Blood: The Last Vampire

2009

Eastern Eye / Madman

R4 DVD

Reviewer: Bob Estreich

Just when you thought vampire films had reached their limit and degenerated into a formula (just as zombie films have) along comes one with an original plot and is a long way from the vampire stereotype. This time the Japanese have adapted the vampire into their own culture and the results are excellent.

The film goes back to an anime comic series that was hugely popular in Japan. Its concept was from Mamoru Oshii, the director of Ghost In The Shell. In 2000 it was turned into an animated film that was also well received. Unfortunately the Japanese culture and background made the film a little difficult to follow for Western viewers, so this new live remake has been issued. It keeps the basic concept of the earlier film but adds an American flavour to it that should make it more comprehensible.

Saya is a young (400 year old) “halfling”, a cross between a human father and a vampire mother. She appears to be around sixteen. The vampires were at war with vampire demons known as “bloodsuckers”. These have vampire characteristics but can change shape back to their native form at will. Most of the good vampires have been killed off over the centuries and Saya is the last true vampire left except for Origen, the nominal head of the bloodsuckers and Saya’s ultimate target. The demons are now among us in human form (most of the time) and regard humans as a food crop. Saya works for an unspecified U.S. government agency called The Council that is trying to rid the world of these killer demons. She has become an able swordswoman. In return for her services they also supply her with the blood that her vampire condition needs. Generally they can take it from her victims.

She is sent to the U.S. Kanto Air Force Base posing as a school student. There have been suspicious deaths here and the Council wants the base cleaned up. The Vietnam war is starting and security at the base with its B52 bombers is critical. The Council’s suspicions are well founded. Two of the American girl students are demons and Saya slaughters them in the school gym as they are about to kill another student. The student is the rebellious daughter of the base commander. Now she has seen the demons in action she has become a target – the last thing they want is for their food to become aware of their existence. Saya once again saves her from a massed demon attack and the two girls start to form a bond of friendship – the first friendship in Saya’s lonely life for a long time..

One of the Council staff believes that more decisive action is required. He feels that Saya may not be needed in the coming war against the demons. He kills Saya’s control agent and Saya in turn kills him. The demons attack the base and the girls escape. They are now being hunted by the military, the police, the demons and the Council.

Americanising the film seems to have helped to make it more comprehensible. It is a pity they could not find a more original Council than the traditional “Men In Black”, though. Unfortunately on the review copy we received there are large parts of the dialogue that are still in Japanese. I think they probably contain the parts that fill in the background of the story. The film will be better when these have been translated and subtitled. Otherwise the film is good, the acting is good and the swordfights, though rather drawn out, are well done. The CGI demons are brilliant. There are surprises at the end, too, and the story has obviously been left open for a sequel.

Blood:The Last Vampire is in Japanese with English subtitles.

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