Warning: Spoilers 

Anne Rice’s 1976 debut novel “Interview with the Vampire,” has become the most beloved and debated works of twentieth century gothic fiction. The homo-erotic novel was initially panned by critics for its  “eroticism,” but gained popularity amongst readers who became captivated by Anne Rice’s descriptive storytelling. 

The novel follows Louis de Pointe du Lac, a human turned vampire during the eighteenth century, who’s turbulent relationship with his creator and lover Lestat de Lioncourt deteriorates as they adopt and turn a five-year old girl, named Claudia. The character of Louis, who struggles with his immortality and past humanity, recounts his melancholic life to the young reporter Daniel Molloy.  

While Rice initially began writing the story in 1968-1969, Rice was struck with the sudden loss of her four year old daughter Michelle, that temporarily sent Rice into a deep depression and alcoholism. While still grieving the sudden loss of Michelle, Rice began to rework on the 1968-1969 story that would later become a 369 page book. 

Rice drew many inspirations for the character of Claudia from Michelle, who served as an outlet to grieve and mourn the sudden loss of her. 

Since the initial release of the book, several adaptations have been produced in hopes of capturing the alluring story on screen. The first film adaptation came in 1994 and the second adaptation, came in 2022 on AMC.  

While both adaptations are unique in their perspectives and take on the book, the question I want to discuss is: Which version is the best? 

Directed by Neil Jordan, 1994’s “Interview with the Vampire” stars Brad Pitt as Louis, Tom Cruise as Lestat and a very young but extremely talented Kristen Dunst as Claudia. 

Spanning over two hours, the film follows the majority of the book’s events and plots. Taking place in New Orleans during the tail end of the eighteenth century through the twentieth century, the film depicts the immortal lives of Louis, Lestat, and Claudia as they navigate extreme feelings of lust, death, and blood. 

While the movie captures the alluring elegance of the three vampires, there are several missed opportunities within the plot that tackles the homoerotic nature of Louis and Lestat. The issue of their relationship became a pressing issue for the Jordan, who “heterosexualized” the nature of their companionship to be more mainstream.

 While I of course understand that the 1990s was a different time period and making the relationship between Louis and Lestat explicit would have greatly altered the public’s response to the film; I however find the queer elements in the book are crucial to the allure and appeal of the books. 

Despite the setbacks created by the plot, one of the highlights of the film is Tom’s Cruise performance. Admittedly, like many others including Rice herself, was skeptical of Cruise playing Lestat. However, Cruise captures the frivolity and narcissistic nature of Lestat; bringing a light hearted touch of comedy and seduction into the film. 

Despite these changes between Louis and Lestat, I do think the movie is enjoyable in that it excels in capturing the intense gothic influences the book has. However the movie is somewhat a little poorly paced and can somewhat feel a little “dull.”

28 years later, and just a year after Rice’s passing in 2021,  a second adaption was announced, but this time as a series. AMC’s “Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire” was released on AMC+ in 2022. 

To start, the character of Louis, who in the book was a plantation owning White Creole man during the 1790s, who struggled with the death of his brother Paul causing him to seek his own death. 

However in this version, Louis is played by Jacob Anderson, and is changed into being a closeted Black Creole man at the turn of the twentieth century who owns several brothels in New Orleans.

This change in Louis’s race and identity drastically changes not only the dynamics of how the character has to navigate the segregated South but also the dynamics of his relationship with Lestat. 

Lestat’s identity in this version remains the same, a wealthy French vampire from the eighteenth century who comes to New Orleans and upon arrival, is immediately drawn to Louis.

Louis, played by Sam Reid, is a lot more seductive, openly queer, and evil in this version. Something that this version is keen on is the elements of abuse between Louis and Lestat that were embedded into the original book. 

The doomed character of Claudia’s race and age is changed too, with this version’s Claudia being a Black Creole who has been aged up to 14 years old. Played by Bailey Bass in the first season of the show, then played by Delainly Hayles both actresses are given the challenge of having to portray a fierce vampire trapped in the physical body of a 14 years old.

The aging up of Claudia’s age from five-year old to 14 years old is something I think really adds more to the story considering that Claudia is now stuck in between the transitional phase of adolescence to teenager.

With these changes also comes the depictions of the relationship between Louis and Lestat, which the 1994 movie was hesitant to do. In this adaptation, Louis and Lestat’s relationship isn’t “implied” but explicit with both sharing the same coffin (an indicator of their love for one another.) 

I think that because this apadation is a series that spans over two seasons, the creators are able to capture more themes and storylines to better elevate the storytelling when compared to the 1994 movie. While both adaptations are able to respectfully explore the world of Rice’s novels, I personally find the 2022 AMC’s version to be the more “superior.”

Superior in that it isn’t afraid to not stray away from Rice’s original story, but at the same time is able to capture the compelling dynamics of vampire relationships and the universal desire to be loved in life and death.