Horror Movie Reviews
More Details...Price: $29.95 |
Title: Vampire Hunter D (2000) |
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Review of Vampire Hunter D
- D, a haunted half-human, half-vampire warrior, wanders the countryside of a feudalistic future, hunting his own kind while battling his own evil nature. Like a rogue samurai, the silent, solitary hero wanders into a small hamlet terrorized by the all-powerful Count, a monstrous vampire lord, and his demonic minions from a castle that casts a long shadow over the countryside. The Count has claimed the human Doris (who wields a mean cutlass herself) as his bride. D becomes her protector and--when she's captured by the Count's shape-shifting minions--her savior. Designed in slashes and sharp, angular images and directed with abrupt explosions of lightning-fast action, Vampire Hunter D is violent and bloody in the mode of a samurai adventure. The sleek D is appropriately dark and quiet, cutting a mysterious figure, while the Count is a veritable demon of a vampire, a supernaturally powerful monster whose appetites know no bounds. The undercurrent of sexuality never spills over into the sadistic vein of so many "adults only" thrillers, but it is recommended for mature audiences.
The DVD features both English and Japanese language soundtracks with optional English subtitles. It also has a documentary featurette, deleted footage, and an artwork gallery by Amano among its supplements. --Sean Axmaker
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Comments for Vampire Hunter D
- Posted on 2008-03-11
A trendsetting classic that never gets old
One of the first great Animae full length movies (along with Ninja Scroll and Akira)-- While the genre has evolved exponentially in animation quality and technical sophistication, sound, and "star" power in voicing-- VHD is a must own for any serious animae fan!!
Great characters, unforgettable animated action scenes, and great dialogue make this one of my favorites of all time.
"My name is Regancy vampire hunter, and killing men like you is my greatest pleasure. Prepare to die!!!"
Score: 5
- Posted on 2008-03-04
"Visitors from the past shall return to the darkness whence they came."
In the pitch blackness of an imminent thunderstorm, a pigtailed peasant girl by the name of Doris Lang makes her way through overgrown grasses with laser rifle in hand, endeavoring to rid her property of the ferocious werewolves and reptilian mutants that wander unchecked amid the blue shadows of the night. Meanwhile, back at the Lang homestead some distance away, little brother Dan battles tirelessly to keep swirling clouds of flesh-eating smoke away from the livestock. As the red-clad youngster blasts away at the misty intruders, he is unaware that deep in the gloom of the fields beyond, his big sister has just witnessed the horrific sight of her beloved white horse, Luke, being torn and devoured by the bloodthirsty beasts of the underworld, leaving the miniskirted maiden completely alone in the foggy darkness. Not even her electrified whip can save Doris from what comes next--a towering figure in black bears down upon her with fangs like daggers and eyes like fire.
Hope comes in the unlikely form of a stoic and usually silent stranger wrapped in a flowing cape and colored from head to toe like the Stygian midnight. A wide-brimmed hat, narrow collar points and long strands of brown hair frame his gaunt, pallid face. On his back he wears a slender sword of steel and beneath him trots a mechanical steed with horns like some equine devil. This cool and fearless hero for hire is called D, the vampire hunter, and Doris prays he can find and destroy the ten-thousand year-old fiend that pierced her pretty neck with his foul teeth--the dreaded Count Magnus Lee--before the resulting infection turns her into the Count's personal vampire slave.
If he is to slay this ancient aristocrat villain, D must first venture into Count Lee's vast stone castle; squash teeming hoards of squirming pink worms; topple a gargantuan Frankenstein's monster; dodge a cackling bat-winged ghoul; fight off a yellow-eyed wolf phantom; slice and dice a diminutive green spider collector and avoid having his life force drained by the slithering Snake Women of Midwich...all while enduring relentless remarks of ridicule from his verbally-abusive left hand! Can the unflappable Mr. D reach the undead owner of this dismal fortress and spare the lovely Doris a miserable life of solitude and madness in her village's notorious internment camp for vampire victims? Furthermore, can the mysterious hunter outwit the Count's cold and cunning daughter, Lamika, and defeat the blade-tossing aspiring nobleman, Rei Ginsei...without losing his head? And what, exactly, does the `D' stand for? The answers to all these questions and more can only be found on D's DVD.
This Special Edition disc contains both the English dub version and the subtitled Japanese version of the legendary animated thriller. Also included are trailers; footage from the Vampire Hunter D PlayStation game; an English subtitled `Making of' featurette; and a gallery of drawings by Amano. Showcasing brilliantly designed characters and a wonderfully creepy atmosphere, Vampire Hunter D is a spine-tingling anime masterpiece you won't soon forget. It's recommended for mature audiences only due to exploding craniums, severed appendages, exposed innards and the obligatory shower scene. Sink your teeth into your copy tonight, the Moon of Blood may arrive tomorrow!
Score: 5 - Posted on 2008-02-06
Top horror manga with floods of blood
Vampire Hunter D (1985) is up there with the likes of Ninja Scroll, Akira and Ghost in a Shell, so if you are looking for the best of the best Manga, or even just outrageously good horror, then Vampire Hunter D is a must see.
A mix of Hammer Horror ideas plus some cracking good 80s style Manga animation coupled with outrageously good fight sequences produces a feeling of watching something that really does transport us into the canvas of neo-vampires and monsters galore battling it out.
The story revolves around vampire Counts of the upper class aristocracies who rule the lands and occasionally kidnap a lower class girl to become their wives for recreation until they get fed up with them. D is the Vampire Hunter hired to take down the Count. Cue a stunning work of art that runs red off the screen and lucid landscapes, castles that put Disney to shame and full moons like on another planet.
Vampire D will stir your imagination and make you feel like you have just sat through one of the best horror stories you have ever seen. It is a satiating substance to see.
There is a second film, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000) which uses 21st century Manga animation but the stories are unrelated except for the main character and general themes. This version is the original cult classic.
Score: 5 - Posted on 2007-11-13
Classic Anime
I'm not much for 80's anime but Vampire Hunter D is quite the exception. The art is dated no doubt, but thats part of its charm. There is something special about seeing the 80s character and location designs. If you're looking for a good vampire anime then this is the ultimate movie for you. Its only second to one: Vampire Hunter D Bloodlust! This movie is based off the original novel of the same name.
Score: 4
- Posted on 2007-10-24
Vampire Hunter D
I saw Vampire Hunter D Bloodlust first so this was a little of a let down, only a little, i still thought it was alright. Worth a look at least.
Score: 4