Interview with the Vampire

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Template:Cleanup-date Template:Infobox Film Interview with the Vampire is a novel by Anne Rice written in 1973 and published in 1976 by Alfred A. Knopf. The book centres on themes of immortality, loss, sexuality and power. It quickly became a cult success and has had a huge influence on present Goth culture. It was followed by several sequels, collectively known as The Vampire Chronicles.

What set the novel apart from its predecessors of the vampire genre was its confessional tone offering the point-of-view of the vampire himself and touching on existential despair and the sheer boredom of lifeless immortality.

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Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (film)

In 1994, Neil Jordan directed a film based on the novel. The movie starred Tom Cruise as Lestat, Brad Pitt as Louis, Antonio Banderas as Armand, Stephen Rea as Santiago, Christian Slater as Daniel Molloy and an 11 year old Kirsten Dunst as Claudia.

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Book

The book is markedly different from the movie. In the book, Louis does not feed on mortals until late in his immortality, and when he finally does, it is only on strangers that he feeds. He prefers not to know anything about them, refusing to stalk his prey or toy with them. Louis is forever haunted by the death of Claudia and has a love/hate relationship with Armand, who killed her to get close to him. Louis proves to dislike Armand on some level; despite his distaste for Lestat, Louis is continually drawn to him, loving him despite his faults. Louis fears his vampiric nature and refuses to drink Lestat's powerful blood to become strong. He is considered very attractive by the other vampires, as they are attracted to his mortality. It is not the love of the hunt so much as an erotic love. He, like Maharet, had never hibernated, because of his attachment to the mortal world. Another small difference is the fact that vampires cry blood in the books; in the film Louis cries regular tears.

Characters:

Daniel Malloy is a reporter. He starts to record the life story of Louis the vampire. After the interview with Louis he wants to become a vampire because he thinks it is a nice life.

Lestat de Lioncourt was born in 1760. In 1779 he fled with a friend to Paris to become an actor. There an old vampire named Magnus ambushes him. Lestat thinks he is the best and shows it to everyone. He is full of spirits but a lovely guy.

Louis de Pointe du Lac was created by Lestat. Anne Rice wrote this book after the death of her daughter and so Louis became a melancholic and depressive person because she projects her feelings into Louis. He was born 1766 in New Orleans. In 1791 he becomes a vampire. He is the only vampire with human feelings and so he cannot kill human beings. Louis is the opposite of Lestat: he shows his weaknesses and he is faithful.

Armand became a vampire in the 15th century by Marius. Armand is the leader of a group of vampires and manages the “Theâtre des Vampires” in Paris. His character is embossed by a lot of shocking experiences. He is very intelligent and swore never to make a vampire.

Claudia is a very young girl turned into a vampire in 1794 by Louis and Lestat. In the body of a small child she is a woman. Louis is addicted to Claudia and is thus distraught when she dies.

Madeleine is a Parisian woman who lost her daughter and thereupon begins to love Claudia as if she were her own flesh. They are killed together.

Santiago is the classical vampire and member of the “Theâtre des Vampires“. At first he seems to be a joker, but then you see that he is a cruel murderer. He kills Claudia and Madeleine and for revenge, Louis decapitates him.

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