NEW YORK —  It didn't take garlic, silver or a wooden stake. Terrible reviews were enough to kill Elton John's vampire musical, "Lestat," which will close Sunday after an anemic 39 performances.

The musical's producers will lose their entire $10 million investment — and it marks John's first flop after he successfully composed the music for "The Lion King," "Aida" and the smash "Billy Elliot" in London.

To keep in the black, "Lestat" had to take in about $90,000 in ticket sales a day - but it was hemorrhaging cash, taking in only $50,000 daily.

Although the play wound up with two Tony nods — Carolee Carmello for Featured Actress in a Musical, and Costume Design — "Lestat" was savaged by critics.

After the April 25 opening, The Post's Clive Barnes wrote, "It is a musical only the chief accountant of a blood bank could love."