INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE: SEASON 1 AND 2
****
Created by Rolin Jones.
Starring Jacob Anderson, Sam Reid, Eric Bogosian, Bailey Bass, Delainey Hayles.
Horror, USA, Certificate 18
Released on Blu-ray by Acorn Media International on 7th October
How does one approach the vampire when it has been so effectively ridiculed of late in WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS? Can we take the archetype seriously after TWILIGHT so successfully reduced it to a teen heart attack? A new TV take on an INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE (IWTV) could be the way to go, if it can traverse the tricky transition to a new format.
The show begins with the vampire Louis de Pointe du Luc seeking out Daniel Molloy, an ageing journalist to tell his story. They have previously met, with an unsuccessful interview in the mid-70s showing that neither were ready for introspection. Louis’ story is one of love and loss, lust and a deal with the devil, in the form of Lestat de Lioncourt. Lestat turns Louis and their lives weave together, through better and often worse. At one point Louis asks ‘are we the sum of our worst moments?’, a sentiment that feels the crux of this new take on Anne Rice’s classic novel.
The narrative fits the change of format. There is a sweep both in terms of time and geography to IWTV, as immortal undead beings can traverse centuries with their lives weaving in around each other. But the story is grounded by returning to the titular interview, a modern day setting that keeps the show’s narrative focused. Where some stories are made for cinema, others flourish on the smaller screen. Added to this is the fact that Anne Rice has 13 novels as part of her VAMPIRE CHRONICLES series, or IMMORTAL UNIVERSE as it is being called here, and you have one property that can make television its own.
Showrunner Rolin Jones comes with a wealth of television experience with IWTV perhaps hueing closest to BOARDWALK EMPIRE, a similar period piece exploring foundational times for a modern America. 1910s New Orleans is presented beautifully, the time period allowing for sumptuous costuming and no expense spared in the setting.
Casting is on point too. Jacob Anderson is a soulful, complicated protagonist, capturing what haunts Louis throughout the decades. He has a wonderful chemistry with Sam Reid, whose Lestat makes the first portion their own. Reid is charming and dangerous, funny and repugnant, a wonderful monster at the heart of the tale. The additional running time allows for a great exploration of the journalist conducting the interview, with Eric Bogosian’s performance blossoming and becoming more complicated as the show stretches it. The seasoned performer, familiar to viewers of SUCCESSION, is the one who truly benefits from the extra screen time. And yet what truly heightens the first run of episodes is Bailey Bass’ Claudia, aged-up in the show to a 14-year-old. Bass is compelling, her Claudia maturing throughout the run. It is a slight loss that Bass is not carried over to the second season and is instead recast, but Delainey Hayles is still a strong replacement.
A more modern approach to adaptation means that what once was insinuated is fully embraced, exploring the queer side of Rice’s work. Space is also given over to exploring race and the deeper nuances of vampiric life. In fact, one can go as far as to say the first series doesn’t put a foot wrong. Which is why it is a shame the second weakens somewhat. There is still the lushness of design and richness of craft, but it all falls into a regretful narrative lull, stuck in a Parisian locale that is far less interesting than one might hope for.
At the very least the first season of IWTV is worth your time, finding a wonderful blend of crafts both on and off the screen. And the second season ends in such a way that this viewer will certainly keep watching, drawn into the rich world of Anne Rice once again.
Russell Bailey
