Is it just me or does this film seem like it was initially cursed? For a film about good versus evil, it certainly seems like there was more evil going on behind the scenes before release. Disagreements, misunderstandings and a slew of recasting - this adaptation of Anne Rice's debut novel went through its own set of trials and tribulations to bring it to life.

In a San Francisco apartment, with a biographer thirsty for a juicy story, Louis (Brad Pitt) tells the story of how he came to be and those he met along the way. With his curiosity piqued and a host willing to share, the writer (Christian Slater) delves deep into Louis' past - yearning to understand what makes him tick.

THE HEX

The misfortunes started early, with the untimely passing of River Phoenix - and at only 23 years of age, no less. Chosen to play Malloy (the aforementioned writer), there was the issue of trying to replace him which eventually lead to Christian Slater being cast.

At this, Anne Rice was livid - strongly disapproving of Cruise as Lestat and making it known what she thought of the star's acting skills. She couldn't fathom such a choice, but this particular disagreement does have a silver lining. More on that later.

By this stage, even Dracula would be exhausted; but it doesn't stop there. On set, tempers would get the better of Cruise - vocalising his disgust for Pitt's lack of hygiene. This may have even been part of what resulted in Pitt's 2011 interview with Entertainment Weekly where he opened up about his uncomfortable time on set. In said interview, he went on to recall begging the producer to get him out of the project - only to endure it due to contractual obligations.

And the film was also cited, controversially, by the assailant of an attempted murder in 1994. Claiming it to be his inspiration for the horrible crime, the crazed individual drank blood from his victim after maliciously wounding her. Fortunately, the victim survived - but the event hit media outlets and cast somewhat of a shadow over the film's time at the box office.

THE LIES

THE VIDEOTAPE

When all was said and done, the film was immortalised with commercial success, receiving positive reviews from audiences and critics alike and being nominated for several awards. Rice, still upset about Cruise's involvement, refused to see the film until a colleague sent her a videotape of the feature. After watching it in its entirety, Rice wrote to the A-list celebrity, praising his performance and apologising for her initial stance. As an extended gesture, Rice appeared in an introduction on the VHS release, validating her support for the film and its stars.