Interview with the Vampire 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		0.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.5

Interview with the Vampire 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Undead and hating it.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III September 18, 2026

Neil Jordan's 1994 supernatural drama Interview With the Vampire isn't celebrating any significant milestone this year, but that doesn't mean it doesn't merit some well-deserved attention. Long since buried with a VC1-encoded, DVD-era master that was used for two separate Blu-ray releases in 2008 and 2014, this uniquely-shot production enters its fully remastered second life on 4K from Warner Bros. What's more is that it's also earned a Dolby Atmos remix (in addition to the original 5.1 track, of course) as well as pair of recent retrospective featurettes for fans to sink their teeth into. A Limited Edition Steelbook is also available, but neither option includes a Blu-ray copy of the film.

For a synopsis and appreciation of this 1994 hit, please read Ben Williams' review of the 2008 Blu-ray linked above. Michael Reuben's later review of WB's 10th Anniversary 2014 Blu-ray (also linked above) seemed to echo Ben's very positive comments enough to keep the 4.5/5 rating, but I'm giving it a slightly cooler but still very solid 4/5. Interview With the Vampire holds up more than 30 years later as a durably entertaining drama with excellent performances from Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, and especially a young Kirsten Dunst, all of whom play a very unconventional family unit during Interview With the Vampire's lengthy and most effective second act. Its setup and opening act have always felt a little drawn out to me, while the film's home stretch takes a more cruelly dark turn and ends with a half-twist and coda that feel a bit tacked-on. Even so, there's a lot of entertainment value here and the film's cinematography and production design are exquisite with only one dodgy CGI shot during its languorous 123-minute lifespan. Die-hard fans will love WB's new 4K master, and they might even develop a renewed appreciation for the film because of it.

Interview with the Vampire 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

NOTE: This review's screenshots are sourced from two new retrospective featurettes detailed below, both of which feature clips from the newly-restored film rendered in 1080p/SDR. Therefore, they should not be considered a 100% accurate representation of the 4K picture in terms of HDR color, fine detail, or brightness levels.

"You could have that same old DVD-era master... or you can be young always." I'm butchering one of Interview With the Vampire's most famous quotes, of course, but that's the sentiment behind this precise new 2160p/HDR10/Dolby Vision transfer from Warner Bros., who have produced an extremely impressive master for this visually challenging film. French cinematographer Philippe Rousselot, whose talent can be seen in films as varied as A River Runs Through It and Big Fish, shot Interview With the Vampire almost completely at night (save for an early evening flashback and a few incidental shots), and various techniques of his are explained in detail during a pair of new retrospective featurettes, which likewise pay tribute to the film's production design and costumes. To be sure, this 1994 production has the same chunkier grain structure and general aesthetic as most films shot during that era, although one with warm and romantic overtones due to its subject matter and consistently changing time periods. Fine detail is outstanding under the right conditions, black levels run extremely deep, and a high degree of control over contrast levels is achieved thanks to a subtle and supportive HDR pass, which also greatly tightens its palette while deepening the visual distinction between healthy skin tones and the pale, pallid color of a vampire starved for blood. The encoding is very solid too, with no apparent signs of filtering or compression-related artifacts on this triple-layered disc.

Interview with the Vampire 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Also new here is a Dolby Atmos remix, which doesn't seem to be a total overhaul of the excellent original DTS-HD 5.1 track (included here as an alternate option, and also included on the 2014 Blu-ray) as much as a natural extension of it. Dialogue remains clean and crisp with well-prioritized sound effects, although now there's a slightly higher degree of channel separation, panning effects, overall width, and of course the benefit of Atmos' height channels to increase the intensity of supernatural moments, action sequences, and the outstanding original score by composer Elliot Goldenthal, which adds a tremendous amount of weight to Interview With the Vampire's heavy atmosphere at critical moments. The original theatrical 5.1 track is no slouch and may still be preferred by purists, but this Atmos remix (as well as its built-in Dolby TrueHD 7.1 counterpart, for those with simpler setups) will likely be the new go-to option.

Optional subtitles, including English (SDH), are offered during the main feature and all extras listed below.

Interview with the Vampire 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release ships in a keepcase with fairly decent "modern" cover artwork and a matching slipcover. A Digital Copy redemption code is included, as are all the extras from the previous 2008 Blu-ray and 20th Anniversary Edition as well as few new ones. It's a nice collection indeed, although the theatrical trailer is sadly missing.

• Audio Commentary - A legacy track with director Neil Jordan.

• Introduction (1:02) - Another oldie featuring Anne Rice, Neil Jordan, and Antonio Banderas.

• NEW! Eternal Night and Deadly Light (8:00) - In this brief new retrospective piece, director Neil Jordan and editor Mick Audsley talk about the work of cinematographer Philippe Rousselot, who shot Interview With the Vampire almost exclusively at night, and the different techniques used to achieve its unique look.

• NEW! Interview With the Vampire: Creating the World (10:40) - Another like-minded retrospective, this piece features Neil Jordan and production designer Dante Ferretti (who speaks in his native Italian) as they detail the work that went into storyboards, set building, and other aspects of visual design.

• In the Shadow of the Vampire (29:40) - A legacy EPK-style featurette.

• Lestat, Louis and the Vampire Phenomenon (24:06) - A 2014 retrospective piece.

• NEW! Deleted Scenes (8:01) - Presumably recently found, these rough-looking but watchable clips feature timing markers and are presented in 1.78:1 with Dolby Digital 2.0 audio. The untitled scenes include additional interactions with Lestat, Louis, Claudia, and Daniel Molloy (Christian Slater's character), and a priest.

Interview with the Vampire 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Neil Jordan's Interview With the Vampire was a massive hit in 1994, with its star power likely sucking in unsuspecting crowds who weren't prepared for a heavy, extremely violent, and slow-burn film with international influences. It's aged well since then, too: the terrific cinematography and production design are particular highlights, and both are served extremely well on Warner Bros.' unexpected but well-deserved UHD edition. It bests previous releases in every single department, and aside from the lack of a remastered Blu-ray, is just about perfect. Whether you buy this standard version or the Limited Edition 4K Steelbook, it deserves a spot on your shelf as horror season approaches.