Hate Watching Interview With The Vampire: Emo Vamps, Campy Cruise and So Many Beautiful Men

Send us a text

Take a journey into the sumptuous yet flawed world of Anne Rice's vampires as Tony and Dan sink their teeth into "Interview with the Vampire," the 1994 adaptation that tantalized audiences but left many fans of the novel bloodthirsty for more.

The hosts explore how this gothic tale suffers from its reluctance to embrace the passionate relationships at its core. While Tom Cruise goes full throttle as the flamboyant Lestat and Brad Pitt broods intensely as the tortured Louis, their chemistry never ignites the screen with the intensity described in Rice's prose. But amidst these missed opportunities shines Kirsten Dunst, whose haunting portrayal of the child vampire Claudia steals every scene—a remarkable achievement considering her young age and the Hollywood heavyweights surrounding her.

With their trademark humor, Tony and Dan pick apart the film's logical inconsistencies while appreciating its sumptuous visual aesthetic and practical effects. They examine how the 1990s cultural context limited the film's willingness to explore its queer subtext, creating a strange dissonance where characters who should be deeply connected barely seem to like each other.

The discussion ventures into fascinating territory as they consider the nature of immortality, the horror of eternal stasis, and how the film's portrayal of vampirism differs from both its source material and other vampire stories that followed. Whether you're a devoted fan of Rice's vampires or just curious about this influential piece of 90s cinema, this episode offers bloody good insights into what makes "Interview with the Vampire" both memorable and frustrating.

What vampire films do you think better capture the sensuality and horror of immortality? Share your thoughts in the comments and join us next week when we'll be reviewing the 2025 adaptation of "Snow White."

Written Lovingly by AI

Be our friend!

Dan: @shakybacon
Tony: @tonydczech

And follow the podcast on IG: @hatewatchingDAT