Interview with the Vampire

Several Brad Pitt movies influenced me a lot when I was young. Foremost among them is probably Interview with the Vampire (1994), based on the first novel in Anne Rice’s series The Vampire Chronicles (1976). The first novel, and subsequent movie, influenced Goth culture a lot, and at that time I just happened to be a teenage Goth-New Ager.

Interview with the Vampire is the confessional narrative of a vampire, telling his epic tale of "love, betrayal, loneliness, and hunger." [Read the IMDB-synopsis.]

This was not the only vampire movie that really contributed to my present day interests and likes, but is probably the vampire movie that influenced me the most. For instance, this movie and Brahm Stoker’s Dracula (1992) both depict handsome vampires with long hair. This is probably one reason why I had long hair for approximately a decade of my adult life. If I didn’t have to cut my hair for my job I would probably still have had long hair.

Vampire movies also resonate with me because I’m somewhat of a nocturnal creature. I don’t like bright light and because of my sensitive skin tend to avoid the sun. I can also easily stay up all night and sleep most of the day. In fact, I’m much more productive in the evening. Come 10 p.m. and I have a new burst of energy, to the chagrin of my ex-girlfriend. I’m most creative early in the morning, around 3 a.m. or 4 a.m.

Interview with the Vampire probably increased my obsession with the dark and mysterious. At that time I only wore black. My parents allowed my peculiarities, but they drew the line when I wanted to get black curtains and paint my room black. I think it was a good decision on their part.

And then there is something about vampires that is just immensely seductive, isn’t there? Even though I’m out of my Goth-phase, I still find vampires extremely sexy. A sensual Goth, not one full of piercings and tattoos, but one with pale skin and intense eyes can still get my heart racing.

I've seen Interview with the Vampire a host of times, although it's been quite some time since I've watched it last. I think it is high time to watch it again.

Below is a YouTube-video of the movie trailer.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

I don’t know how many times I saw Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986). Enough times, at least, for me to know the dialogue pretty well. I must have been around eight, nine or ten when I saw it the first time.

I never liked school, not even primary school. It was only at university that I felt for the first time the freedom to think. I never felt that school (in the form of primary and secondary education) allowed me to be a free agent with own opinions and unique ideas. Instead, I always felt fettered by the school system. And like Ferris, I also thought of many ways to skip school.

Although I was never as popular as Ferris, I could associate with him. In a strange way, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off made me feel normal. I think I resonated with Ferris' rebellious streak. It's not merely an unfounded teenage rebelliousness; rather, it is a creative rebellion against a creativity-stifling system.

Another probable reason for my enjoyment of the movie is it postmodern narration employed, with the character Ferris speaking directly to the viewer. I think my little Generation X brain, hardly a decade old, was just buzzing with resonance. Back then I didn't know anything about narrative layers or postmodern motiffs, but I did know that this is freaken' cool!

A further reason might be my association with the character Camron and his issues with his father.

In my opinion, Ferris Bueller's Day Off is one of the few teenage comedies worth watching. It doesn't rely wholly on vulgarity and sex. The mere fact that Matthew Broderick was nominated for a Golden Globe should tell us something.