne Rice wrote "Interview with the Vampire" in 1976, it was a radical new vision of the horror staple. Previously, the vampire was pure evil. A heartless killer. Rice saw them as deeply tragic figures tortured by their need to kill. This new vampire forever altered the way we think of the bloodsucker, giving birth to everything from "Blade" to "Twilight."
After the death of his wife and unborn child, Louis (Pitt) has lost his will to live. He prays for death to take him. That puts him in the sights of Lestat (Cruise). Lestat is a vampire, and after biting Louis, he gives him a choice: die or become a vampire. Louis chooses the latter. It's a decision he soon regrets, for he is required to kill in order to survive.
The performances are strong. Brad Pitt, who did not have a happy experience making the film, is outstanding as the tortured Louis. He tries to resist the need to kill, but the machinations of Lestat, and more importantly, his need to survive, are too powerful. As Lestat, Tom Cruise is equally good. By turns manipulative, sadistic, and petty, Lestat is a compelling character, and Cruise nails it. Kirsten Dunst is also very good as the child vampire Claudia, although she has some moments where she strikes the wrong note. Christian Slater, taking over the role after River Phoenix's death, is solid in the relatively undemanding role of Louis's interviewer.
The film is more of a study of vampires than a narrative one, and while it's interesting and compelling, the proceedings drag at times. Neil Jordan, in an attempt to give the film a brooding, Gothic atmosphere (the cinematography and production design are amazing), pushes the slow burn pace too far.
More troublesome is the film's final third. Once the characters arrive in Paris, things get a little confusing. Oblique scripting and violence without motivation hamper the film. This also leads to a pretty big plot hole as well.
Nevertheless, this remains a very intriguing story that is worth seeing.
Starring: Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Kirsten Dunst, Christian Slater, Antonio Banderas, Stephen Rea
Rated R for Vampire Violence and Gore and for Sexuality
When Anne Rice wrote "Interview with the Vampire" in 1976, it was a radical new vision of the horror staple. Previously, the vampire was pure evil. A heartless killer. Rice saw them as deeply tragic figures tortured by their need to kill. This new vampire forever altered the way we think of the bloodsucker, giving birth to everything from "Blade" to "Twilight."
After the death of his wife and unborn child, Louis (Pitt) has lost his will to live. He prays for death to take him. That puts him in the sights of Lestat (Cruise). Lestat is a vampire, and after biting Louis, he gives him a choice: die or become a vampire. Louis chooses the latter. It's a decision he soon regrets, for he is required to kill in order to survive.
The performances are strong. Brad Pitt, who did not have a happy experience making the film, is outstanding as the tortured Louis. He tries to resist the need to kill, but the machinations of Lestat, and more importantly, his need to survive, are too powerful. As Lestat, Tom Cruise is equally good. By turns manipulative, sadistic, and petty, Lestat is a compelling character, and Cruise nails it. Kirsten Dunst is also very good as the child vampire Claudia, although she has some moments where she strikes the wrong note. Christian Slater, taking over the role after River Phoenix's death, is solid in the relatively undemanding role of Louis's interviewer.
The film is more of a study of vampires than a narrative one, and while it's interesting and compelling, the proceedings drag at times. Neil Jordan, in an attempt to give the film a brooding, Gothic atmosphere (the cinematography and production design are amazing), pushes the slow burn pace too far.
More troublesome is the film's final third. Once the characters arrive in Paris, things get a little confusing. Oblique scripting and violence without motivation hamper the film. This also leads to a pretty big plot hole as well.
Nevertheless, this remains a very intriguing story that is worth seeing.
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