Interview with the Vampire: A Tremendous Cast and Gorgeous Visuals Bring Anne Rice's Classic to Life (4K)

The Film:

When Anne Rice published her debut novel "Interview with the Vampire" in 1976, it seems doubtful that anyone could have predicted it eventually becoming such a massive commercial success, let alone that it would be just the start of a series of novels that would go on to include a multitude of sequels such as "The Vampire Lestat" and "The Queen of the Damned." Despite a mixed reception from critics, the paperback edition would eventually garner about $1 million in sales, making it rather surprising that it would take a rather lengthy 18 years until a film adaptation came to fruition.

However, after some concern over its content and a juggling act with the rights, fans were finally treated to a big screen iteration of the novel from director Neil Jordan in 1994, with a screenplay adaptation by Rice herself. Just like with the book, the critical reaction was rather mixed, but the public's reception was quite different, generating not just glowing reviews, but also a worldwide box office take of about $224 million, making it quite a success. Over 30 years later, the film is still quite highly regarded by fans for its faithfulness to the book and its impressive cast of big stars. To honor its legacy, Warner Bros. has decided to make it their latest subject for a UHD upgrade, while also including some new bonus material as well, so now it's time for us to revisit this vampire classic to see just how well it holds up over three decades after its original release.

The film starts in present day San Francisco, where reporter Daniel Malloy (Christian Slater) interviews Louis de Pointe du Lac (Brad Pitt), a man who has made the intriguing claim of being a vampire. His story begins in 1791 Louisiana, where he is a plantation owner who has recently lost his wife and baby. Not caring about what happens to him, he finds himself wandering about the New Orleans waterfront where he is attacked by a vampire named Lestat de Lioncourt (Tom Cruise).

Lestat sees that Louis has lost passion for life, so he offers him the chance to become a vampire, an offer that Louis accepts. However, Louis quickly comes to have trouble with Lestat's glee in killing humans for their blood, instead choosing to feed on animals to survive. As the years go by, they end up adding a young girl, Claudia (Kirsten Dunst), to their duo to raise as a daughter. Their group gets on for thirty years, but eventually Claudia comes to realize the full effect of what Lestat did to her, causing her to enact a plan that will ultimately change the direction of her & Louis' lives.

"Interview with the Vampire" is one of those films that I grew up watching over and over in my youth, though prior to this revisit, it had been quite a few years since I last laid eyes on it. However, coming back to it as it makes its grand 4K debut, it's quite a pleasant thing to find that it's still the weird, wild, dark, and beautiful film that I remember it being, all told with a remarkable top-notch cast that includes major stars like Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Antonio Banderas, and Kirsten Dunst in the role that truly launched her career.

One of the particularly strange things about the film is that it's not really all that plot-heavy. To put it in its most basic form, we follow the misadventures of these vampires as they just try to live their lives as the damned creatures that they are. Sure, we also get to see Louis' adjustment period, and his later search for answers regarding their kind, but for the most part, the film focuses on the trials & tribulations of having to live the way that they do. The strange part is that it's still quite the compelling tale, one that acts as a somewhat unique conduit into the everyday life of these blood-thirsty beings, which is an area of focus that we don't normally get to see.

Jumping back to the cast, Pitt & Cruise were perfect choices for Louis & Lestat. Their chemistry is simply delightful as they bring this unusual "Odd Couple" pairing to life, butting their personalities together, but somehow finding a way to live together... at least for a good long while. Meanwhile, Dunst shows us her remarkable talent as the forever-very-young Claudia, making it no wonder why this would become known as her breakout role. Then, of course, there's Antonio Banderas, who might not get a lot to do with his role of Armand (a vampire that Louis & Claudia meet later on), but he still leaves a fine mark on it. It's also interesting to note that his big breakout in America had just come the year before in "Philadelphia," so audiences here were still getting to know him.

Add onto all that the sheer beauty of the film, which features gorgeous production design (Oscar nominee, BAFTA winner), cinematography (BAFTA winner), costumes (BAFTA nominee), and makeup (BAFTA nominee), and you have an adaptation that not only sates your curiosity as to how these creatures live their lives, but also acts as a sheer feast for the eyes. With all of that, it's no wonder why the public held the film in a much higher regard than critics back in 1994, and why they continue to do so now. It's one of those odd little films that somehow holds up on every subsequent viewing, and now that it's been given a UHD upgrade, we can continue to enjoy it in the best quality possible for a long time to come.

Video/Audio:

"Interview with the Vampire" comes to 4K in a 1.85:1, 2160p Ultra High Definition transfer of marvelous quality. The picture has been beautifully restored and features just the right touch of grain, making for a sharp & clear picture for its entire 122-minute duration that perfectly highlights its various gorgeous creative elements. Likewise, the Dolby Atmos-TrueHD audio track is excellent, giving you all of the dialogue, sound effects, and Elliot Goldenthal's Oscar-nominated score in outstanding quality. Overall, Warner Bros. has done a fantastic job in both areas for the film's new upgrade.

Special Features:

Eternal Night and Deadly Light (8 Minutes) (New): A featurette that has director Neil Jordan and film editor Mick Audsley discussing Philippe Rousselot's cinematography.

Interview with the Vampire: Creating the World (11 Minutes) (New): A featurette that has Jordan and production designer Dante Ferretti discussing the sets, locations, and costumes.

Deleted Scenes (8 Minutes) (New)

Commentary with Director Neil Jordan

Introduction by Anne Rice, Neil Jordan, and Antonio Banderas (1 Minute)

In the Shadow of the Vampire (30 Minutes): A making-of featurette that features interviews with the cast & crew.

Lestat, Louis and the Vampire Phenomenon (24 Minutes): A featurette that explores Anne Rice's novel.

Conclusion:

Over 30 years later, Neil Jordan's "Interview with the Vampire" (adapted for the screen by author Anne Rice herself) remains a captivating tale that gives us a somewhat unique view into the lives of the titular creatures, which, when combined with its tremendous cast & gorgeous visual elements, ultimately makes for a satisfying adaptation and a splendid feast for the eyes, especially as it makes its stunning 4K debut.

Score: 4/5

Available on 4K starting today.

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