Acorn Media International

In the year 2022, the vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac seeks to tell the story of his life, or afterlife, to a journalist.

AMC’s seven-part  adaptation of the first half of Anne Rice’s bestselling 1976 novel is surprisingly good, not least because of its casting and its willingness to deviate when required from the source. Jacob Anderson (Game of Thrones, Doctor Who) is a strong Louis, falling love with Sam Reid’s vain (vein?) vampire Lestat, setting up an immortal, toxic relationship.

It was 1994 when Neil Jordan directed Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt in his version of the novel, which was followed by box office bomb Queen of the Dead. This looked like the end of the Anne Rice cinematic universe, and certainly I wasn’t pining for a return to this world. But I’ve been proven wrong, hooked by the end of the first hour.

This is adult material, earning its 18 certificate, with sexual and gory moments that remind us just how extreme the vampires’ lives are. Eric Bogosian is also to be commended for his role of the interviewer, Daniel Malloy, challenging the testimony of his interview subject. But for me the strongest performance is that of Bailey Bass as Claudia, turned into a vampire in her teens and never to reach adulthood. She’s impetuous, flighty and tragic – typical teenager!

The only extra in this two-disc set is a 40-minute panel from 2022’s San Diego Comic-Con with cast and creatives which is understandably light on detail.

Verdict: Far better than I imagined, I’m now waiting keenly for Season 2. 9/10

Nick Joy