A melancholic vampire named Louis, tormented by the memory of his mortal life and the overwhelming guilt of his existence as a creature of the night, seeks solace by sharing his story with a young reporter. He recounts his mortal life in 18th century New Orleans, a time of loss and despair that leads him to the brink of death, where he is offered a chance at immortality by the charismatic and ruthless vampire Lestat. Seduced by the promise of eternal life, Louis accepts, not fully understanding the ramifications of his choice.

As Louis adapts to his new life, he struggles with the moral implications of his need to feed on human blood. Lestat, carefree and merciless, tries to teach Louis the ways of vampirism, but Louis resists his savage nature, attempting to maintain his humanity by refusing to kill humans. Their complex dynamic is further complicated when they turn a young girl named Claudia into a vampire to sustain their dysfunctional semblance of a family. Locked in perpetual childhood, Claudia grows increasingly resentful and bitter, driving a wedge between her and her vampire fathers as she questions the nature of her existence and the boundaries of her confined life.