★ 7 / 10
Mamoru Oshii’s Vampire Hunter D is a dark
Jason D
Mamoru Oshii’s Vampire Hunter D is a dark, moody, and stylistically bold anime that helped lay the groundwork for gothic horror in the medium. Blending…
Mamoru Oshii’s Vampire Hunter D is a dark, moody, and stylistically bold anime that helped lay the groundwork for gothic horror in the medium. Blending post-apocalyptic westerns, supernatural terror, and classic vampire lore, the film delivers a unique and atmospheric experience that still resonates today.
Kevin and I's breakdown highlights how much this film succeeds in crafting a distinct tone. The titular D is a soft-spoken, ultra-cool vampire slayer whose design—wide-brimmed hat, flowing cape, and emotionless stare—cements him as a genre icon. The world around him is equally fascinating: a bleak wasteland peppered with decaying castles, mutants, and twisted remnants of both science and magic.
The short runtime (just 80 minutes) ensures tight pacing but comes at the cost of deeper character development. Doris and Dan are sympathetic but not fleshed out, and D’s stoicism, while cool, can make him feel distant. Yet the film compensates with its stylish visuals, memorable creature designs, and haunting score.
While the animation shows its age in places, and the plot may feel formulaic by modern standards, Vampire Hunter D remains a must-see for fans of horror anime, gothic storytelling, and genre trailblazers. As Kevin aptly noted, “It’s anime Blade before Blade was even a thing.”
Pros:
– Iconic character design
– Gothic, post-apocalyptic setting
– Fast-paced and visually inventive
– Genre-defining for anime horror
Cons:
– Shallow supporting cast
– Some dated animation
– Predictable story beats
A cult classic worth revisiting for its atmosphere, style, and historical influence.
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★ 8 / 10
I have to confess, I never knew much
Ash P
I have to confess, I never knew much about Vampire Hunter D alone. When I was a teenager, I grew up with old school anime such as Cowboy Bebop, Trigun…
I have to confess, I never knew much about Vampire Hunter D alone. When I was a teenager, I grew up with old school anime such as Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, InuYasha, Dragon Ball and all other sorts of anime back in the 90's and the 2000s. Oddly, I'd never seen this anywhere whenever I watch something on TV. But with this being in theaters for a limited time as celebrating it's forty years of existence, I had to give this a watch for the first time and can say I had fun with it. Just a heads up about this review, there might be some minor spoilers.
Starting with the story, it's a bit simplistic. I honestly have to say that it's as simple as the characters themselves. You have Vampire Hunter D himself traveling until he comes across the girl, Doris, who hires him to kill Count Magnus Lee, who owns the land and given Doris the Kiss of the Noble. You also have other characters like Doris's little brother, Dan, being the little brother that he is written as while looking up to D like an older brother. You have the mayor's son who is your typical jackass who is trying to act cool until he gets his comeuppance. You also have the villain himself, Count Magnus Lee, whose goal is to get hitched. I'm not kidding, it's how I'd pieced together after seeing this film in theaters. Then you have L'armica, his daughter, and her right-hand man, Hei.
Sure, the characters are a bit one-note, but they are how they are written as. The story is simplistic enough that I still enjoyed it for what its worth with the characters going through their arc. Say like Doris getting a few times fighting back along with being the damsel in distress twice throughout the film while falling for D. Then you have Dan trying his best despite being taken away once. I found L'armica's arc interesting when it comes to her father, Magnus Lee, looking to wed with Doris. Better off to say that you'd take it for what it's worth. We do learn more about D himself, through bites and pieces as the film goes.
What carries the movie are the animation and the action. The animation is amazing for that dark, gothic feel for the setting along with how it reminds you of classic Devilman, Dark City, Ninja Scroll or several other movies that came out in the 80s and 90s. Especially with the gore effects, which if you're queasy, I wouldn't push myself to see such. Same for the flashing lights. Because there are a lot of flashing lights, for those who have epilepsy. The action is also great for the feeling of fighting off demons and mutants under the dark rule of Nobility of vampires. I do enjoy retro style anime and it fits right at home with the retro lifestyle. Not to mention, there will be some nudity. With a bit of fanservice, too.
Overall, this has been a fun watch, being my first time. If I were to have seen this in my youth, I would've called this a masterpiece. Although, even if that's the case, this is a simplistic story along with its characters who still bring their charm and action for this ninety minute film. Worth a watch if you're interested in a gothic trip with vampires and mutants and demons facing off against D. Also, before the film had started, the brand manager of HIDIVE, an anime streaming service website, explained some interesting facts about the movie itself. It's nice to learn about how the anime film came into fruition and the reasoning of its existence for forty years. A heads up though, it's limited in theaters currently, as you've read through my review. If you've found it anywhere else or on DVD, that's another good way to check the film out.
I give this film eight D riding on his cyborg horse from the horizon out of ten. 8/10.
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English version please