“Don't ever piss her off again! As far as we know, she's the only remaining original!”
-David
Directed by: Hiroyuki Kitakubo
Starring: Yûki Kudô, Saemi Nakamura, Joe Romersa, Rebecca Forstadt, Stuart Robinson, Akira Koieyama, Tom Fahn, Fitz Houston, Steve Blum, Paul Carr
Trailer/Video: Here
The premise: A girl named Saya is sent undercover to a high school to hunt demons called chiropterans. That's pretty much it.
My Familiarity With the Movie: I'm vaguely aware of the spinoff series, but the movie was recommended to me by a friend.
Random thoughts as I watch it:
- I know people think of Production I.G. as the people who did high-quality anime like Ghost in the Shell, and their work is phenomenal...but I always think of them as the folks that did the graphics in the last Wario Land game.
- Very stylish!
- I was very confused about if I was watching the subbed or dubbed version...until I realized it was both.
- The posters for the Halloween dance really get me in the spirit.
- Linda's hair reminds me of Alucard from Castlevania. Bet she's a vampire.
- The demons look a little like Beta Ray Bill, but more freaky and less endearing.
- I know they feast on blood, but they're referred to as "demons". Makes me wonder why the title refers to "the last vampire".
- Ha! The sword is an expensive fake.
- The nurse's face when Saya punches out the guard is funnier than it should be.
- That chiropteran being cut down in mid-air was pretty badass.
- Why does Saya feed the dying chiropteran some of her blood? Just to rub it in that it's dying?
- ...oh, THAT'S the "last vampire"!
The Good:
- Stylish, and well-animated.
- The aspect of it being a dual-language movie is neat.
- Great action scenes and what bits we get of the backstory is fun.
- The mid-60s setting is also an interesting choice, but one I dig.
- Some genuinely creepy moments.
- It's a long line of cliches, but it's done so in a way that's obviously homage.
The Bad:
- Light on plot or characterization. But it's not a big deal, since I feel like it's not the point. It's all about the action.
- The English-language portions have terrible delivery. Grammar's correct and everything, but the acting itself is pretty bad.
Best Scare: Sharon revealing herself as a chiropteran
What Did We Learn Today? Crosses, holy water...screw that. Nothing beats a katana for vampire-killing.
Recommended? Yes. Don't expect anything deep, but it's a fun ride.
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