Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)
I went to see this with my sister and friend on a weekday afternoon, there were a few people there in the theatre with us. We suspected it to be a pretty good film, and walked out of the theatre liking the film and felt we got our money’s worth. The cast was loaded with major or future major Hollywood players. Christian Slater did the acting for the role of Daniel Malloy for free and gave the money he would have earned to River Phoenix’s favorite charity. Originally River was selected for the part of Daniel Malloy but tragically died. Christian’s late friend was a lost talent and taken too early from this world.
Neil Jordan directed this film originally based upon the writings by author Anne Rice a New Orleans native. She also did the screenplay as well for this film. Neil Jordan has directed other features such as the controversial The Crying Game (1992).
You will see Brad Pitt playing a vampire named Louis de Pointe du Lac and is the leading character in this story. He is accompanied by Tom Cruise playing a vampire named Lestat de Lioncourt. Also keep your eyes open for a very young Kirsten Dunst who plays Claudia. This was her early breakthrough role which gained her popularity. To see all three of these actor’s as vampires is worth the watch itself. But, there is an interesting storyline which surrounds them as well.
Also, keep your eyes open for Thandie Newton playing Yvette. The cast is rather small, but there are other appearances by Antonio Banderas as Armand, Stephen Rea as Santiago, Virginia McCollam as the Whore on Waterfront, John McConnell as the Gambler, Mike Seelig as the Pimp, Bellina Logan as the Tavern Girl, Lyla Hay Owen as Widow St. Clair, Lee E. Scharfstein as the Widow’s Lover, Indra Ové as the New Orleans Whore, Helen McCrory as a Whore, Monte Montague as Plague Victim Bearer, and Nathalie Bloch-Lainé as the Maid.
Overall, I think you will find this to be quite an entertaining film, if you like horror films and films with narrative sequences in them you will certainly like this. The story is told in a number of flashback scenes which are fittingly done. This is a vampire tale you have to watch!
