The Paw Print

By Luna Randall, Staff Writer

What Makes this Show so Fascinating?

AMC’s Interview with the Vampire is based on Anne Rice’s gothic horror classic of the same name. The show, available on Netflix, is currently 2 seasons long, with 15 episodes. While often compared to the 1994 film adaptation, this version offers a more captivating take on the narrative. The show changes certain aspects of the original story, adding a modern spin. The plot hooks you in with the premise of a redo of an interview with Louis de Pointe du Lac, a 147 year old vampire.
Daniel Molloy, the interviewer, initially interviewed him in the 1970s, but it ended disastrously. Now, Louis is ready to tell the whole story with the intention of it being published. This setup connects the narrative to modern day , with the story taking place in 2022. The premise adds modern technology to the vampire’s lives, adding an interesting element to the setting. The modern premise also allows for the exploration of themes, such as the character’s queerness, that were made less clear in the original.

The interview begins with the two sitting down in Louis’ penthouse in the Al Sharaf towers. Louis recounts his life through long, detailed flashbacks that show the events as they happened. Between these plot segments, Louis and the interviewer exchange commentary. Daniel frequently questions Louis’ account, even challenging him at times. This forces the main character to open up more, giving us a peek into his psyche.

This show’s main focus is on the character’s lives. It is driven by their actions and motivations, making it less about conventional vampires and more about the complexities of relationships, morality and the human condition. Vampirism is used to peer into the depth of these concepts. That’s not to say there isn’t some great horror, with the show’s special effects are masterfully done to scare and immerse the audience into the violent nature and actions of the vampires. Scenes, such as when Claudia is burnt in the sunlight, feature chillingly realistic bodily effects. The horror element aids the narrative, keeping the viewer hooked and visually communicating the strong feelings these characters experience.

Another visual element I enjoyed was the casting choices. After watching the 1994 movie, I thought an adaptation matching the original performance of Lestat wouldn’t exist, but Sam Reid absolutely embodies the character, showing his complex personality unlike any before him.

The writing team and the actor communicate both the character’s desperate, weak traits alongside his cunning and egotistical ones. This is something most adaptations of the character miss the mark on, typically focusing on Lestat as merely a self-obbsessed, brutal vampire. The team writing these characters evidently has a love and thorough understanding of the original texts and personalities.

This appreciation is reflected in Jacob Anderson (Louis), Bailey Bass and Delainey Hayle’s performances of Louis and Claudia. For context, the actress for Claudia switched between seasons one and two due to Bass having scheduling conflicts. The actors breathe life into the undead characters, embodying their tumultuous personalities and delivering the best performances of their characters in any Anne Rice adaptation.

Seasons one and two definitely did not disappoint. They exceeded my expectations in every way and were enjoyable from start to finish. I have high hopes for Season three, upon seeing all the trailers. It’s a thrilling watch that balances horror with well-developed characters and plots. Anyone with an interest in vampires, romance and drama would enjoy this show.