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Movie Review

I can not say for certain what most people's reactions to "Interview with the Vampire" will be. Some love it, (not necessarily fans of the books), some find it a fluffy piece of fun and still others find it a dark piece of horror. I have read all of the books in Anne Rice's vampire chronicles. And I agree with the author's delight with the cinematic version of her story. It captured the sensuous mood of her book perfectly.

The vampires are portrayed less as demons and more as tormented artists in the medium of predation. "Interview with the Vampire" is depicted from the point of view of Louis, (Brad Pitt). He is a young vampire, made by Lestat, (Tom Cruise), who is portrayed as a capricious, self centered, secretive and powerful figure that dominates Louis's life.

Lestat, with Louis, is trying to live a normal, semi-human existence but the urgency of this desire is like a prison for the tormented Louis. Just as Louis seems ready to break free, Lestat uses a momentary weakness, on the part of his partner, to create a vampiric daughter for the pair of them -- her name is Claudia (Kirsten Dunst).

In the end even this is not enough. Louis and his "daughter", Claudia attempt to destroy their creator and flee New Orleans to seek the legendary vampires of Europe.This event climaxes in an orgy of destruction as the coven is destroyed by Louis in revenge for the murder of his Daughter.

The movie version of "Interview with the Vampire", is very close to the novel but it does have a completely different ending which will force further divergences from Anne Rice's work as the movies continue. I look forward to the sequel, as the second book, "The Vampire Lestat", was even better than the first.