Review of Interview with the Vampire (1994) by Stuart K — 27 Apr 2014

Directed by Neil Jordan (The Company of Wolves (1984), Mona Lisa (1986) and The Crying Game (1992)), and written by Anne Rice, adapted from her own 1976 novel. This had been in development for years before it fell into Jordan's lap, and he saw potential for a great film adaptation, he got together an all star cast, and made an atmospheric romantic horror.

In present day San Francisco, writer Daniel Molloy (Christian Slater) interviews Louis de Pointe du Lac (Brad Pitt), who claims to be a 200 year old vampire. He became this way in 1791 in Southern Louisiana, after meeting Lestat de Lioncourt (Tom Cruise).

Louis is heartbroken after the loss of his wife and child, and finds solace in Lestat. When a plague breaks out, they take in a sick child called Claudia (Kirsten Dunst), who becomes forever young. As the 19th Century progresses on Louis and Claudia move to Paris where they meet theatrical vampires Armand (Antonio Banderas) and Santiago (Stephen Rea), but they're not what they seem.

It's a very lavish film, and Jordan gives it a very gothic feel with the odd flourish of Grand Guignol. It has some brilliant production design by the great Dante Ferretti and some epic camerawork by Philippe Rousselot.

This made Jordan the toast of Hollywood for a very short time, and he was experienced with this genre too.