a beautiful adaptation

Rating: Null/10 (8 July 2004)

SPOILERS
Interview with the Vampire is a powerful, moving opening chapter of a story. I think it's a shame that Ann Rice had to jump on the cash cow and take it long past the point where it's interesting any more, but here is not the place for that discussion. I followed the ups and downs of the movie adaptation with great interest - Rice's hostility to the actors, her campaigns against the film, and her subsequent retraction of her objections. That alone makes this an interesting film. However, it is as powerful, and moving as the book itself. The long slow unfolding of the loss of Louis's soul and his tortured quest to retain his humanity is one of the most powerful performances I have ever seen, and contrasts beautifully with Lestat's devil-may-care, detached killer. Yet all along, one feels that Lestat has depths that he is hiding - Cruise obviously read the chronicles and occasionally hints at the philosopher lurking under Lestat's pale skin. Kirsten Dunst also turns in a memorable performance as the woman forced to live in the body of a child. It's a shame that they couldn't keep Claudia's age as it was in the book, but no six year old could ever have lived up to the role. She is the perfect vampire - with no memory of her human life she is cold and remorseless in her killing. Yet, she is also strangely vulnerable, and the death of Claudia still makes me cry, despite having seen the film so many times in the ten years since it's release. The atmosphere of the film is delicately handled, from the swampy, sultry airs of New Orleans to decadent 19th Century Paris. Antonio Banderas hints at the depths of Armand's character, and his coven are as repulsive as they are in the books. This is one adaptation that can hold it's own as film in it's own right, as well as doing justice to the book - a rare thing, until LOTR came along. I only wish Jordan had kept the reins and prevented the travesty that was Queen of the Damned.