Neil Jordan’s Interview with the Vampire (1994) is a lush and lavish exploration of eternal life, where the shadows of New Orleans and Paris are as inviting as they are haunting. Adapted from Anne Rice’s celebrated novel, the film is a powerful blend of gothic romanticism, bloodlust, and erotic tension, but its leading men—Tom Cruise as the charismatic vampire Lestat and Brad Pitt as the tormented Louis—remain a point of contention to this day. With Rice’s novel as its beating heart, Jordan’s adaptation brought a nuanced, sensuous exploration of love, horror, and longing that has endured for nearly three decades, despite those famously bold casting choices.

Jordan’s direction underscores the sensuality that made Rice’s novel iconic. The story is imbued with themes of lust and longing, extending beyond mortal desire into a deep, predatory hunger that consumes its characters, literally and emotionally. Cinematographer Philippe Rousselot bathes the world in warm, seductive lighting that makes the vampire’s nocturnal existence a beautiful nightmare. The story’s vampire leads are creatures driven by a desire that is both deeply romantic and undeniably grotesque, elevating the traditional horror elements of vampirism into something more profound and captivating.

The two vampire leads are captivating in their own way, but critics were polarized by the casting of Cruise and Pitt as Lestat and Louis. For Rice, Lestat was an iconic antihero, an exuberant villain with a touch of madness and charisma that commands the screen. Cruise, already a megastar, seemed an odd choice for the role, and while his performance is flamboyant and committed, it doesn’t always capture the layered, dark humour or philosophical weight of Lestat. Pitt, as the brooding Louis, offers a more subdued, sorrowful portrayal, but at times it veers into passivity, making the character feel too reserved to fully connect with Lestat’s extravagance. In that sense, while Cruise and Pitt deliver star power and charisma, it’s arguable that they miss some of the existential torment and depth that Rice imbued in her protagonists.

Even so, Interview with the Vampire shines when it focuses on the delicate, almost familial connection between the vampires. The introduction of the child vampire Claudia, portrayed by an astonishingly talented Kirsten Dunst, injects a fresh dynamic into the film. Claudia’s tragedy, as a woman trapped in a child’s body, intensifies the film’s exploration of love, loss, and identity, with Dunst’s performance stealing many of the film’s most powerful moments. Claudia’s frustration with her unchanging form and her love-hate relationship with Louis and Lestat elevate Interview beyond a typical vampire tale into a complex character study of immortality’s price.

In the end, Interview with the Vampire is a mesmerizing, albeit imperfect, gothic romance—a film that drips with atmosphere and raw emotion. Jordan’s vision, although sometimes hindered by casting choices, remains a powerful cinematic translation of Rice’s narrative, filled with seduction and existential dread. In fact, its occasional missteps in casting have ironically become part of its charm. Whether or not Cruise and Pitt were ideal as Lestat and Louis, their portrayals have carved a unique place in the pantheon of vampire lore.

Decades later, Interview with the Vampire holds its place as a defining piece of 1990s horror, a moody, romantic, and darkly beautiful portrait of an eternal struggle with mortality and morality. It’s a film that leaves you transfixed by its dark allure and makes you ponder what it truly means to live forever.

• Saul Muerte