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When it comes to modern literature of vampire fiction, Anne Rice’s Interview With The Vampire comes to mind as an influential piece of work. With its many sequels that came after, the author’s Gothic horror tales have made their way to other media, including a 1994 film adaptation. AMC is ready to crack another take at this classic series with a new adaptation that serves as a retelling and a sequel to Rice’s first book. AMC’s version of Interview With The Vampire shows much more understanding of the source material as it brings the story to modern times. This new take adds to the homoerotic undertones of the books while delivering on the promise of honoring the themes of the late authors’ work.
The premise of the story has Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson) narrating his journey as a vampire to seasoned journalist Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian). What is interesting is that they have spoken once before when Daniel was a young man in the 1970s. Flash forward 50 years as we find Daniel reconnecting with the reporter to retell his story and give the facts straight about his time with his master and lover Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid). In an era of technology and social media, Louis has found a way to stay hidden in the shadows while keeping himself alive from the dangers of the sunlight. Louis brings us to a world filled with opportunities, love, loss, violence, and immortality. The story of Louis and Lestat begins with their first encounter in New Orleans.
The series takes some drastic changes from the source material that adds another layer to the story of these two vampires. For one, Louis is portrayed as a black man living in the early 1900s rather than in 1791 in Louisiana. With this big change, we get to see Louis as a complex character as he deals with race and class in a whole new perspective that expands from the novel. Rather than being a plantation worker from the books, he works as an owner of a saloon in the city’s red-light district of Storyville. Viewers can experience Louis working to provide for his family and living up to the high standards of the rich whites living in their town. The show also explores Louis discovering his sexuality and trying to not act on it in a society where living as a person of color in those times is often difficult to endure. His life changes once Lestat comes to town and worms his way into his life.
The chemistry shown between Anderson and Reid is electrifying on screen. Reid portrays Lestat as the seductive Frenchman who sees Louis as he genuinely is and longs to be with him. When it comes to Anderson’s take on Louis, viewers can sense some resistance from him as Lestat continues to draw him in with every opportunity he gets. The instant attraction between these two men brings so much desire and complications that follow after their first encounter. It is under the circumstances that Louis faces with society and his family that make him take the gift of immortality from Lestat to escape the pain he always carries. We get to explore further what draws these two men together and the teases of tension that will ultimately drive them apart as we see in the first two episodes.
Reid brings a volatile presence in his portrayal as Lestat, bringing a compelling character who has an allure to him as well as a hidden side to him that is vulnerable to anger. Whenever we see both Lestat and Louis settling their disputes, it is often comparable to a domestic couple trying to work things out. No matter how deadly Lestat can be, he always finds a way to calm the situation when things get ugly. It’s probably why Louis finds it difficult to leave his side, even though Lestat can be quite manipulative to him most of the time. Reid brings out the best version of Lestat from previous portrayals, perhaps because this is the most fully developed character we have gotten from the books since the series concluded back in 2019.
Anderson also does a great service to his character Louis despite being somewhat of a departure from the books. The show leans more into his queerness as a primary source of his suffering, but it also roots in the death of his brother. Because of the pressure and trauma he faces, we see how Lestat’s pressure on Anderson makes him the perfect companion to his vampire self. It becomes a toxic relationship once Claudia (Bailey Bass) comes into the picture. Much like Louis, Claudia’s characterization also differs from the source material but not too much to distinguish itself to be a huge departure from her literary counterpart. In any case, it is Claudia who fully tests Louis and Lestat’s relationship as Louis becomes protective of her after she becomes a vampire like them.
Interview With The Vampire is an intoxicating and thought-provoking adaptation of Anne Rice’s beloved novel. The production of the series is visually stunning with its beautiful details as a period piece. The show delivers on the eroticism of the source material as well as the blood and violence that comes along with it. Despite being a tale about vampires, it is filled with intrigue and danger that should stand apart from other takes on the popular genre. It should keep viewers invested thanks to the incredible performances from the two leads. The show may depart from the books, but it pays homage to it also by exploring its themes while being a more updated take. It may not be up to everyone’s standards, but it certainly has some bite to it.
Anne Rice’s Interview With The Vampire premieres on October 2nd on AMC.
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