Review of Interview with the Vampire (1994) by Michael Y — 10 Jun 2011

Hire 3 of the '90s hottest male actors and make their characters vampires, and you've got a movie right there. Interview with the Vampire is an interesting and romanticized look behind the mythology of the damned.

Based off Anne Rice's best-seller, Interview with the Vampire begins with a reporter recording his conversation with a vampire telling his life since becoming a vampire. His life story is one of philisophical acceptance as a vampire, an untrusting friendship, new acquaintances, and what it means to truely be damned as a creature of the night. What's best about Interview with the Vampire is how it goes further into the vampire mythology, explains the lifestyles, ups, downs, and influences many different ideas surrounding vampires. The movie's story, however, seems more like romance than horror, but it builds itself up quite nicely with graphic details and surprises. The casting is a bit questionable though, casting 3 Hollywood hunks like Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise and Antonio Banderas doesn't make their characters look that threatening, but they do a good job. But my favourite acting by far in this movie comes from a very young Kirsten Dunst who performs with a threatening unpredictability and passionate outbursts, capturing the complexity of her character very well. And who doesn't like Christian Slater?

Though the pacing of the movie might be slow, Neil Jordan's attemp of capturing a mysterious and gothic enviroment is very well established. The production for the sets and costumes in very impressive, since most of the movie takes place in the 17 - 1800s. And the various locations in the story are well adapted, from aristocratic wealth in New Orleans to Paris, France, the many costumes and set designs adds a uique flavour to a vampire story. But it's the cinematography too, with hard lights and lots of shadows that make the scenes look like a gothic portrait. Though not loaded with special effects (which is good) still, the effects you see are well done and creative. The makeup is a little suttle, vampire characters being just pale enough to look different without looking destinguishable, but there is a part that has pretty good makeup for Tom Cruise. And, on multiple occations, you'll see lots and lots of FIRE! The destruction of what is mortal because the vampires do not deserve it.

You're oppinion may vary on this movie depending on what you expect to see in a vampire movie, but Interview with the Vampire is a unique twist of a story, seeing the world of a vampire through his eyes. It's not a frightening movie, but it has its awesome and memorable moments that are well directed and performed.