Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
Directed by: Yoshiaka Kawajiri
Studio: Madhouse
Genres: Horror, Action, Progressive
Format: 1 Movie
Live Action Anime Rating: **
While most of the campiness from the original Vampire Hunter D appears to be lost in this sequel, I can't help but still be annoyed by lines like "it's zombie time!". Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is a film that features stunning visuals along with a story concept that sparkles a lot of potential, but sadly, it's execution makes me wish this was a Go Nagai-type of cheesy action film. If it had been, then I would have liked it more.
For those unfamiliar with the first Vampire Hunter D, the main character here is a half-vampire/half-human (creative...huh?) who goes by the name of D. D's been hired by the Elbourne family to rescue a very annoying girl called Charlotte, who's been kidnapped by Meier Link, another of those bloodsucking vampires with very white skin. At this point things don't seem so bad, it's when a group of vampire hunters-known as the Marcus Brothers- jump in the wagon of rescuing Charlotte, that things start going downhill.
Not only do these guys start with the awful dialogue, but also, they kill a lot of the horrific mood that the film could have had. Unlike the first VHD film, this one is set in the future, and it's the Marcus Brothers that start bringing their technology into the show. For a film with such an amazingly horrific mood at the beginning, it uses a lot of unnecessary action, sci-fi, and even comic relief, which are just unfitting.
The violence is what you can expect from any other vampire film, which is probably why VHD is so deeply loved by many, who can't help but love any kind of animation aimed at adults. But to me, it just lacked any sort of substance, and any kind of horror and depth that it pretended to have. If there are any good points in this Vampire Hunter D, is that the animation is flawless, and that it was animated for American audiences, so that the dialogue would fit the mouth movements for us Westerners. Aside from that, this Vampire sucks a bit more than just blood.
-rjxsapri®
D, the hero from Bloodlust. Let's hope his next adventure isn't in space.
Rating System:
Rating system:
*= Horrible
*½= Very Bad
**= Bad
**½= Good
***= Very Good
***½= Excellent
****= Masterpiece
