Rent Interview with the Vampire (1994)

Interesting American Horror Film - Interview with the Vampire review by GI

For a Hollywood horror film this is remarkably good. A vampire film that tells the story from the monsters' perspective as opposed to the usual narrative of the monster hunter's viewpoint. This has the gothic trademarks and a period drama feel yet still updates the sub-genre by shedding some of the more daft tropes such as fear of garlic, wooden stakes etc. Tom Cruise was a surprising (and much derided) piece of casting as the vampire Lestat who, in seeking for a companion, 'turns' the grieving Louis in 18th Century New Orléans. Cruise is actually extremely good in the role and nails it completely, his action hero credentials are put aside here and he plays Lestat as the nasty, selfish and murderously cynical vampire to perfection. Brad Pitt as Louis is also good although he reportedly hated the experience of the role. However the narrative adds the child vampire Claudia played by a young Kirsten Dunst and she is the most scary and original, a monster permanently trapped in a child's body. The story is told in one flashback as Louis tells his life story to a naive writer in modern day USA. This is an extremely interesting and enjoyable modern day horror film that neatly harks back to the traditional monster films of yesteryear but updates it for a modern audience. It has all the great aspects you want from dark, sexual tension, bloody murder and monstrous characters. A film that is far better than often remembered and worth checking out if you've never seen it.