February 22, 2002

by Veronica Mixon

Lestat lives! After sleeping for a several decades in New Orleans, the wily Lestat (Stuart Townsend) rises when he hears something wonderful - heavy metal music! In QUEEN OF THE DAMNED, he "adopts" a struggling band and becomes their lead singer. As the star, he announces to the world, "I am the Vampire Lestat" and invites other vampires to join him - much to their chagrin! He loves this Goth world of dark moods, black eye shadow and clothes, and their flirtation with death that the angst-ridden youth worship. Furthermore, no one bothers him about all of the missing groupies who visit and never are seen again. "It's a good thing," says one of his handlers to a rejected girl because he knows that Lestat can be a vicious monster.

We learn in a lush, very erotic flashback about Marius (Vincent Perez), the ancient vampire who turned the French nobleman into his undead companion. Marius taught Lestat how to behave in the world and like many vampires who remember their human lives, Lestat mourned the loss of this warm earthly attachment. When he hears the beautiful music of a pretty gypsy woman on a Mediterranean beach, Lestat can't help himself. He wants to connect but stepping out of the shadows proves fatal for the object of his brief affections. He keeps her violin and uses music to soothe his aching dead soul.

Eventually, Lestat's intoxicating music awakens an ancient creature older than Marius. Queen Akasha (Aaliyah), a Egyptian noble who is the mother of all vampires invites Lestat to join her but Marius quickly spirits her away leaving Lestat alone for the good part of an eternity. Once Lestat arises again as a rock star, Marius pays him a visit and the bitter Lestat teases and berates his maker.

"I see you still like the old ways. How did you ever get through the 1950s in red velvet?" But, Marius ignores Lestat's anger because the threat of Queen Akasha reawakening puts the entire world in jeopardy. Her appetite is insatiable and she'll kill mortal and immortals alike. Nevertheless, Lestat doesn't care. He's tired of being alone.

In fact, the only other person who has captured Lestat's attention is a mortal woman named Jesse (Marguerite Moreau). She is an eager-beaver Talamascan, a person that studies paranormal activity and vampires. She's drawn to them perhaps because it makes her feel most alive! When Jesse and Lestat meet in London, there is an instant erotic link as he scares away all over vampires and checks her out for himself. "Thank you for saving me," she said, scared and panting. "How presumptuous of you!" he teases circling her like prey. But, she startles him with intimate knowledge of his history because she's read his journal. Then she follows him to the United States where he plans to hold a concert in Death Valley. And, so does Queen Akasha!

QUEEN OF THE DAMNED is a scary, erotic thrill! In the previous film based on Anne Rice's Interview With A Vampire, Neil Jordan caught the wrath of the author by casting Tom Cruise, who did a superb job as Lestat. Well, director Michael Rymer and producer, Jorge Saralegui prove that a relatively unknown Irish actor could also do an admiral job.

Newcomer, Stuart Townsend, who was seen last year in About Adam opposite Kate Hudson and Frances O'Conner, is absolutely marvelous. The handsome Townsend is sensual, androgynous and hypnotic. Townsend's pale skin and mesmerizing stare along with his laid-back tone is very alluring as he casts his net over mortal admires and prey. On screen, you never doubt that Marius, Akasha or Jesse is dying to be close to him. Rymer's Lestat is sexier than Jordan's Lestat and I love it!