Vampires have captured the hearts and minds of audiences for over 100 years. From the original Dracula novel to Abigail, these monsters have delivered gore-soaked bloodbaths from creatures that resemble only humans.
Novelist Anna Reese’s The Vampire catapulted vampires to superstardom between her 1980s books and the Tom Cruise/Brad Pitt adaptation of Interview with the Vampire in the 1990s. However, her books go far beyond the story of Louis and Lestat. This film is an adaptation of two novels, and while Reese wasn’t a fan, many other people are.
Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.
The Cursed Queen is easily one of my favorite vampire movies. Released in 2002, it’s a dark and seductive romance that sees the vampire Lestat awaken the original vampire Akash. It has a killer soundtrack, gorgeous costumes, and is currently free on Tubi.
I’ve loved vampires since I was a kid, inhaling every vampire movie or book I could get my hands on. From camp classics to blood-soaked gore-fests, each one brings something different to the genre. The creatures of the night that look like humans are the ultimate predators.
The Cursed Queen was the first major vampire film of the 21st century, and it leaned heavily on the musical and gothic sensibilities of the early 2000s – it’s been one of my absolute favorites for over 20 years.
The story is told primarily from the perspective of vampire Lestat, who awakens after a 100-year slumber to a world very different from the one he left when he laid himself to rest. After he awakens, he transforms into a hardcore rock star, joining a band and emerging from the shadows. His secret is uncovered by Jesse Reeves, an investigator for the mysterious Talamasca, a secret society of mystics and paranormal investigators.
Jesse learns about Lestat’s past through his journal, which leads to a series of flashback scenes, including a night of music playing in a strange chamber where Lestat almost wakes up Akasha (played by Aaliyah), the mother of all vampires.
Lestat feeds on Akasha and gets drunk on the purest blood a vampire can imbibe, before his creator Marius warns him that Akasha has nearly drunk Egypt dry before losing her bloodlust and becoming a living statue. Marius steals away and takes the Akasha statue, hoping to hide her from Lestat.
In the present day, Marius seeks out Lestat to warn him – other vampires will not take kindly to his need for the spotlight. Lestat’s music has reawakened Akasha, and Marius fears for the fate of the world.
Here’s when we first see Akasha in her full glory. She arrives at a coven of vampires plotting to kill Lestat, and she thwarts them all in a fit of fire and fury. Jessie and Lestat meet in Los Angeles before his concert, where she returns to his journal and convinces him to let her stick around. She tries to convince him to turn her into a vampire, and Lestat tries to scare her, but instead she just watches him feed.
It’s at Lestat’s concert in Death Valley that things go terribly wrong. A coven of vampires attacks, planning to destroy Lestat once and for all. Marius manages to help Lestat fight off most of them, and then Akasha arrives. She interrupts the show and steals Lestat away to an island, where things go from bad to worse.
The final act delivers an explosive finale. Jesse learns the truth about her heritage, and Lestat must contend with Akasha’s affections to his own detriment. A mighty sacrifice will be required to bring down Akasha, and the ancient vampires come together to ensure she cannot bleed the world dry with her thirst for blood.
Queen of the Damned is a well-loved film for many reasons—the great soundtrack, lush costume design, and dark visuals bring its world to life. I rewatch it every Halloween season, and it never disappoints, even after 23 years.
This great film, unfortunately, didn’t find an audience in theaters when it was first released. Along with flops at the box office, it also received criticism from Reese for ripping off its source material. In the years since, it has found a following, becoming a cult classic for anyone who loves vampire movies or goth culture and style.
