Lit. of Horror, Fantasy, & Sci-Fi: Interview with the Vampire
"Interview With the Vampire"
I've always been fascinated by the mythology and legends of vampires and have seen all various takes on the creatures: from Nosferatu to Guillermo del Toro's TV show The Strain, and watching other shows discussing the history of the vampire. "Interview With the Vampire" has got to be among my new favorites. I've read the book and watched the movie as well for a visual experience, and I enjoyed both.
It was certainly a take on the vampire story that I hadn't seen before. I grew up believing all the stereotypical lore--stake through the heart, crucifixes, garlic, etc. Not only did Anne Rice's story turn these "facts" into nothing but silly human superstition, but it also showed another sight to the vampire characters themselves that I hadn't seen in any other adaptation: the ability to love.
The main characters Lestat and Louis end up raising a little girl named Claudia and turn her into a vampire child, the three becoming a "happy family." They were both attached to her for different reasons. Lestat saw her as a pupil to carry on the traditional vampire ways, but Louis had sincere compassion for her; he didn't see her as a monster, but still as a little girl who was robbed of her humanity, like he was. This could be due to Louis still clinging to his sense of morality which Lestat lacks, but he truly cared for her as his own, calling her his daughter when they run off together from Lestat's control. And when Claudia unfortunately and painfully dies from exposure to sunlight, Louis mourns her loss and weeps.
All of these incidents I had never seen in other stories and movies. It was almost like returning a bit of humanity to the monster for a sense of sympathy. I didn't realize how drawn I was to this kind of trope until I read the book and saw the film. Louis took away Claudia's life by feeding on her, and in return years later, he sacrificed the last of his humanity by feasting on human blood once again to give her a companion. It's considered a sin punished by death for vampires to kill their own kind; since it's believed that Lestat is dead, Claudia's life is in danger and Louis will do what he can to protect her.
I had never seen vampires depicted as creatures who could still retain emotions; as aforementioned, it gives them a sense of humanity. It reminds the audience and readers that they were once humans, makes them feel sympathy for the characters. The relationship Louis and Claudia share are probably what make "Interview With the Vampire" as memorable and loved as it is by readers and viewers.
It was certainly a take on the vampire story that I hadn't seen before. I grew up believing all the stereotypical lore--stake through the heart, crucifixes, garlic, etc. Not only did Anne Rice's story turn these "facts" into nothing but silly human superstition, but it also showed another sight to the vampire characters themselves that I hadn't seen in any other adaptation: the ability to love.
The main characters Lestat and Louis end up raising a little girl named Claudia and turn her into a vampire child, the three becoming a "happy family." They were both attached to her for different reasons. Lestat saw her as a pupil to carry on the traditional vampire ways, but Louis had sincere compassion for her; he didn't see her as a monster, but still as a little girl who was robbed of her humanity, like he was. This could be due to Louis still clinging to his sense of morality which Lestat lacks, but he truly cared for her as his own, calling her his daughter when they run off together from Lestat's control. And when Claudia unfortunately and painfully dies from exposure to sunlight, Louis mourns her loss and weeps.
All of these incidents I had never seen in other stories and movies. It was almost like returning a bit of humanity to the monster for a sense of sympathy. I didn't realize how drawn I was to this kind of trope until I read the book and saw the film. Louis took away Claudia's life by feeding on her, and in return years later, he sacrificed the last of his humanity by feasting on human blood once again to give her a companion. It's considered a sin punished by death for vampires to kill their own kind; since it's believed that Lestat is dead, Claudia's life is in danger and Louis will do what he can to protect her.
I had never seen vampires depicted as creatures who could still retain emotions; as aforementioned, it gives them a sense of humanity. It reminds the audience and readers that they were once humans, makes them feel sympathy for the characters. The relationship Louis and Claudia share are probably what make "Interview With the Vampire" as memorable and loved as it is by readers and viewers.
I agree with what you said about it being a unique take on vampire novels. Even though a lot of common vampire tropes were in Interview with the Vampire the way they were handled were more unique than the more modern vampire stories.
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