Queen of the Damned (2002) is a supernatural horror film directed by Michael Rymer, based on Anne Rice’s 1998 novel The Tale of the Body Thief, which is the third book in her The Vampire Chronicles series. The film is a loose adaptation and features the character Akasha, the ancient and powerful vampire queen, played by Aaliyah in her final film role before her tragic death in a plane crash.

The story follows Lestat de Lioncourt (played by Stuart Townsend), the iconic vampire from the previous film Interview with the Vampire (1994), who awakens from a long slumber and discovers that the world has changed. Lestat, now a rock star, awakens the ancient vampire queen Akasha, who has been in a deep slumber for centuries. Akasha believes that the vampire race needs to be ruled by her and seeks to use Lestat as a means to gain control over the world of vampires. She wishes to create a new world order, where she rules over all vampires and humans.

The film explores themes of power, immortality, and the consequences of immortality, as Lestat is torn between his loyalty to his vampire heritage and his desire to prevent Akasha from dominating the world. With Akasha’s arrival, vampires are forced to confront her desire for destruction and domination.

Queen of the Damned received mixed reviews, with some praising Aaliyah’s performance as Akasha and the atmospheric music (which features an original soundtrack with a mix of gothic rock and alternative metal), but the film was criticized for deviating from the source material and for its pacing. Nevertheless, it has developed a cult following due to its dark tone, the vampire lore, and Aaliyah’s commanding presence.