In this adaptation of Anne Rice’s gothic novel, Louis (Brad Pitt) recalls his life as a vampire, which begins with his transformation at the hands (or fangs) of Lestat (Tom Cruise). Louis is disillusioned by Lestat’s bloodlust and eagerness to hunt humans for nourishment, and chooses to survive on animal blood instead. One day, they encounter a dying girl named Claudia (Kirsten Dunst), who is then transformed into a vampire by Lestat. Though they initially plan to raise her as their daughter, the nature of immortality means that Claudia will remain in a child’s body even after decades have passed. Resentment and betrayal eventually lead them to unspeakable horror. Dunst, at age 12, is tremendously impressive in her role as Claudia, a tragic character whose adult mind is trapped inside a girl’s body.

Neil Jordan (b. 1950, Ireland) is a filmmaker and writer. He first came to prominence with the award-winning crime drama Mona Lisa (1986), then achieved widespread success with The Crying Game (1992), which received several Academy Awards nominations, includingBest Picture and Best Director. He has continued his film career in Ireland and the United States., making films such as Ondine (2009) and Greta (2018).