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Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt showcase their impressive endurance in Neil Jordan’s hilariously absurd horror-comedy love story, produced by Stephen Woolley and adapted by Anne Rice from her popular novel. The exaggerated drama, grandiose emotions, and charming yet offensive humor remain just as strong 30 years after its initial release. The film’s fanbase has only grown over the years, as evidenced by director Catherine Breillat’s enthusiastic praise for it during a dinner at the Edinburgh film festival.
It has become commonplace for individuals of a certain age to state that a particular work of art from their youth would not be acceptable in today’s society. However, the concept of two attractive vampires seducing a 12-year-old girl (Kirsten Dunst, giving a remarkable performance) and transforming her into a mature and experienced companion on their nocturnal adventures as a daughter, stepdaughter, or quasi-romantic partner…in what year was this ever considered appropriate?
Christian Slater portrays Malloy, a journalist exploring modern-day San Francisco in search of potential bohemian individuals to interview for his report on life in the city. He encounters a composed and observant young man named Louis (played by Pitt), who invites him to his small rented room and, upon turning on a tape recorder, reveals that he is a 200-year-old vampire. Louis was once a slave master and plantation owner in 18th-century Louisiana, but now longs for death after the loss of his loved ones. Perhaps it was the parasitic and spiritually draining nature of slavery that caught the attention of Lestat (played by Tom Cruise), a seductive vampire with a sadistic streak. Naturally, Cruise’s portrayal of Lestat is hyperactive, highly focused, and frustrated by the lack of discipline and commitment in others. His performance is both hilarious and a departure from his usual roles. Lestat befriends Louis, empathizes with his pain, and offers him the opportunity to start anew in the eternal life of a vampire. He then bites Louis’ neck, welcoming him into the world of vampires.
Lestat-Louis is a relationship between a teacher and pupil in the occult, which Brad Pitt would later replicate in Fight Club, but with himself taking on the dominant role. However, Louis is hesitant about feeding on human blood and initially prefers to only consume that of animals, while Lestat shows disdain for this. When they come across Claudia, a young orphaned girl during the plague, they end up in a charming situation of two bloodsucking fiends and a baby. They then travel to Paris and encounter a group of vampires led by Armand and Santiago, who run a secret theater where they act as humans pretending to be vampires and killing real victims on stage – essentially a meta-vampire snuff horror show.
Malloy asks Louis what it’s like to be a vampire. Is it all about Dracula, crucifixes, and garlic? Louis dismisses these ideas as “vulgar fictions” created by Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula. But the film highlights that being a vampire is actually a complicated experience that varies from person to person. Louis romanticizes vampirism, seeing it as a never-ending longing, while Lestat is driven by greed.
Initially, it appears that Louis forms a strong connection and potentially romantic relationship with Armand while in Paris, but ultimately becomes disgusted by Armand’s extreme cynicism and lack of faith. Armand embodies a Eurocentric version of vampirism, which ultimately repels Louis. In contrast, Louis himself is a more modern vampire, embracing democratic values and influenced by American enlightenment ideals. He goes so far as to free his slaves and destroy the plantation home, much to the displeasure of his companion Lestat. Despite its controversial and humorous elements, Interview With the Vampire remains a thrilling and compelling story.
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Source: theguardian.com
