‘Queen of the Damned’ is Streaming for Free on Tubi

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As a long-time fan of Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles and a connoisseur of dark, gothic tales, I must say that my initial reaction to “Queen of the Damned” was tainted by the high bar set by its predecessor, “Interview with the Vampire.” However, after revisiting it on Tubi and separating it from the shadow cast by the original, I found myself captivated by this underrated gem.

After a long wait, the 2002 sequel to “Interview with the Vampire” (1994), titled “Queen of the Damned”, starring Aaliyah and Stuart Townsend, has gained significant popularity. Currently streaming for free on Tubi, it’s now among the top-watched films in the US, ranking as high as No. 9 for the week. Despite being released over 20 years ago, “Queen of the Damned” has managed to maintain a strong presence. It seems many initially overlooked director Michael Rymer’s film, but its enduring appeal suggests it deserves more recognition.

Initially, in the film “Interview with the Vampire”, actors Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, who played Lestat de Lioncourt and Louis de Pointe du Lac respectively, did not appear in the sequel titled “Queen of the Damned”. Instead, Lestat was portrayed by Townsend, while Louis’ character had no role in the sequel’s storyline. The original film stood out due to Cruise and Pitt’s captivating performances and undeniable screen chemistry. Regrettably, these key actors were not present in “Queen of the Damned”.

In the second and arguably most detrimental point, the film adaptation of Anne Rice’s novels, “Queen of the Damned,” faced several issues. Warner Bros. Pictures attempted to squeeze content from two complete novels, “The Vampire Lestat” (1985) and “The Queen of the Damned” (1988), into a 104-minute movie, which led to an overcrowded narrative. Moreover, Townsend’s portrayal of Lestat bore little resemblance to the original character described as having blonde hair and grayish-blue eyes from the source material. Lastly, one of the most questionable changes was altering Lestat’s maker from Magnus to Marius (Vincent Perez), a decision that seemed arbitrary.

‘Queen of the Damned’ Scores on Tubi, Not With Critics

Currently, “Interview with the Vampire” is experiencing a resurgence due to the hit AMC TV series, which promises a more faithful adaptation of the “The Vampire Lestat” novel in its third season featuring rock star Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid). However, back in 2002, “Queen of the Damned” was met with widespread criticism by critics, effectively ending its potential for a successful sequel. As of now, it holds a low rating of 17% based on 130 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.

Despite all the drastic changes to Queen of the Damned, fans were more forgiving, likely because Stuart Townsend and the late music sensation, Aaliyah, brought their best acting games when it came to portraying Lestat and Akasha respectively. Thus, the Interview with the Vampire follow-up registers much higher at 66% on the Popcornmeter, formerly the RT audience score. In addition, theatergoers gave Queen of the Damned a “C+” CinemaScore. Now, observe the disparity when the follow-up is compared with the higher Interview with the Vampire ratings: Tomatometer (63%), Popcornmeter (86%), CinemaScore (B+).

It’s no wonder that “Queen of the Damned” eventually gained a following on streaming platforms. Despite Aaliyah’s untimely death six months before its theatrical release, she delivered a captivating performance in the lead role. As a movie independent from 1994’s “Interview with the Vampire,” it stands well on its own and offers a fantastic soundtrack, making it an enjoyable watch for many viewers.

You can now watch “Queen of the Damned” without any charges on Tubi. If you’re not familiar with this captivating series, don’t miss out! Also, take a peek at the teaser for AMC’s third season of “Interview with the Vampire” that was showcased at San Diego Comic-Con. It has undeniably become one of television’s essential viewings today.

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2024-11-17 05:34