Interview With A Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)
Over-acted melodramatic nonsense of the highest order from the all-star cast of Pitt, Cruise, Slater, Banderas, Newton (Thandie), am I forgetting anyone? Oh yes, also a young Kirsten Dunst and a cameo from Only Fools and Horses’ Trigger. The action centres around the memoirs of Louis, a 200-year old vampire (Pitt), who is telling his life story to a modern-day reporter (Christian Slater). Beginning in 1791 from when he was made undead by the tormented yet savvy Lestat (Cruise), Louis works us through his centuries of historically inaccurate bloodlust and adventure in a fittingly hammy way. It’s ludicrous but loveable.
I loved it when I was a wee child and rewatching it now, I’ve found it a really rather different film. Quite laughable actually, but all silly fun I suppose. It covers all of the usual vampiric tropes and traits, with particular emphasis on the problem of finding blood. Louis is not quite so keen on the killing as jaded Lestat, and so must sustain himself on rats and other livestock.
With the handsome duo of Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise at the helm, and the majority of the film’s women being little more than whores with pulsing veins, you’d be forgiven for thinking it no better than that Twilight tripe, but really somehow it is. I think perhaps the elements of self-awareness and high camp melodrama give it that licence. Nonetheless, I found it an enjoyable romp of a film.
From now on I think I’ll dispense with the rating system. I found myself going back and disagreeing with old ratings and how they tallied with the other ratings and so on, so it would probably be best if I just leave them out. A recommendation is a recommendation.
