Queen of the Damned (film)
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| Queen of the Damned | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Directed by | Michael Rymer |
| Written by | Anne Rice (novel), Scott Abbott (screenplay), Michael Petroni (screenplay) |
| Starring | Aaliyah, Stuart Townsend, Marguerite Moreau, Vincent Perez, Lena Olin, Paul McGann |
| Music by | Richard Gibbs Jonathan Davis |
| Release date(s) | February 22, 2002 |
| Running time | 101 min |
| Country |  United States Australia |
| Language | English |
| Budget | USD $35,000,000 |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Queen of the Damned is a 2002 film adaptation of the third novel of Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles series, The Queen of the Damned although the film contained many plot elements from that novel's predecessor, The Vampire Lestat.
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[edit] Development
Warner Bros. had acquired the film rights to several of Anne Rice's novels – the first three Vampire Chronicles and The Mayfair Witches trilogy[1] after a 1988 takeover of Lorimar Productions. An eventual adaptation of Interview with the Vampire (directed by Neil Jordan and produced by David Geffen) was released in 1994, although not without controversy, particularly over fan reaction to the casting of Tom Cruise as Lestat, an objection initially shared by Anne Rice which she subsequently recanted after seeing the finished film.
After the commercial and critical success of Interview, Neil Jordan began initial development of the novel's sequel, The Vampire Lestat, although this went nowhere.
As the rights to the novels would revert back to Anne Rice at the end of 2000, initial story meetings to adapt one or both of the remaining Vampire Chronicles began in 1998. The decision was made early to substantially rewrite the plot, and to base most of the movie on the third book: The Vampire Lestat was considered too broad and episodic for a two-hour feature film, although the novel's setup of Lestat's awakening and career as a rock star was used. It was also decided to focus on Lestat as the primary character, and the back story of Akasha and the Story of the Twins were omitted, despite these being virtually central to the plot of the novel.[2]
Displeased with the lack of progress, and more particularly with the studio's lack of consultation with her over the script development, author Anne Rice wrote a critical reply to a fan's question about the film in 1998:[3]
"The key factor is that the entire vampire contract terminates in the year 2000. All the properties revert back to me at that time, unless production commences-principal photography that is-before then. I don't think it is possible for Warner Bros. to develop anything in that amount of time."
"They have not been receptive to me or to my ideas at all.
"Not very long ago, less than a year ago in fact, I begged the executives there to let me write a script for THE VAMPIRE LESTAT for union scale (the Writers Guild won't let you write it for free) and a deferred payment not due until release of the picture. They simply weren't interested. It was very painful for me, as I had been talking to a new director they'd hired and we were both excited about the idea.
"I felt snubbed and hurt and have not bothered to approach them since. The young director is supposed to be developing THE QUEEN OF THE DAMNED which I think is a bad idea, and basically a doomed project.
"In spite of their showing no interest in me as the screen writer, they have not been able to find one themselves for this bizarre idea of THE QUEEN OF THE DAMNED. I'm not too surprised. I think any respectable script writer would be crazy to tackle that novel without having fully developed the background story of Lestat. Anyway, that is where it is."
Over the course of 1999, the script was developed by TV screenwriter Scott Abbott and Australian writer/director Michael Petroni. Another Australian, Michael Rymer was confirmed to direct. Rymer suggested the movie be filmed in his home town of Melbourne, which would save considerably on production costs.
The first actor cast was R&B singer Aaliyah, (who had made her recent film debut in Romeo Must Die) as Akasha, the eponymous Queen of the Damned. The search for an actor to play Lestat took much longer – the idea of Tom Cruise reprising the role was considered but dismissed – although front runners included Wes Bentley, Josh Hartnett and Heath Ledger. Irish actor Stuart Townsend assumed the role in 2000, and the final cast included Vincent Perez as Marius, Paul McGann as David Talbot, Lena Olin as Maharet and Marguerite Moreau as Jesse Reeves.
[edit] Production
With a large cast of international and Australian actors, Queen of the Damned began principal photography on 2 October in a former biscuit factory converted into a studio in the Melbourne suburb of St. Albans. Location filming took place around the city of Melbourne, although some filming was done in Los Angeles. For the scenes of Lestat's concert in Death Valley, over 1,200 goths were recruited from Melbourne nightclubs and on the internet, then driven on a fleet of buses to a quarry in Werribee to act as extras.
[edit] Soundtracks
The songs for Lestat's band were written and performed by Jonathan Davis of the band Korn and Richard Gibbs, although Davis's contractual commitments to Sony BMG meant that his vocals could not appear on the soundtrack album. Instead, the vocals were re-recorded by other musicians for the soundtrack release: Wayne Static of Static-X, David Draiman of Disturbed, Chester Bennington of Linkin Park, Marilyn Manson, and Jay Gordon of Orgy. Davis also had a bit part as a ticket scalper.
The score for the film was also composed by Gibbs and Davis. Both the rock soundtrack and score were released as albums in 2002.
[edit] Release and reaction
[edit] Anne Rice's reaction
By July 2001, author Anne Rice had mellowed her previous stance on the film, much as she had with Interview. When asked about the film's progress, she answered:[4]
"Everything I hear about the movie is good. Warner Bros. is extremely enthusiastic. They are working very hard to make it perfect. I have no real news. Let me repeat what I mentioned in a recent message. I met Stuart Townsend, the young man who is playing Lestat and he was absolutely charming. He had Lestat's excellent speaking voice and his feline grace. I cannot wait to see him in the film."
By late 2001, Rice had seen the completed film and was sufficiently satisfied to allow her name to be used on promotional materials, although she later dismissed the film in 2003, stating that a television series format would be more suited to her work.[5]
[edit] Public and critical reaction
Queen of the Damned was released on 22 February 2002 in the United States and Canada. Critical reaction was lukewarm to poor, with several reviewers such as Roger Ebert describing it as "goofy" or "damned"[6]. The film has a rank of 14%, certified "Rotten" at Rottentomatoes.com.[7] Queen of the Damned nonetheless topped the box office in the weeks following its release.[8] The sudden untimely death of star Aaliyah several months before the film's release in a plane crash in August 2001 cast a shadow over the production, but some reviewers speculated the tragedy may have contributed to the film's greater-than-expected success.[9][10]
The response of Anne Rice fans was also considerably negative, due mainly to the liberties taken with the plot. Arguments erupted on the internet between Rice fans and Aaliyah fans over the casting of the African-American singer as a character described in Rice's novels as "white as marble" (although Rice herself praised Aaliyah in the role).[11]
[edit] Plot synopsis
The vampire Lestat is awakened from decades of slumber by the sound of a rock band, which he proceeds to take over as lead singer. Achieving international success and planning a massive live concert, Lestat is approached by Marius, the vampire who made him, and warned that the vampires of the world will not tolerate his flamboyant public profile.
Jesse Reeves, a researcher for a paranormal studies group called the Talamasca, is intrigued by Lestat's lyrics and recovers his journal from the Talamasca library. In a flashback to his origins, Lestat recalls how he awoke Akasha, the first vampire, with his music. Jesse tracks him down to a London vampire club where he confronts her, and she follows him to Los Angeles for the concert. Shortly after they leave, Akasha, awakened by Lestat's new music, arrives and torches the club.
At the concert in Death Valley, a mob of vampires attack Lestat and Marius. Akasha bursts through the stage and takes Lestat with her as her new King. Empowered by Akasha's blood, Lestat and the Queen confront the Ancient Vampires at the home of Maharet, Jesse's aunt and an ancient vampire herself.
[edit] Trivia
During the end credits "Not Meant For Me" is played. It is Jonathan Davis' version yet the credits credit it as the Wayne Static version from the album.
[edit] Differences between the film and the novel
| Film | Book |
|---|---|
| Akasha is portrayed as having dark skin and green eyes which sometimes change into red ones. She was portrayed in the movie by the late actress and singer Aaliyah. | Akasha and Enkil are as white as marble, all skin pigmentation having been lost completely due to their extremely advanced vampiric age, and Akasha has black eyes. |
| Marius is Lestat's maker, and is portrayed with short dark hair and dark eyes. | Magnus is Lestat's maker; Lestat doesn't meet Marius, who is said to have long white-blonde hair and blue eyes, until about ten years after he has been made. |
| Lestat has brown hair. | Lestat has blond hair and is based upon Stan, Anne Rice's husband. |
| Lestat sends a man out to bring back victims so that he can feed on them. | Lestat takes his own kills at all times, choosing only to feed on "evildoers" for a large part of his existence. |
| Marius instructs Lestat on how to be a vampire after he makes him. He tells Lestat not to drink from his victims when their hearts stop, or it will kill him. | Lestat had minimal instruction from his maker, Magnus, and was left to fend for himself. Magnus does tell him not to drink until the heart stops, because he might follow the victim down (presumably into death). |
| Marius comes to Lestat in the present, telling him he always knew where he was because he is Lestat's maker. | Louis comes to Lestat, not Marius. Makers and their fledglings cannot read each others minds. |
| Gabrielle and Louis are not mentioned. | Gabrielle and Louis, Lestat's fledglings, are a significant presence. |
| Jesse is twenty-something, is never mentioned to have psychic powers, and is a novice in the Talamasca. Jesse and Lestat are portrayed as being in love. A connection to Mael is only hinted at during the concert scenes, but completely overshadowed by her relationship to Lestat and Mael is killed off by Akasha. | Jesse is thirty-five, a witch, and a field-operator of the Talamasca, which brings her in contact with Claudia's spirit, sparking her obession with vampires in general and Lestat in particular. Jesse is infatuated with Lestat but Lestat is merely impressed with her. If Jesse is in love with anyone, she is in love with Mael. |
| Jesse learns about Lestat from his own journal in the Talamasca library. | Jesse learns about Lestat and Louis from Claudia's diary, which she finds in a house. |
| Jesse believes that Lestat is a vampire from the first moment she hears of him, and is eager to investigate. She tells David Talbot that she is going to Lestat's concert. | Jesse is assigned to New Orleans to research vampires and Lestat, and she thinks the assignment is ridiculous. Once she does come to believe in him, she goes off to the concert against the Talamasca's wishes, and doesn't tell David. He finds out that she is there when he sees her at the show. |
| Jesse is made by Lestat after the Queen is dead. | Maharet makes Jesse after her neck is broken by a vampire at Lestat's concert. |
| Mekare is never mentioned, her role merged into that of her sister Maharet. Maharet has black hair in the film. | Mekare plays the most important role in the origin story and the climactic scene. Maharet and Mekare's hair are red. |
| Lestat's concert is held in Death Valley, California. | The concert is held in San Francisco. |
| The vampires at Lestat's concert attack him during the show, and Akasha rises from the stage, carrying Lestat away with her. | The vampires attempt to attack Lestat after the show, and he runs away with Gabrielle and Louis. Akasha comes to him in his coffin, right before he falls asleep at sunrise. |
| Most vampires can fly, including the younger ones. | Only very old or powerful vampires can fly. Lestat cannot fly until after he drinks Akasha's blood. |
| Akasha and Lestat are awake during the day and able to go out into the sunlight without becoming burned. Akasha claims that Lestat can do so because he drank her blood. | Vampires cannot go out into the sun without injury. Younger or weaker vampires will be destroyed by the sun; older or more powerful vampires will be burned. The extent of that burning will vary depending on the vampire's age or strength, along with duration and intensity of exposure. |
| Akasha only kills vampires and the entire population of a Greek island. | Akasha does not kill vampires that are known and loved by Lestat (she also fails to kill all vampires, as evidenced by the survival of those such as Khayman and Eric (and Thorne, who only emerges in Blood and Gold), who Lestat has never met). Posing as the Queen of Heaven (and the Virgin Mary), Akasha telepathically urges women to kill nearly all the men in third-world countries, making the man-woman ratio 1:100, because she sees men as the root of all evil. |
| Akasha gestures to Lestat to drink from her, but does not move. Enkil never moves. | In The Vampire Lestat, Akasha is awakened by Lestat playing the violin and comes down from her throne. As Lestat drinks from Akasha, Enkil almost kills him. |
| Lestat is still playing with the violin of the beautiful Greek girl he charmed during his "instructions" (she was killed by Lestat when her father discovered he was a vampire). | The girl with the violin was never in the books. The violin belonged to Lestat's second fledgling, Nicolas, who committed vampiric suicide while under the care of Armand. The violin is crushed when Akasha awakens from her throne. |
| David Talbot is a middle-aged man. At the end of the film, Marius is seen going into David's home. | David Talbot is old and Marius never met him in person, much less attempted to give him the Gift. In a later book, David actually forbade Lestat to turn him into a vampire when Lestat offered (although Lestat eventually did turn David after the affair with the body thief, which left David's soul in a younger man's body). |
| Pandora and Mael are killed during the final battle with Akasha. Pandora is shown as being Indian. Armand is blond and is looks to be in his early 20s. | None of the vampires are killed in the final battle with Akasha. Pandora is a Roman with brown hair, and Armand has auburn hair and was made when he was 17 after being struck by a poisoned blade during a duel. |
| Maharet drank the last drop of Akasha's blood, which killed Akasha and turned Maharet into stone like Akasha. | Akasha dies from Maharet and Mekare eating her brain and heart, thus making them the new Queens. |
| There is no significant insight into or discussion of the origin of the vampires. | The origin of the vampires is a central plot point in the book. |
| Akasha simply aims at renewing her primeval rule and calls humans "brute creatures" and "merely food". | Akasha tries to usher in an era of peace for the benefit of female humans. She kills the vampire Azim exactly for using humans as merely food. |
[edit] References
- ^ Anne Rice answers Salon readers' questions, Salon.com, August 23, 1996.
- ^ Debra Campbell: A chat with the producer, queenofthedamned.co.uk
- ^ Coming Attractions: Queen of the Damned, Corona Productions.
- ^ Complete Message Archive, AnneRice.com.
- ^ Interview with Anne Rice, The Art of the Word, October 2, 2003.
- ^ Movie Reviews: Queen Of The Damned, IMDB Studio Briefing, 22 February 2002
- ^ Rotton Tomatoes: Queen of the Damned
- ^ Aaliyah's parents sue over plane crash, BBC News, 14 May 2002.
- ^ All that glitters is not gold, The Age, March 11, 2002.
- ^ Film of the Damned - the Tragedy Behind "Queen of the Damned", BBC Online.
- ^ Lorenza Munoz: Death and the Damned, The Age (originally Los Angeles Times), March 29, 2002.
[edit] External links
- Queen of the Damned official website
- Queen of the Damned at the Internet Movie Database
- Queen of the Damned at Rotten Tomatoes
- Queen of the Damned at Metacritic
- Queen of the Damned at Box Office Mojo
