Neil Jordan's INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE traces the centuries-long relationship between the regal vampire, Lestat, and his immortal victim, Louis, through a contemporary interview between Louis and a San Francisco journalist.
Rolling Stone, 12/15/1994, p.101-4, "...The movie is hypnotic, scary, sexy, perversely funny and haunting in a way that taps into primal fears..."
New York Times, 11/11/1994, p.C1, "...A sophisticated, spookily intense rendering of [Rice's] story....Cruise is flabbergastingly right for this role..."
Entertainment Weekly, 06/02/1995, pp.62-3, "...[INTERVIEW] does right by Rice....[It] honors such great movie fantasists as Jean Cocteau and NOSFERATU director F.W. Murnau..." -- Rating: B
Chicago Sun-Times, 11/11/1994, p.41, "...The movie is true to the detailed vision that has informed all of Anne Rice's novels....INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE is a skillful exercise in macabre imagination..."
Los Angeles Times, 11/11/1994, p.F1, "...INTERVIEW does a gorgeous job of re-creating not only 19th Century New Orleans and 19th-Century Paris but also the book's genuinely weird, disturbing, almost unimaginable world of those who can never die..."
Title Note
Theatrical release: November 11, 1994.
INTERVIEW had an opening weekend gross of nearly $39 million.
The film is dedicated to the late River Phoenix, who was slated to play Daniel Malloy before his untimely death.
Product Quotation/Excerpt
"Drink from me and live forever."--Lestat (Tom Cruise) to Louis (Brad Pitt)
"God kills indiscriminately, and so shall we, for no creatures under God are as like him as we are."--Lestat
"We belong in hell."--Louis to Lestat
Distributor Note
The undead are among us and livelier than ever when Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and a talented group of young-bloods star in Interview with the Vampire, the spellbinding screen adaptation of Anne Rice's best seller that's "one the best films of the year" (Caryn James, The New York Times). Award-winning box-office favorite Cruise stylishly plays the supremely evil and charismatic vampire Lestat. Pitt is Louis, lured by Lestat into the immortality of the damned, then tormented by an unalterable fact of vampire life: to survive, he must kill. Stephen Rea, Antonio Banderas, Christian Slater and newcomer Kirsten Dunst also star. One lifetime alone offers plenty of opportunities for the savage revelries of the night. Imagine what an eternity can bring. Hypnotically directed by Neil Jordan (The Crying Game), Interview with the Vampire offers enough thrills, shocks and fiendish fun to last a lifetime...and beyond.
Source: Warner Home Video
Release Note
DVD Features
Region 1 Snap Case Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.78 Single Side - Dual Layer Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 - English DTS Surround 5.1 - English Additional Release Material: Behind-The-Scenes Documentary: IN THE SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE Interviews Audio Commentary - 1.Neil Jordan - Director Trailer - 1.Original Theatrical Trailer Interview Gallery with Film's Creators and Stars Introduction by Neil Jordan, Anne Rice, and Antonio Banderas Production Stills and Design Sketch Gallery Interactive Features: Interactive Menus Scene Access Text/Photo Galleries: Filmographies Production Notes
DVD Features:
Region 1 Snap Case Single Side - Dual Layer Special Edition Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.78 Letterbox - 1.78 Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 - English, French Stereo 2.0 - English Additional Release Material: Interviews Behind-The-Scenes Documentary: IN THE SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE Introduction: by Neil Jordan, Anne Rice, and Antonio Banderas Interview Gallery with Film's Creators and Stars Audio Commentary: Neil Jordan - Director Trailers: Original Theatrical Trailer Production Stills and Design Sketch Gallery Interactive Features: Interactive Menus Scene Access Text/Photo Galleries: Filmographies Production Notes
Product Notes
Horror author Anne Rice penned the screenplay for this full-blooded adaptation of her novel, which chronicles the life of 18th-century nobleman Louis (Brad Pitt) after he is bitten by powerful, charismatic vampire Lestat (Tom Cruise). Though enthralled with the undead lifestyle at first, Louis is unable to warm up to killing humans and grows despondent. To comfort Louis, Lestat creates another vampire (Kirsten Dunst in a star-making peformance), a young girl who from then on cannot age. Antonio Banderas appears as Armand, a 400-year-old vampire, and Christian Slater plays the radio producer who interviews the remorseful Louis.
Director Neil Jordan captures the lush decadence and erotic fervor of the novel, infusing the film with rich, dusky tones. The big budget is well used to bring each period and place to sharply detailed life, and there is no skimping on the blood or immortal angst. Thandie Newton has a small role as Louis's Creole servant near the beginning of the film, and Jordan regular Stephen Rea appears as a Parisian vampire theater star. INTERVIEW broke weekend box-office records when it premiered and has since earned a spot in the pantheon of great vampire films.
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