The Vampire Chronicles Collection

Tom Cruise

Brad Pitt

Antonio Banderas

Christian Slater

Stephen Rea

Kirsten Dunst

Domiziana Giordano

Thandiwe Newton

Laure Marsac

John McConnell

Mike Seelig

Bellina Logan

Lyla Hay Owen

Lee E. Scharfstein

Monte Montague

Nathalie Bloch

Jeanette Kontomitras

Roger Lloyd Pack

George Kelly

Nicole DuBois Favre

Virginia McCollam

Helen McCrory

Indra Ové

Micha Bergese

Rory Edwards

Marcel Iureș

Susan Lynch

Louise Kim Salter

Matthew Sim

François Testory

Andrew Tiernan

Simon Tyrrell

George Antoni

Sara Stockbridge

Katia Caballero

Louis Lewis-Smith

Francesca Lo Schiavo

Philippe Rousselot

Neil Jordan

Sandy Powell

Anne Rice

Susie Figgis

David Geffen

Joke van Wijk

Stephen Woolley

Dante Ferretti

Sandrine Ageorges

Juliet Taylor

Elliot Goldenthal

Mick Audsley

River Phoenix

Gary Archer

Leonard Green

John Engel

Patrick Clayton

Robert Legato

Nick Gillard

Philip Kohler

Chris Brigham

Michael Stevenson

Joe Burns

Stan Winston

Jean-Pierre Avice

Greg Powell

Ros Shingleton

Jan Archibald

Carol Schwartz

Mark Dalton

Mark Lisbon

Gary Powell

Malcolm Middleton

Nick Dudman

Sarah Monzani

Stephen Scott

Frank Gardiner

Sy Holland

Paul Jennings

Mark Southworth

Peter Holt

Dean Humphreys

Morag Ross

John Scott

Clive Winter

Kevin De La Noy

Michèle Burke

Yves De Bono

Mark Clayton

Michael White

Laura Dash

Lee Sheward

Anastas N. Michos

Andreas Petrides

Tom Fleischman

Ken Court

Diana Dill

Peter Joly

Nigel Mills

Michael Connell

Robin O'Donoghue

Eddy Joseph

Eithné Fennel

Deirdre N. Williams

Kevin Constant

Alan Tomkins

Tammy Kusian

James E. Tocci

John Rosengrant

Dominique Delany

Jean-Michel Ducourty

Chris Corbould

Trevor Neighbour

George Fenton

Monroe Kelly

Jean-Michel Hugon

Robert Perdziola

Shane Mahan

James Devis

Stella Vaccaro

David B. Nowell

Jean-Philippe Blime

Peter Takeuchi

David Carrigan

Susan E. Fiore

Paul Bernard

Redmond Morris

Ansel M. Stroud Jr.

Stephen McLaughlin

Matthias Gohl

Horror

Drama

Fantasy

Interview with the Vampire

Geffen Pictures

United States of America

CinemaSerf

This is a much more sophisticated take on the vampire through-the-ages narrative; but it has certainly dated in the almost 30 tears since Neil Jordan put together a stellar, if not great, cast to regale us with the tale of "Louis" (Brad Pitt) & "Lestat" (Tom Cruise). Told in flashback to a very sceptical reporter "Daniel" (Christian Slater), Pitt tells of his near 200 year life that started with his meeting with Cruise and his conversion to his immortal existence based on blood. It's a hugely lavish affair, with loads of lust, trickery, duplicity and gore - tinged with genuine regret, loneliness and sadness - and, of course, loads of cruel violence. Whilst it does nod to the whole "Hammer" style of horror thrillers - there is plenty of ketchup - the writing and characterisations have much more depth to them. Neither of the principal characters are likeable, but you do build some sort of reverse empathy with - at least Pitt - as the film progresses. The attention to detail on the sets and costumes as we march through time never lessens and contributes magnificently to a stylish, sumptuous glamour-fest. Much as they were/are doubtless box-office A listers, however, Pitt was just too young looking to be convincing, Cruise just can't really act at the best of times, much less with extra dental props and Kirsten Dunst just annoyed me in the best traditions of Shirley Temple. A shame, because the rest of this is superb.