In Ann Rice’s Interview with a Vampire, the relationships are extremely complex to say the least. Her vampires have evolved from the Christopher Lee depiction of Dracula and the battle between good and evil. The old stories revolved around the seduction of the woman to achieve the goal of immortality. The classic vampire stories were mono-dimensional in contrast to the contemporary tales of Rice’s vampire which has layers. The good and evil theme remain constant in both but the relationship status has expanded. Not only do we have a relationship between Louis, Lestat and Claudia but the relationship is not contained within the triangle, each relationship has a condemned association with other parties revolving around pure desire.

It is evident throughout the book that Rice was raised in New Orleans which was a melting pot of religion, voodoo, intertwined with a tacit acceptance of different sexual orientations. Although the good/evil theme is within Rice’s book, the sexual tension and surrounding relationships seems to permeate the plot.  The book has overtones of heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality and pedophilia. Ann Rice’s novel is coated with sensuality within the relationship between the characters even if there is no overt sexual act. Additionally, most of the relationships are shrouded with both love and hate. Furthermore, the relationship between two people is not limited to a single traditional mode. For example, the relationship between Louis and Claudia begins when he kills her. Louis is a fight or flight character and flees leaving her to die. Lestat turns her into a vampire which shrouds Louis in guilt. Louis acts as her father/teacher/protector from the guilt which is usually absent in a vampire. Claudia hates both Lestat and Louis for their role in her perpetual existence. Claudia’s physical form remains a five year old, nevertheless her intellect and true being continues to mature. This maturity prompts a lust from Louis who leaves to escape more guilt. Consequently, the relationship expands from a parent/child to a father/lover, familial love to pedophelia.

The relationship between Louis and Lestat is equally as complex. Again, a love/hate relationship exists. This is because of Louis’ battle with good/evil. Louis hates his role in life and drinks the blood of an animal instead of humans in order to survive. His many attempts of killing Lestat confirms the aspect of hate. He also denies his love for Claudia and seeks the love of Armand.

            A different relationship agenda of the vampire in society is depicted in the film Only Lovers Left Alive. The film is an experimental film that eschews the narrative structure. It centers around the vampire characters of Adam and Eve and their strong relationship, a monogamous relationship, that continues to exist over the centuries.  Their love lasted because both of the characters were intellectuals, had respect for each other and an undying loving. The main characters in Only Lovers left Alive were actually deeper and more human than the living because of the social aspect and closeness of their relationship. Nevertheless, a definite overtone of dark humor embodies this film despite the theme of a strong relationship at its core. At the film’s ending, their blood supplier in Lebanon dies. In order to survive they have to suck off an unsuspecting couple which reveals a relationship at odds to the universe. However, the human emotion to survive, of self-preservation, expands the connection to nature. The film shows the relationship at the core of characters in everyday life and a society that attempts to pull them apart.