Queen of the Damned (2002)

Directed By: Michael Rymer
Written By: Scott Abbott and Michael Petroni
Year of Release: 2002

The legendary Vampire Lestat has risen from a decades-long slumber, determined to step out into the light. No longer content with being banished to the shadows, Lestat has re-invented himself as the closest thing to a god on Earth: a rock star. The intoxicating lure of his music has snaked its way around the globe, ultimately finding the ear of the slumbering ancient Queen Akasha in her crypt beneath the Arctic ice. Mother of all Vampires, Akasha has been resting for centuries, waiting for the right time to rise again and seize dominion over the world. Lestat’s music is the revelation she has been waiting for, and she desires that he rule beside her, but can Akasha be stopped? After all, Akasha is used to getting everything she wants…and all she wants is Hell on Earth.

When one thinks of vampire movies, Queen of the Damned isn’t exactly one that comes to mind. We have movies like the Lost Boys, Near Dark, and even the old school Dracula films. Hell, you already have a vampire movie based on the Anne Rice novel Interview with the Vampire. Is this one as good as those films? Not really, but it’s an entertaining one nonetheless.

I like to think this is the most modern telling of an Anne Rice novel, or even the vampire legend itself, because it’s something that we can relate to in this generation. It’s not some 17th century tale taking place in some castle. There are no vampires with blonde hair, no strange language, and no Transylvania. This one stars the Vampire Lestat going after what most people have wanted at one time, to be a rockstar. To me, it’s a great way to tell a vampire story, because who doesn’t want to see a vampire rocker?

Which leads me to my next thing I like about this movie, the music. An original soundtrack composed completely of songs by Johnathan Davis of Korn. For some reason because of label disputes, he had to get random singers to do covers when it was released, but the in-movie soundtrack is great. Lestat even has music videos throughout the movie, which are funny. The only thing I don’t like is the fact that Johnathan Davis has such a distinguishable voice, so it never really looks like Lestat singing. It would have been done much more effectively with someone who wasn’t well known.

I think the acting is passable without being overly corny in this one. It’s hard to play a vampire and not come off as a dork. Stuart Townsend is convincing as Lestat, and Aaliyah is not half bad as Akasha. She looks like some Egyptian Pharaoh, which is awesome. However, Vincent Perez is awesome as the elder vampire Marius. All the scenes with him in it were are fun to watch. For those that don’t know him by name, he was also the Crow in “The Crow II: City of Angels.” Not a bad film, I think he got a bad rap because they were trying to clone Brandon Lee. Another story though..

All the sets and locations on this film look pretty good. Whatever filter they used on the camera really did the trick, because everything is all doom and gloom, which is how the film should have been shot. The old school set where Lestat was “made” was probably the coolest looking thing of the movie. The huge concert is cool too though. The f/x was decent, but the “powers” they gave to the vampires were kind of corny. For example, the fact that the vampires move so fast they leave a “trail” behind them looked really lame.

When all is said and done, it’s a great popcorn flick. Most of the people who hate this movie are the ones who ADORE the novels, and you’ll never please those folks. If you are looking for a serious vampire movie, then I’d probably look elsewhere. Personally, I don’t care about the random plot holes or if it’s not true to the book. I just sit back and enjoy the blood, headbang to the rock songs, and watch Aaliyah gyrate her body around. Cool flick.

7.4/10