Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.0

Queen of the Damned Blu-ray Movie Review

Waiting for True Blood

Reviewed by Michael Reuben September 15, 2012

Queen of the Damned is dedicated to its star Aaliyah, who had died in a plane crash by the time the film was released in February 2002. Aaliyah's title character is the best thing in the film, but you have to wade through a lot of exposition, flashbacks and voiceover—by two different narrators—before she finally takes center stage. In the commentary recorded for the film's 2002 DVD release (and included on this Blu-ray), the director and producer repeatedly refer to plot elements they omitted from author Anne Rice's novels, lest their 101-minute film become a "miniseries". Ironically, Rice would later disown the film, saying that her work could only be properly adapted in a TV series format.

Even if you don't know Rice's novels, you can tell there's something "off" about Queen of the Damned, because it spends a long time (a very long time) following the music career in the present, then the origins in the 18th Century, of the vampire known as Lestat, who was last played by Tom Cruise in 1994's Interview with the Vampire. Depending on which account one believes, Cruise either declined or wasn't considered "right" for the role in Queen of the Damned. (My guess is that Warner didn't want to spend that kind of money.) The reason for the film's disjointed plot is that it's a ruthless condensation of two densely plotted Rice novels, one focusing on Lestat's career as a rock star and the other on the ancient goddess Akasha, played by Aaliyah. Having dawdled over the sequel, Warner was facing a contractual deadline to begin principal photography or else the rights would revert to Rice—and Rice wasn't shy about declaring herself eager to take them back.

The project eventually was handed to Australian director Michael Rymer, who would later distinguish himself as one of the prime creative talents behind Battlestar Galactica. On Queen of the Damned, however, Rymer faced insurmountable hurdles, as he and his writing team, Scott Abbott and Michael Petroni, attempted to shoehorn two sprawling novels into a single script for a studio that was already so cost-conscious that it leapt at the idea of shooting the film in Australia. Narrative coherence was the last thing the executive suite cared about, but the biggest misstep was yet to come. After a lengthy casting call that included Heath Ledger and Wes Bentley, Rymer cast Irish actor Stuart Townsend as Lestat, and the picture was doomed. Townsend is a fine character actor, but Lestat needed a movie star. Neil Jordan had famously risked Rice's wrath by casting Tom Cruise in Interview, eventually winning over the prickly author when she saw the finished film. Alas, there was no such happy ending for Queen of the Damned, which idles along with Townsend's Lestat, waiting for Aaliyah's ancient goddess to arrive and give the story a jolt of energy. But by then the film is more than half over.

Forget everything you know about Lestat from Interview with the Vampire. Here, he's weary of the world and goes to sleep for years, only to be awakened by the strains of nu metal music that sounds a lot like Korn (whose members Richard Gibbs and Jonathan Davis supplied the film's soundtrack). Lestat rises, finds the band and takes it over as lead singer, becoming an international sensation as "the Vampire Lestat", which people take seriously but not literally. Two groupies ushered in to spend the night with their idol are fine when he seems to defy gravity, but their giggles turn to screams when he swoops down to feed on them.

This early sequence was probably intended to parody the rock music scene, but it ends up parodying vampirism as well, which has the unfortunate effect of setting the wrong tone for a film that wants to treat vampires with utmost sincerity. Lestat's interest in music dates back to his early years as a vampire, but to explore that, we have to meet Jesse (Marguerite Moreau), who works for a secret group of paranormal researchers called the Talamasca. Jesse also suffers from dreams of a childhood aunt named Maharet (Lena Olin) who cried tears of blood, just like a vampire, but that goes to Jesse's origin story, which the film won't get to until later, because right now Jesse has to be the vehicle for telling us about Lestat. Are you confused yet?

Jesse has detected coded messages in Lestat's songs directed to other vampires, and the messages lead her to the location of a vampire "coven" in London on the site of a former tavern known as the Admiral's Arms. Now it's a vampire bar that looks very much like True Blood's Fangtasia. Her Talamascan colleagues are appalled that Jesse is venturing outside the library, because she's purely an academic who doesn't belong in the field. In an effort to satisfy her curiosity about Lestat (and supply essential exposition), the head Talamascan, David (Paul McGann), shows her Lestat's diary, which he acquired by unexplained methods, along with a series of paintings done by Lestat's "maker", Marius (Victor Perez). Reading the diary lets Jesse (and the film) take us back to the 18th Century encounter when Marius "made" Lestat into a vampire on a tiny island in the Mediterranean where Marius just happened to be guarding the statue representing Akasha, Queen and Mother of all vampires (Aaliyah).

To Marius' eternal chagrin, it was Lestat whom Akasha summoned to help revive her; so Marius abandoned Lestat on the island, taking Akasha's statue with him. Lestat has been searching for them ever since. His music, we learn at long last, is designed to help awaken her. And so it does. Akasha's first appearance is at the vampire bar in London. Her second is at the vast concert that Lestat has organized in Death Valley. In each instance the fearsome Queen lays waste to all who get in her way, vampire and human alike. A goddess of blood and chaos, she cares only for destruction. She does desire a consort, however, and she has chosen Lestat.

The film's final chapter—there are way too many parts to call them "acts"—involves an alliance between the Talamasca and several ancient vampires to destroy Akasha. But wait! One of those vampires is Jesse's long-lost aunt, Maharet, who hasn't aged a day. Jesse, she says, it's time you learned who you really are. When a story is rushing toward its grand finale involving two actresses, Lena Olin and Aaliyah, with genuine screen presence (at last!), but everyone has to pause for yet one more hunk of backstory, it's a big tip-off that something is seriously amiss.

Queen of the Damned Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Regardless of any reservations about Queen of the Damned as a film, there is little to fault in the image on Warner's 1080p, AVC-encoded Blu-ray. The film was shot by cinematographer Ian Baker (director Fred Schepisi's frequent collaborator), and many of Baker's scenes are dark, filled with smoke and haze, strobed with rapid light shifts, or all three. The film didn't have the benefit of a digital intermediate, but the Blu-ray handles all these elaborate effects without artifacts and while preserving as much sharpness as the image is supposed to have (some shots are intentionally soft) and with substantial shadow detail throughout. Black levels are good enough that shapes, face and even individual items of clothing can be identified in murky scenes; in brighter ones, the more flamboyant rock star garb is colorful, and the colors, especially red, are well-saturated. The film's original grain is fine but readily visible, and no apparent attempt has been made to filter, "freeze" or reduce it. Neither artificial sharpening nor compression artifacts were in evidence.

Queen of the Damned Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The undead and supernatural travel freely through the surround array in Queen of the Damned's DTS-HD MA 5.1 track. Vampires swoop in and out from all directions; portents, messages and intimations are heard from anywhere and nowhere in particular; and none of the vampires vanquished by Queen Akasha goes quietly. Of special note are: Lestat's discovery of Akasha's statue below the castle to which Marius abducts him; the attack on Lestat's outdoor concert by vampires who have been massing for that purpose; and the concluding showdown between Akasha and the so-called "ancients".

The songs for Lestat's band have been effectively rendered by composers Davis and Gibbs, with Davis performing the vocals. They're well-recorded, and if you like the music of Korn (I'm not a fan), you should enjoy Lestat's. The orchestral variations that Davis composed for underscoring are more to my taste, and they sound great. Dialogue is consistently clear (and just as consistently overripe).

Queen of the Damned Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary with Director Michael Rymer, Producer Jorge Saralegui and Composer Richard Gibbs: This is a lively commentary, in which Rymer is the lead participant. By far the dominant topic is the many plot changes necessitated to condense Rice's two novels into a single film. (A frustratingly obscure trivia question could be based on how many times the word "miniseries" is invoked; I myself lost count.) There can be no doubt that everyone involved made a genuine effort to discharge an impossible task, but the project was flawed in its conception.


• The Music of Lestat (11:36): Rymer, Saralegui (whose name is misspelled on the screen), Gibbs and Davis discuss developing the songs and the sound for Lestat and his band, and various contributors discuss the soundtrack album. Rymer, Townsend and Saralegui also discuss shooting the Death Valley concert (which was actually shot in Australia). A brief concluding portion looks at Davis' score.


• Creating the Vampires (SD; 1.33:1; 9:48): A look at the film's vampire effects, a combination of prosthetics, wire work and green screen.


• Aaliyah Remembered (SD; 1.33:1; 3:11): A short but heartfelt tribute by Rymer, Saralegui and Rashad Houghton, Aaliyah's brother, who helped complete the film.


• Slept So Long (SD; 2.35:1, non-enhanced; 4:23): The entire musical performance from the Death Valley concert.


• Not Meant for Me (SD; 2.35:1, non-enhanced; 2:43): The entire musical performance from the Death Valley concert.


• Deleted Scenes (SD; 2.35:1, non-enhanced): There are thirteen scenes, each introduced by a title card with a brief explanation for the deletion or shortening. Unfortunately, there is no "play all" option.


• Band Backstage (1:22): Unnecessary.
• L.A. Mansion and Extended Flying Sequence (4:48): Appropriately trimmed.
• Jesse Visits the Admiral's Arms (2:14): Atmospheric but disposable.
• Marius Talks (1:05): Rightly trimmed for pacing.
• Original Jesse's Dream (2:55): A more elaborate and ambiguous version.
• Original Opening (2:17): Busy and less effective.
• The Ancients Rise (2:06): The ancient vampires hear Lestat's call to his concert.
• Groupies (1:41): An extension of the early scene with the two blonde groupies.
• Jesse on Plane (2:59): Jesse dreams of Akasha while flying to L.A.
• Jesse's Farewell Note (1:54): The scene would have been in a subplot that was dropped.
• The Band (2:00): Performance footage.
• Akasha Dances (3:50): A longer version of Akasha's first big entrance.
• Ancients at Hollywood Sign (3:08): The film's conclusion would have made much more sense with the inclusion of this scene, but it would have meant retaining yet another chunk of dialogue devoted to exposition.


• Gag Reel (SD; 2.35:1, non-enhanced; 2:48): Wire work is tricky stuff.


• Music (SD; 1.33:1, unless otherwise indicated): Four music videos.


• "Redeemer" (3:47)
• "Forsaken" (3:39)
• "System" (4:45)
• Static X "Cold" Music Video (1.85:1; 3:19)


• Theatrical Trailer (SD; 2.35:1, enhanced; 2:01).

Queen of the Damned Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

As Stephen King eventually succeeded in redoing The Shining to his own satisfaction as a TV miniseries, one suspects that Anne Rice will eventually have her day with a serialization of the books of The Vampire Lestat and Queen of the Damned in a form she finds acceptable. It would have to be on premium cable, though, because network TV isn't ready for the orgy (literally) of blood and sensuality that Rice's stories require. The real obstacle to Rice's doing a new version isn't Rymer's film; it's the fact that Alan Ball beat her to the punch with his adaptation of Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse novels for the HBO series, True Blood. Though different in tone and locale, Ball's series gets at many of the same themes and has established a similarly rabid following.

But Rice has one thing going for her that Stephen King did not. When King redid The Shining, he had to compete with the authentic masterpiece that is Stanley Kubrick's film. Rice would only have to compete with Queen of the Damned, which is no competition at all. If you're already a fan, the Blu-ray should satisfy. If not, I'd pass this one by.