Vampires are a long-time fan-favorite in pop culture.

Whether it is the international and sustained success of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series or the early cult following of the German horror film  Nosferatu, it is safe to say that people love media surrounding vampires.

I am one of those people.

I first stumbled upon Anne Rice’s Interview With the Vampire while casually browsing social media. I was immediately intrigued by the premise of the show, and deciding to watch it is one of the best decisions I have ever made. Though it may sound dramatic, it is true. Interview With the Vampire is one of the most entertaining, visually striking, and well-written TV shows I have seen in a very long time.

Adapted from Neil Jordan’s 1994 film of the same name (which is based on Anne Rice’s 1976 novel of the same name), Interview with the Vampire centers on jaded vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac, who, in the year 2022, desires to retell the story of his life—that is, his human life, and then some—to renowned journalist Daniel Molloy. I had never seen the original film nor read the book before watching, so admittedly my experience is different than some viewers. However, it goes to show that neither background knowledge nor a connection to the franchise is necessary to enjoy this show.

Louis’ story begins in New Orleans in the early 1900s and follows his relationship with the vampire Lestat de Lioncourt as well as the family they form, which includes vampire teen Claudia. It is important to note that Claudia and Louis de Pointe du Lac are Black, a significant change from the 1994 film and the novel respectively. According to Collider author Monita Mohan, “changing Louis’ race to a Black man…not only adds relevance to the modern age, but it removes the need for a slave-owner protagonist.” As a Black viewer, this change made Louis’ story a lot more interesting and set up a necessary lens for the show to expand on period-typical racism and other forms of oppression. 

Along with diversifying its characters ethnically, AMC’s Interview with the Vampire takes the queer subtext present in Anne Rice’s novels and makes it overt. Louis de Pointe du Lac and Lestat de Lioncourt are queer men living in a homophobic era. While their relationship is by no means a representation of a perfect one, it is an element that also made the show feel more relevant and compelling to me.

Sam Reid, who portrays Lestat de Lioncourt remarked that “[Interview With the Vampire] is the quintessential vampire story, really…it’s this yearning and love and intensity, with all of its darkest elements brought to the front, and told over the centuries.” 

I recommend Interview With the Vampire to anyone who loves intricate backstories and character development as well as vampires. But that’s most people. Watch AMC’s Interview With the Vampire because it is transformative and stunning. It has well-developed and written characters who also happen to be Black and queer. It is an exciting show that adds nuance to one of the most popular figures in media, and it does it well. Deciding not to watch Interview With the Vampire would be deciding to miss out!