The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Gems: Vampire Hunter D (1985)

How do you choose what to watch on all those streaming services you have access to? There are so many options that it is just overwhelming. These services constantly release new content and overshadow all the great films from the past that are already there and ready to watch. Now there is The Wasteland Gems! Here is a great film on streaming right now that you should check out this weekend:

Vampire Hunter D (1985)

What are the true pillars of anime cinema? Japanese animation has made such a giant impact on the world of animation with its gorgeous hand drawn animation and rich genre storytelling. Some of the greatest fantasy, science fiction, action, and horror films come from the cinematic realm of anime. You have films like Akira, Ghost in the Shell, and Ninja Scroll which have set such a high bar. There is one other film that feels like it should be put in that same elite conversation…Vampire Hunter D.

What makes this horror/action/fantasy/western come to life? Well…just that. Director Toyoo Ashida delivers such a complex and layered cinematic experience that plays with so many motifs and thematic elements of a variety of classic cinematic genres. The horror elements are quite clear with the gothic aesthetic as well as the vampiric and monstrous elements. Each frame is quite terrifying, and the characters inject a bit (or plenty more) fear into the audience. The action is thrilling and expertly rendered on screen. Crafting action is so hard in animation because it does not have the depth of space to play around it. But Ashida delivers dynamic, exciting, and crisp action sequences that stick with you. The fantasy elements are easy to explain when you have vampires and creatures around. The western elements are more subtle but have a loner protagonist with a vampiric cowboy aesthetic along with some western style standoffs as well.

How about the visual aesthetic? When you are making animated films, the visuals will be one of the most commented elements of such a project. The animation in Vampire Hunter D is an incredible vibe. The detail for an animated film from the mid-80s is quite impressive. This film pre-dates the Disney Renaissance and delivers some of the best animation of the era. The gothic visual style is something so compelling. The “Man in Black” aesthetic of D is so well realized and reinforces those western elements. The castle setting for the climax is epic and horrifying at the same time. The darkness that fills this space is so striking with enriched black colorization. The gothic element in that castle works so well with the throne, costumes, and paints that just capture such a specific and effective vibe. There are some impressive settings that look pitch perfect like the cemetery and decrepit town. The film feels like a fully realized vision that so many films struggle to reach.

But does Vampire Hunter D have the substance to match the style? There is a great and formidable antagonist in Count Magrus Lee who seeks out a new bride. Then you have a mysterious Vampire Hunter, D, who will take on the mission to take down Count Lee. The narrative is simple yet effective. The mystery around D is so impactful and intriguing. There are some shocking, effective, and satisfying twists and turns along the way as well. The screenplay delivers enough to engage the audience while letting filmmaking, animation, and genre elements do some impressive heavy lifting. If you want to expand your anime experiences…seek out Vampire Hunter D as soon as you can.

Vampire Hunter D is streaming on AMC+.