Netflix has recently added a film that features what some think is Tom Cruise’s best ever peformance that should have won him an Oscar.
Interview With The Vampire, also hailed as one of the greatest vampire films ever made, is now part of the streamer’s vast library.
This cult classic, which originally hit UK cinemas in 1995, features a narrative told from the perspective of a vampire named Louis de Pointe du Lac, portrayed by Brad Pitt.
His two-century-long life story is recounted to a reporter, played by Christian Slater, through a series of flashbacks starting from 1791 when Louis was a plantation owner in Louisiana.
Following the tragic loss of his wife and child, a drunken Louis is attacked by a vampire named Lestat de Lioncourt, played by Tom Cruise, who turns him into an immortal companion.
The film chronicles their life together, including their unconventional adoption of a young girl, brilliantly portrayed by an 11 year old Kirsten Dunst. Based on Anne Rice’s 1976 novel of the same name, Rice also wrote the screenplay for the film.
Interestingly, she initially protested against Cruise’s casting as Lestat.
A group of devoted readers gathered at an event, urging others to sign a petition boycotting the film adaptation. Carried away by the emotions, Rice joined in, publicly criticising Cruise’s casting, calling him too short and with too high-pitched a voice to portray Lestat, reports Surrey Live.
However, after watching the movie, Rice penned an open letter, somewhat apologetic, to Cruise. In it, she wrote: ” From the moment he appeared, Tom was Lestat for me. He has the immense physical and moral presence; he was defiant and yet never without conscience; he was beautiful beyond description yet compelled to do cruel things.”
Rice continued: “The sheer beauty of Tom was dazzling, but the polish of his acting, his flawless plunge into the Lestat persona, his ability to speak rather boldly poetic lines, and speak them with seeming ease and conviction were exhilarating and uplifting. The guy is great.”
This sentiment is shared by fans to this day. One online reviewer commented: “Beautiful movie about vampires. Probably Tom Cruise’s best performance. Who doesn’t love Brad Pitt . Kirsten Dunst steals the show. Antonio Banderas looks great in a long wig.”
One fan emphatically stated: “They can remake this all they want. Or continue with making other adaptations of Anne Rice’s other books. But they will NEVER touch this movie. It is a perfect orchestration. There is no part of it that I can complain about. Tom Cruise IS Lestat. No one can out-do him on this character. Not even come close.”
The film has cemented its place as an iconic piece in the vampire genre, resonating with audiences through its exploration of relationships and morality. A fan expressed their admiration by saying: “By far one of the best vampire movies ever made. Sure Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt were big stars back then but a role like this could never happen again with such awesomeness! I was never a huge Cruise or Pitt fan but I got to say this is their best performances ever.”
Echoing these sentiments, another admirer shared: “One of the best vampire movies ever. It is right up there along side of Bram Stroker’s Dracula. Tom Cruise’s portrayal of Lestat was one of best performances ever. He should have gotten an Oscar for the part. Everybody that was in this movie should.”
Interview With The Vampire is streaming on Netflix.