Lestat has been a divisive character since his inception in Anne Rice’s novel Interview with the Vampire, which was revealed in 1976. A romantic, a rock star, and an abusive monster multi practical. For a time, the 1994 film adaptation of the similar title reigned king of homoerotic gothic horror. Tom Cruise as Lestat, with Brad Pitt starring alongside him as a result of the would-be romantic curiosity Louis – if the film hadn’t shied away from it. This movie has become iconic, not just for the actor’s fame, nonetheless the storytelling and visual language of the film itself. That is, nonetheless, until the AMC adaptation of Interview with the Vampire totally blew the distinctive out of the water. With two very fully completely different variations of the availability supplies, who was able to grab the essence of the vampire Lestat probably the greatest, Tom Cruise or Sam Reid?
Tom Cruise
The place Tom Cruise’s energy’s lie are making his Lestat deliciously creepy. From the long-lasting dinner desk scene the place he kills a rat and pours its blood proper right into a glass for Louis, to late inside the film as soon as we return to him in his withering, monstrous kind. That is the place, sadly, loads of the positives end for this Lestat (and the variation as a whole.)
The 1994 film might need been one of many iconic vampire movies of the last few a very long time, but it surely feels pretty gap in returning to it. The manufacturing is unbelievable, and the solid appears good. However Tom Cruise is seemingly miscast inside the place. He wouldn’t convey enough to the desk to fully do Lestat justice on the large show. The place the most important downside lies is likely to be in his rage and intimidation. Not as quickly as does it actually really feel like Lestat’s anger is true, or that his threats are precise. Even after they do come to fruition inside the narrative, it nonetheless seems like Tom Cruise having fun with a vampire, as an alternative of him disappearing into the place. In any case, not all of the issues is his fault. He has to juggle a two-hour movie the place he is missing for a giant portion of it, so Cruise would not get as quite a bit show time to fiddle with. They’ve stripped away loads of the romance between Lestat and Louis; the one issue left are hints in path of it. That alone is a big disservice to the story, characters, and Anne Rice. This isn’t to say Cruise’s effectivity is horrible, nonetheless it might have been quite quite a bit larger, every on his half and the script. The movie stays to be undoubtedly a primary, possibly ensuing from its all-star cast, nonetheless Lestat significantly leaves quite quite a bit to be desired coming off this film.
Sam Reid
On the choice end, and twenty-eight years later, Sam Reid is an absolute imaginative and prescient to behold as Lestat de Lioncourt in AMC’s manufacturing of Interview with the Vampire. On this reboot of The Vampire Chronicles, we get an updated setting in every the earlier and present sections of the narrative, richer storytelling, and unbelievable performances all through the board. It is no marvel why AMC was so assured on this current a season two was greenlit sooner than the first season had even aired.
Sam Reid will get to fade into the character of Lestat, perhaps becoming the quintessential mannequin of the character everyone will be mindful eventually. Reid does have a technical leg up on Cruise simply because this generally is a assortment and by no means a movie. Reid will get quite extra show time to develop his Lestat, all through all seven episodes. He would not have to care for an absence like Cruise did, at least not however, on account of they have not gotten that far contained in the story. As a substitute, Reid will get to gradual burn Lestat’s descent into madness, or at least the reveal of it, as we meet him though Louis (Jacob Anderson) and their romantic connection. Loads of this mannequin of Lestat is his appeal to, and to start out along with his refined administration over Louis. It was really essential to nail his charisma, so it is easier to overlook his further unfavourable factors to start out with. That is what makes the later episodes so heartbreaking, as a result of it turns into clear that he is an abuser, and in each episode it can get elevated. It isn’t merely abuse of their relationship, however as well as in path of Claudia (Bailey Bass) who’s principally their daughter.
Reid Excels The place Cruise Failed
Sam Reid’s best capability is the place Tom Cruise didn’t excel: Lestat’s anger and violence. The place, at situations, Cruise seems to be nearly having fun with a caricature of Lestat, Reid’s capability to faucet into rage for Lestat’s later violent moments makes an infinite distinction. Reid’s Lestat is terrifying, dangerous, and a seemingly unstoppable energy of terror, and he feels precise. All behind his menacingly handsome face. Reid himself will become the long-lasting Lestat inside time, if he’s not already, simply because he took (and was given) quite a bit time and effort in guaranteeing to flesh out the character collectively along with his nice effectivity. Reid leaves you craving further of his effectivity of Lestat, even after all the ghastly points he does on this primary season. He’s merely that good inside the place.
AMC’s Immortal Universe is just getting started, and with Interview with the Vampire already being renewed for a second season, look to see further Lestat eventually. Whereas it’s clear the story is heading within the similar course of the novel, and Lestat might in all probability take a backseat place subsequent season, we’re not accomplished with him. Lestat has an infinite future ahead of him, and one which solely Reid can adjust to through with. Sooner than he turns into the long-lasting rock star he is inside the novels, he nonetheless has to endure his horrific journey, one which brings him near demise, solely feeding on animals (which is hinted at in one among many closing scenes of the season), sooner than he in the end regains energy and joins a rock band. A far cry from the additional extreme factors the gathering has taken on, however when anyone can take this place with sincerity and care, it’s Reid.