Interview with the Vampire

[calzephyr]

I was too young to see Interview with the Vampire when it came out in 1994, but I do remember what a big freaking deal that movie was. Watching it yesterday was definitely a trip back in time because it is loaded with all the hot man-hunks of the day. I even forgot that Kirsten Dunst was Claudia. It was a good movie, and we enjoyed it, but the unfortunate thing is that, twenty years later, it seems awfully campy. For all the lush settings of the first, we couldn't help but laugh when Lestat woos Louis. Or when Lestat squeezes a rat dry into a wine glass for Louis. Or when Louis spots a rat and munches on it. Oh, and the poodle part. And when Lestat dances with the body of Claudia's mother. That all had us howling! Either the Internet has corrupted us completely or audiences were not as sophisticated twenty years ago. And the ending! After an hour of Louis' emo pondering, we sure weren't expecting that, but again, we laughed!

I haven't read the book, but it seems like there was too much book to be in the movie, so it felt a little unevenly paced, especially when Louis and Claudia escape to Paris. It wasn't immediately clear why the Paris vampires carted off Claudia and her new mother and we had to look up the IMDB trivia to fill a few gaps.

It's easy to see how this movie was such a big deal, however, and sets the template for Twilight and other vampiric works. The homoerotic overtones were pretty heavy - Lestat practically has an O when he turns Louis - and I sure wish Louis and Armand could have smooched! But in a time when a Robert Mapplethorpe exhibition was enough to throw public arts funding into a complete crisis, I couldn't see it happening. Hopefully they remake it some day!

Comments

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

Huh, how old are you? I thought you were my age and I saw Interview in the theaters. I'm 35.

[calzephyr77.livejournal.com]

I'm 35 too :-D I was 17 when it was released.

I looked up the ratings on IMDB, and it looks like they vary from province to province. I don't know what it was rated back then, but it is considered 18A now. It's R-rated in Ontario and Manitoba. Hmm! I suppose on top of the official rating, there was also the unofficial "No way is my child watching gay vampires" Mom one ;-)

Also, my problem for years, was that I did not look my age, so I probably would have been turned away. People still tend to think I'm in my 20s.

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure my mom brought me to see it, but she's also the one who gave me the book. I'm also pretty sure that was her version of sex ed (along with Clan of the Cave Bear and the Pern series).

I also look in my 20s now. Someday we'll both be happy for our apparent youth. :)

[calzephyr77.livejournal.com]

LOL! It's amazing how many people I know learned about sec from Clan of the Cave Bear. I remember trying to read it and finding it too boring. I guess I should have stuck it out :-D Same with Pern - it was just so dull to me!

I don't mind being mistaken for being young, except when I really want people to take me seriously. Mom also looks like she's in her 50s :-D

[calzephyr77.livejournal.com]

Oh, I was reminded today that two of my coworkers, about 25 years old, have fake glasses just to look older :D It's all so relative!

[nyrchicky.livejournal.com]

It's funny, I watched it a week ago also and loved it just as much. However, the book is SO much better.

[calzephyr77.livejournal.com]

Cool! I wish I had watched it when I was younger. I should really read the book... I really got the sense that a lot was cut or condensed.

[theidolhands.livejournal.com]

Definitely, Anne Rice is heavy on words and inner monologues, which never translate well in movies. The only thing is that the actor's roles (by physical appearance) should be reversed -- you'll find that Lestat is the larger fellow with blonde hair (like Brad) and Louis the shorter and slimmer one (like Cruise).

It really irritated me and I never truly liked the film, but it was Cruise trying to prove that he could play a "gay" character. naturally he thinks of himself as dominant and couldn't even pretend to be the passive one despite the physical resemblance. Lestat is a bastard though and that suits the actor (I'm not saying that to be a jerk).

[calzephyr77.livejournal.com]

Heh! I'm not a huge Tom Cruise fan, but thanks for pointing it out. I really should get around to reading the book. I thought the Twilight movies were absolutely and the books awful - I should have said that I liked this movie better and same goes for the book.

[theidolhands.livejournal.com]

The movie was true to the book, vampires are camp and kissing/sexuality is replaced with deep felt emotion since vampires don't really need or have sex. That's why it tends to appeal to a certain age group or mindset; it's like emotion and fantasy porn.

[calzephyr77.livejournal.com]

Huh - I have never heard of emotion porn before. Hmmm!

[theidolhands.livejournal.com]

Neither had I until myself and a friend were discussing the overriding arcs that appeal within slash and that is what he came up with; it suited, because of how often I'd encounter someone who did not wish to read "lemons" and other issues. :)