| "...After the Phantoms of Your Former Self" | |
|---|---|
| Interview with the Vampire episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 2 |
| Directed by | Alan Taylor |
| Written by |
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| Produced by |
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| Featured music | Daniel Hart |
| Cinematography by | David Tattersall |
| Editing by | Yuka Shirasuna |
| Original air date | October 9, 2022 |
| Running time | 52 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
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"...After the Phantoms of Your Former Self" is the second episode of the American gothic horror television series Interview with the Vampire , an adaptation of Anne Rice's novel of the same name. Written by Jonathan Ceniceroz and Dave Harris and directed by executive producer Alan Taylor, the episode first aired on October 9, 2022, on AMC.
The plot follows Daniel Molloy's second interview session with vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac. Louis' life story as a vampire continues directly after the end of the previous episode, with him now trying to adapt to his new life as a vampire and learn how to use the vampire ability to read people's minds. The episode received critical acclaim, with praise going towards the directing, writing, cinematography, humor, and performances of Anderson and Reid.
In the present, Louis (Jacob Anderson) and Molloy (Eric Bogosian) begin the second session of their interview while having dinner together. During dinner, Louis confesses that he no longer preys on people and that his last victim was in 2000.
Louis' story continues with Lestat (Sam Reid) disposing of the priests that he killed in the previous episode in the church graveyard. Louis follows him while stumbling around as his transformation into a vampire is progressing. Louis then notices drops of blood on the ground from one of the corpses and tries to taste it but is stopped by Lestat. He explains that drinking blood from a dead body can kill vampires.
Lestat then helps Louis find his first prey at a bar and they then find a man, whom they later bring to Lestat's house. Upon arrival, Louis devours the man while Lestat teaches him the right way to suck the blood through the neck. Afterwards, Louis is overwhelmed with guilt, so he decides to go home. On the way home, the sunlight shines on him and burns his skin. In pain, he runs back to Lestat's house. Lestat then shows Louis his bedroom and invites Louis to sleep on top of him in his coffin.
The following night, Lestat teaches Louis to listen to people's heartbeats and thoughts. Louis asks Lestat to read his mind, and Lestat replies that he can no longer do it on Louis as it is part of the sacrifice after turning him into a vampire. They then visit Du Lac's family house where Louis reunites with his mother (Rae Dawn Chong) and sister, Grace (Kalyne Coleman). He practices his abilities on them and, while hugging Grace, he feels two other heartbeats, sensing that she is pregnant, and tells her that she is carrying twins. Later, it is shown that Louis now has his own coffin. Before sleep, Louis tells Lestat that he wants to buy the Fair Play Saloon and asks Lestat to support him, to which he agrees.
Five years later, Louis, who has been away from his family since his last visit, pays his family a visit and learns that, in addition to the twins, Grace has given birth to another baby. When Grace leaves the room to care for her other children in another room, she asks Louis to hold the baby. Louis is tempted to eat the baby, but he chooses to go home without saying goodbye and leaves the baby on the floor. At Lestat's house, Louis tells him about the guilt and shame for nearly eating his own nephew.
Later, the two go out to see an opera show. During the performance, Lestat is unimpressed by the lead tenor's performance and ends up feeling unamused. After the performance, Lestat talks to and invites the tenor to his house. Lestat then kills him, while Louis watches in horror. However, Louis eventually decides to join Lestat to drink his blood.
"...After the Phantoms of Your Former Self" was written by series writers Jonathan Ceniceroz and Dave Harris. [1]
On July 19, 2021, Alan Taylor was announced to direct the first two episodes of the first season. [2] David Tattersall worked as the cinematographer of the episode. The first season's principal photography took place in New Orleans, from November 8, 2021, until May 18, 2022. [3]
"...After the Phantoms of Your Former Self" aired on AMC, on October 9, 2022, [4] but was released a week earlier on the network's streaming service AMC+. [5]
On linear television, an estimated 0.525 million viewers watched "...After the Phantoms of Your Former Self" during its first broadcast on AMC, with a 0.09 ratings share. [6] This was a decrease from the previous episode, which was watched by 0.622 million viewers with a 0.15 ratings share. [7] [8]
The episode was met with critical acclaim. On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an approval rating of 100% based on six reviews, with an average rating of 8.8/10. [9]
It received a rating of 5/5 stars from Tony Sokol of Den of Geek , who praised the performances of Anderson and Reid; [1] 4.7/5 stars from Ashley Bissette Sumerel of Tell-Tale TV, writing that, "'After the Phantoms of Your Former Self' is even more breathtaking than the first episode. It continues to capture the spirit of Anne Rice's works in a way that's thought-provoking and timely. [...] The series continues to be so much better than I could have hoped for, and it has me falling in love with Anne Rice's works in a whole new way"; [10] 4.5/5 stars from Whitney Evans of TV Fanatic, who singled out the cinematography and performances of Anderson and Reid as the highlights of the episode, and wrote, "It's safe to say the first episode wasn't a fluke, as the second installment is excellent"; [11] 4/5 stars from Kathleen Walsh of Vulture ; [12] and 3/5 stars from Greg Wheeler of The Review Geek, who noted the episode's "slower" pace, in comparison to the first, and how it "[did not have] much in the way of plot progression". Nonetheless, he still appreciated it as it "sets things up for a much more dramatic chapter to come next week". [13]
Concluding his review, Sean T. Collins of Decider said, "This is heady, funny, nasty, sexy, cutting, opulent stuff — again, exactly what you'd want from an Anne Rice adaptation and more. While it often takes itself deadly seriously, as the melodramatic material demands, it's also shot through with that strain of actually funny comedy, letting just a little bit of daylight in to enhance the shadows. An extraordinary balancing act and, I think, an extraordinary show." Collins also praised the writing and directing work of the episode. [14] Sara Netzley of Entertainment Weekly wrote, "Dare I say this episode was even better than the pilot? We get more layers of Lestat tonight, more of his humor and savagery, and Jacob Anderson's range continues to be extraordinary." [15] In addition, several critics pointed out the humor as one of the episode's highlights. [1] [10] [14]
Interview with the Vampire is a gothic horror and vampire novel by American author Anne Rice, published in 1976. It was her debut novel. Based on a short story Rice wrote around 1968, the novel centers on vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac, who tells the story of his life to a reporter. Rice composed the novel shortly after the death of her young daughter Michelle, who served as an inspiration for the child-vampire character Claudia. Though initially the subject of mixed critical reception, the book was followed by many widely popular sequels, collectively known as The Vampire Chronicles. A film adaptation was released in 1994, starring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, and a television series premiered in 2022. The novel has also been adapted as a comic three times.
The Vampire Lestat (1985) is a vampire novel by American writer Anne Rice, the second in her Vampire Chronicles, following Interview with the Vampire (1976). The story is told from the point of view of the vampire Lestat de Lioncourt as narrator, while Interview is narrated by Louis de Pointe du Lac. Several events in the two books appear to contradict each other, allowing the reader to decide which version of events they believe to be accurate.
The Tale of the Body Thief is a horror novel by American writer Anne Rice, the fourth in her The Vampire Chronicles series, following The Queen of the Damned (1988). Published in 1992, it continues the adventures of Lestat, specifically his efforts to regain his lost humanity during the late 20th century. Chapters from the book appeared in the October 1992 issue of Playboy.
The Vampire Chronicles is a series of gothic horror novels and a media franchise, created by American writer Anne Rice, that revolves around the fictional character Lestat de Lioncourt, a French nobleman turned into a vampire in the 18th century.
Blood Canticle is a 2003 horror novel by American writer Anne Rice, the tenth book in her The Vampire Chronicles series. The novel includes some characters who cross over from Rice's Lives of the Mayfair Witches trilogy (1990–1994), concluding the unified story begun in Merrick (2000) and continued in Blackwood Farm (2002).
Lestat de Lioncourt is a fictional character appearing in several novels by Anne Rice, including The Vampire Lestat (1985). He is a vampire and an antihero in the majority of The Vampire Chronicles.
Lives of the Mayfair Witches is a trilogy of supernatural horror/fantasy novels by American novelist Anne Rice. It centers on a family of witches whose fortunes have been guided for generations by a spirit named Lasher. The series began in 1990 with The Witching Hour, which was followed by the sequels Lasher (1993) and Taltos (1994). All three novels debuted at No. 2 on The New York Times Best Seller list.
Merrick is a 2000 horror novel by American writer Anne Rice, the seventh book in her The Vampire Chronicles series. The novel includes some characters who cross over from Rice's Lives of the Mayfair Witches trilogy (1990–1994).
Armand is a fictional character in The Vampire Chronicles novels written by Anne Rice. At the end of the series, he is approximately 500 years of age. His outward appearance is that of a beautiful adolescent boy, 5’6, with curly auburn hair, large brown eyes and slender fingers. His features are at times compared figuratively to those of Cupid or a Botticelli angel.
Louis de Pointe du Lac is a fictional character in Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles series. He begins his life as a mortal man and later becomes a vampire. He is the protagonist who tells his story in Interview with the Vampire. He also features in The Vampire Lestat, The Queen of the Damned, The Tale of the Body Thief, Memnoch the Devil, The Vampire Armand, Merrick, Prince Lestat, Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis and Blood Communion: A Tale of Prince Lestat
Interview with the Vampire is a 1994 American gothic horror film directed by Neil Jordan, based on Anne Rice's 1976 novel of the same name, and starring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. It focuses on Lestat (Cruise) and Louis (Pitt), beginning with Louis's transformation into a vampire by Lestat in 1791. The film chronicles their time together, and their turning of ten-year-old Claudia into a vampire. The narrative is framed by a present-day interview, in which Louis tells his story to a San Francisco reporter. The supporting cast features Antonio Banderas and Stephen Rea.
Lestat is a Broadway musical inspired by Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles. The score is by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, with the book by Linda Woolverton. The musical had a brief run on Broadway in 2006.
Queen of the Damned is a 2002 horror film directed by Michael Rymer from a screenplay by Scott Abbott and Michael Petroni, based on the 1988 novel The Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice, the third novel of the book series The Vampire Chronicles, although the film contains many plot elements from the novel's 1985 predecessor, The Vampire Lestat. A stand-alone sequel to Interview with the Vampire (1994), the film stars Stuart Townsend, Aaliyah, Marguerite Moreau, Vincent Pérez, and Lena Olin. Townsend and Matthew Newton replaced Tom Cruise and Antonio Banderas in the roles of Lestat and Armand, respectively. The film is dedicated to Aaliyah, who died in a plane crash on August 25, 2001, after she had shot all her scenes.
Anne Rice was an American author of gothic fiction, erotic literature, and Christian literature. She was best known for her series of novels The Vampire Chronicles. The first book became the subject of a film adaptation—Interview with the Vampire (1994).
Sam Reid is an Australian actor. He is best known for his work in Lambs of God (2019) and The Newsreader (2021–present), for which he was nominated for the AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama twice, and his critical acclaimed performance as Lestat de Lioncourt in Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire (2022–present).
Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire, or simply Interview with the Vampire, is an American gothic horror television series created by Rolin Jones for AMC, based on the 1976 novel of the same name by Anne Rice. The series follows the vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac who recounts his life with his maker Lestat de Lioncourt and teenage vampire Claudia to veteran journalist Daniel Molloy, accompanied by ancient vampire Armand. The series embraces the homosexual elements of Rice's work, which are only insinuated in the 1994 film adaptation of the novel. It is the first television series in Rice's Immortal Universe.
Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches, or simply Mayfair Witches, is an American supernatural thriller drama television series created by Esta Spalding and Michelle Ashford, based on the novel trilogy Lives of the Mayfair Witches by Anne Rice. The series stars Alexandra Daddario as Rowan Fielding, Harry Hamlin as Cortland Mayfair, Tongayi Chirisa as Ciprien Grieve, and Jack Huston as Lasher. It premiered on AMC on January 8, 2023, and is the second television series in Rice's Immortal Universe, following Interview with the Vampire. In February 2023, the series was renewed for a second season.
"In Throes of Increasing Wonder..." is the series premiere of the American gothic horror television series Interview with the Vampire, an adaptation of Anne Rice's novel of the same name. Written by series creator Rolin Jones and directed by executive producer Alan Taylor, the episode premiered in the United States on AMC on October 2, 2022.
Interview with the Vampire (Original Television Series Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album for the first season of AMC gothic horror series of the same name. The series is an adaptation of the 1976 novel by Anne Rice. Composed and produced by Daniel Hart, the soundtrack contains 19 tracks and features a vocal performance by Lestat de Lioncourt actor Sam Reid. It was released for digital distribution by Milan Records on October 21, 2022, while the physical CD was released on March 3, 2023. The soundtrack received positive reviews from critics and was nominated for Best Original Score for Television by the International Film Music Critics Association Awards.
