Ron Does Stuff

Okay, so this was supposed to be for yesterday, but I ended up doing something else so you’re getting this today instead. Let’s go!

I wanted to rewatch this movie again after re-reading Interview with the Vampire, and one of the things that I kept thinking was how I remember the movie being more enjoyable to me than the book. Just to see if that was true, I thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to rewatch this movie again. Despite me knowing lines and lines of dialogue because I watched this so many times. On VCD, even. If the young people still know what that is.

And as the movie starts one thing that immediately strikes me and will probably strike first time watchers as well is how well Neil Jordan does atmosphere. You already get an idea of what it is you’re in for just from the opening shot of nighttime San Francisco and the different people that Neil Jordan chooses to showcase in the shot. And I think he explores similar ~vibes~ in his other vampire film, Byzantium, although I might be misremembering.

I don’t know what the fan reaction to this at the time it was released because I was just a little boy when that happened but re-watching it now — on top of all the times I’ve watched it — I really do think that it’s a great adaptation, discarding or changing things that really benefitted and streamlined the story. Replacing Louis’ brother with a wife and child was quicker, eliminating Babette was quicker, and I don’t think it detracted from the movie at all.

Like I said in my book review, Lestat definitely gets a more positive edit in this adaptation, as well as set-up for a possible sequel that unfortunately never happened. A lot of that may also be thanks to Tom Cruise, who despite what you think of his personal life, really does put in a good performance in this movie.

Brad Pitt’s Louis, on the other hand…well. He’s been vocal about not liking the time he spent on this set and it’s also not helpful that Louis isn’t the “fun” vampire in this story, even if he’s the one telling it. I don’t think it’s a bad performance but he definitely isn’t the ~star~.

Another performance that everybody definitely remembers is Kirsten Dunst as Claudia, who also delivers a spectacular performance as a pre-teen, I think? Can’t be assed to Google right now but either way, this was a great performance considering her age. Her anger during that scene where it’s revealed that she’s kept the corpse of that woman? I still randomly say “WHICH ONE OF YOU DID IT? WHICH ONE OF YOU DID IT?” when I’m by myself. And then the terror in her face during her death scene? Heartbreaking.

The MALICIOUS GAY FAGGOTRY in this movie is also more turned up compared to the book, but I think that’s only because it’s been decades since the book came out when this movie was made and there’s also the fact that Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, two of the hottest actors at the time, were portraying Lestat and Louis.

The movie also has a morbid humor that really provides a nice break from what is essentially hundreds of years of whining and existential angst from Louis. That scene with the prostitutes? Camp. “It’s your coffin, my love, enjoy it. Some of us never get to know what it feels like.” Come on. Claudia dining on that seamstress and piano teacher and Lestat reprimanding her for it? Morbidly funny.

While I think Interview with the Vampire is the weakest book for me among the three first books in The Vampire Chronicles, this adaptation is the strongest one for me compared to the only other Vampire Chronicles movie, The Queen of the Damned. I’ve been watching and rewatching this again and again over the years and after this rewatch, I don’t think that’s going to change anytime soon.