A flawed masterpiece; one of the most intriguing horror films in history

Rating: 10/10 (16 April 2003)

First of all, I want to say that before seeing the film, you should read the novel. I can almost guarantee that those of you who have not read Anne Rice's brilliant novel "Interview with the Vampire" will have a much lesser opinion of the film.
Second, if you are an Anne Rice fan (such as I) or have simply read the novel (and liked it), you shall love this film. Read on, for I shall tell you why.
For the most part, the film stays quite faithful to the novel from which it was based; however, some of the key elements (including a suspenseful encounter with a mindless vampire) have been edited out. Elliot Goldenthal has made an excellent score that fits the film perfectly. One of the most impressive points of the film is it's production design (by Dante Ferretti), an addition which beautifully captures the three centuries the film travels through and creates the dark, eerie mood of the film. Then, there's the matter of the cast. Tom Cruise gives a surprisingly good Lestat (the only downside to his performance is his failed accent), Brad Pitt gives a great Louis, and Kirsten Dunst is the ultimate Claudia. Antonio Banderas is also an excellent Armand and Stephen Rea and unforgettable Santiago.
The cinematography (by Philippe Rousselot) is another great addition, from the dark opening scenes in present day San Francisco to the final scenes in Daniel Malloy's car.
All in all, it's a great adaption of Rice's novel; a flawed masterpiece and one of the most intriguing horror films in history - it's a lot of fun seeing the horror from the vampire's point of view. Highly recommended.