Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles

Over his career Tom Cruise has supplied audiences with his share of good, bad, and indifferent feature films. Released in 1994, and adapted from the works of Anne Rice, Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles gave audiences Brad Pitt as a present-day vampire describing his history to a reporter (Christian Slater). Directed by Neil Jordan the film also stars Cruise as the vampire Lestat turned by Louie (Pitt) and a young Kirsten Dunst as a child turned into a vampire who will never age.

The movie, and Cruise's character, still feels too whiny as Lestat bemoans his immortality eventually turning on other vampires and walking the Earth alone. It's certainly an interesting looking film (earning an Oscar nomination for Art Design) and even a whiny Cruise is occasionally compelling in the role of Lestat, Pitt is effectively creepy, and Dunst offers glimpses of the actress she would become. The film suffers a bit after Pitt exits stage left to be replaced by a vampire coven including Thandie Newton and Antonio Banderas.

Recently re-released in a new 20th Anniversary Blu-ray, extras include commentary by Jordan, a short behind-the-scenes featurette, introduction by Rice, Jordan, and Banderas, and the film's trailer (all previously released). The only new extra is a new featurette looking back at Rice's characters and the movie's place in vampire movie history which includes both new and old interview footage.

[Warner Home Video, $19.98]