One of the most ambitious vampire movies since Warner Bros.'
"Interview With the Vampire" and likewise
adapted from best-selling author Anne Rice's series "The
Vampire Chronicles," "Queen of the Damned"
features the late singer-actress Aaliyah in the title role
as a sexy, not-to-be-messed-with ancient who comes to life
in turn-of-the-millennium America.
Directed with goth pizzazz and brains by Michael Rymer
("Perfume"), the film premiered Sunday at the
closing night of the 2002 Hollywood Black Film Festival.
Preceded that evening by a short tribute to Aaliyah Dana
Haughton, who was posthumously awarded the fest's first
Inspirational Spirit Award, the loud and entertaining
"Queen" could rule the boxoffice when it opens
Feb. 22.
While one watches her scenes in the latter half of the
film with admiration for Aaliyah's charisma and team
spirit (all those bloody-fanged smiles, the skimpy
Egyptian costumes), there's a whiff of real sadness to a
scenario that is preoccupied with the loneliness of the
immortal undead. But it's also a little camp around the
edges, and one doesn't have to be a Rice fan to follow the
vampire histrionics, of which "Queen" has more
than its share.
The heavy metal music-fueled blood fest actually centers
on Rice's charismatic rebel vamp Lestat (Stuart Townsend
of "About Adam") and a fetching investigator of
the paranormal, Jessie (Marguerite Moreau of "Wet Hot
American Summer"). With Aaliyah not appearing in full
glory until 50 minutes into "Queen," the
often-narrated story follows Jessie's learning about
Lestat's past after he wakes up from a self-imposed
slumber and becomes a major pop star.
Indeed, devilish Lestat calls himself a vampire and almost
overtly goes about his natural routine, knowing that he
will anger all the other vampires who strictly adhere to a
code of silence. Thousands of years old and infamous for
drinking rivers of blood, Akasha (Aaliyah) is the "mother"
of all the vamps and has the ability to burn them (and
mere mortals) into blobs of molten matter.
The plot and many characters of "Queen" get a
bit complicated. But Jessie's fascination with New
Orleans-based Lestat makes sense when it becomes clear
that her aunt (Lena Olin) is a vampire. Vincent Perez is
Marius, whom we see "make" Lestat in a period
flashback and who keeps track of Akasha in statue form.
There is much jumping around in time until awakened Akasha
starts to show off her power, leading to a climactic rock
concert in Death Valley that turns into a vampire
slaughter.
The costumes -- Aaliyah is adorned in headdresses, shell
skirts and gold-plated bodices -- and special effects are
major elements in the film's most crowd-pleasing moments.
With a blistering heavy rock soundtrack and several
original songs by Jonathan Davis (lead singer of Korn) and
Richard Gibbs that are performed by Lestat and his band,
"Queen" is a change of pace for Rymer, and the
widescreen production shows affection for the genre and
some respect for the viewer.
QUEEN OF THE DAMNED
Warner Bros.
In association with Village Roadshow Pictures
and NPV Entertainment
A Material production
Credits:
Director: Michael Rymer
Screenwriters: Scott Abbott, Michael Petroni
Based on the novel by: Anne Rice
Producer: Jorge Saralegui
Executive producers: Su Armstrong, Andrew Mason, Bill
Gerber, Bruce Berman
Director of photography: Ian Baker
Production designer: Graham "Grace" Walker
Editor: Danny Cooper
Costume designer: Angus Strathie
Visual effects supervisor: Gregory L. McMurry
Music: Richard Gibbs, Jonathan Davis
Casting: Kristy Sager, Greg Apps
Cast:
Lestat: Stuart Townsend
Jessie: Marguerite Moreau
Queen Akasha: Aaliyah
Marius: Vincent Perez
Maharet: Lena Olin
David Talbot: Paul McGann
MPAA rating: R
Color/stereo
Running time -- 101 minutes