Reel Critics

Jim Erwin

“Queen of the Damned,” based on the works of Anne Rice, is the best

horror movie I’ve seen in a long, long time. I’m not a huge Anne Rice

fan, but I am a fan of horror flicks and vampire flicks. This is classic

horror, done perfectly.

It’s a great mixture of action and humor, with a story that is complex

enough to keep you wondering what will happen next. It is refreshing to

see a movie where the Hollywood revenue formula is cast aside in favor of

being true to the elements of the story. There’s no obligatory nudity and

the rock ‘n’ roll soundtrack isn’t a vehicle for cross-promoting a

compilation CD. The movie received an R rating for “vampire violence,”

which is pretty funny when you think about it.

In the opening sequence, the Vampire Lestat (Stuart Townsend) rises

from his grave after being awakened by the sound of a rock ‘n’ roll band

playing in his New Orleans mansion. Lestat quickly realizes that the

world has changed. As the lead singer of a goth-rock band, his vampirism

appears to be just a publicity gimmick. Hiding in plain site as a vampire

rock star gives Lestat an endless supply of groupies on which to feed, as

well as the mass adoration he has craved throughout his existence.

Hardcore Anne Rice fans may be disappointed that details from the

books that are left out of “Queen of the Damned.” The movie combines

elements of several of Rice’s books into a story that unfolds in a little

over an hour and a half, so a lot had to be cut. Rice’s homoerotic themes

are mostly left behind, as is tons of European vampire history. What

remains is the story of Lestat, and how his egotistical plans to become a

vampire rock ‘n’ roll god impact the modern-day vampire community. I

think this movie is a lot fun and is a must see for horror fans who’s

interests span beyond topless women being chased by a faceless slasher.

* JIM ERWIN, 39, is a technical writer and computer trainer.