QUEEN OF THE ...WRITHAGE!

by Timothy Liebe

The late Aaliyah's performance as Aleska, the titular Queen of the Damned, is often singled out for praise. I personally found her acting hilarious in its prancing arrogant amateurishness, but…

Writhage!

It works despite all that because she did have the necessary screen presence for an immortal bloodsucking Queen, no matter how otherwise absurd she was.

And...MORE Writhage!

I’d actually give the nod to Stuart Copeland’s Lestat in this movie. He does a great job as the Immortal version of a Bored Rich Kid Who Invites Himself Into Joining a Bar Band… and makes them into rock stars.

I don’t know if I’d call this movie “Underrated”, exactly — it’s completely ridiculous with its mix of Vampires, Nu Metal, An Ancient Not-So-Secret Organization Studying Vampires Throughout History, a Warm Loving Maternal Commune of Vampires,

Nope -- Not Kidding!

and the Young Innocent Woman caught(?) in the middle.

On the other hand, the music (largely written and produced by members of Korn) really slaps, the largely-overqualified cast gives 110% to sell the laughable story, the Vampire Painter Marius (played by Vincent Perez) should have his own series, and there is lots and Lots and LOTS of

 

WRITHAGE!

My wife and I caught this one night on HBO, after I found out she’d bought the soundtrack to listen to while working — and we were not disappointed. It’s exactly what an adaptation of an Anne Rice novel should be….