Vampire Hunter D movie review
Because of the genre of this movie there will be some disturbing images. Reader discretion advised. ALso, all pictures and videos used in this review are legal under the terms of the fair use agreement of 21976.
Welcome everyone on whatever platform you’re reading this on. Welcome to the final movie review in the October Vampire Party. This movie review will also be a part of my series Animeman73 on Anime. For the simple reason this vampire movie is part of the art form that is anime. This movie has a special place in my heart.
This was one of three films that helped turn me into a lifelong anime fan. Vampire Hunter D is the movie I'm speaking of. An anime movie from the 1980’s with a superb story and a mind-blowing art style. As Halloween draws closer it’s time to dive into this frightening sci-fi/horror/romance film.
Please note that this will concentrate on the original dub not the re-release. For the simple reason the original dub, at least I think, is the best version of it.
The time is the distant future on Earth, the year 12,090 AD to be exact. The world's shrouded in darkness. In this time mutants, demons, and other monsters slither through it. The remnants of humanity cower in their villages. Sounds like a swell world to live in, note the dripping sarcasm.
Into this dark world a young woman armed with a laser rifle and wearing a cross round her neck is on the prowl. She’s on the search for a dangerous beast. The girl in question is Doris Lang. In the original dub she got voiced by Barbara Goodsen. She finds the acid spitting creature in question.
She shoots the creature then chases after it. She summons her horse Luke to outpace it. While she does manage to catch and kill the beast it’s not before it kills her horse. Well, this night got a lot more unpleasant. But for poor Doris it’s about to get a lot worse.
A werewolf surprises her and removes the cross that provided her protection. The young woman then comes face-to-face with a powerful vampire. His name is Count Magnus Lee and in the original dub he got voiced by Jeff Winkless. And she’s intruded on his territory so he demands payment.
After the introduction the scene changes to a grey and grim looking field. Into this situation rides a strange man clad in dark blue with black trim attire. And he’s riding a cybernetic horse. This is the main character of the story, D the mysterious vampire hunter. In the original dub version of the movie Michael McConnohie voiced the character.
On the road Doris meets him and proceeds to attack him. The stoic D says nothing but breaks free of Doris’ attack without so much as a shrug. Ah the stoic dark heroes are always some of the best types. Doris realizes that D is a vampire hunter and asks to hire him. When she shows where Magnus Lee “kissed” her that gets his attention.
He examines the bite underneath the collar she’s wearing. He asks when the vampire bit her.
The scene then changes to the Lang ranch where a young boy is chasing off a Mist Monster. The boy in question is Dan, Doris’ younger brother. The part of Dan got voiced in the original dub by Lara Cody. Dan as he’s helping tend to D’s steed makes mention of something. His father mentioned there are two kinds of strong silent people.
Bad people who are up to no good, and good people who are planning something. Dan believes D to be a good person planning something.
The three then head into town to fetch some supplies. Enter into the equation another prominent character for the story. That character is Greco Rohman, voiced in the original dub by Steve Bulan. Greco is a spoiled scheming brat of a man and the mayor's son. This sleaze sets his sights on claiming Doris as his own.
While she may have gotten bitten by a vampire Doris hasn’t lost her strong will. And she uses her whip to put the mayor’s son in his place. Good on her for asserting herself. But the spoiled mayor’s son gets his revenge by calling her out as infected by a vampire.
Doris and D get hustled down to the mayor’s office. There the mayor and the town sheriff have words with Doris and the hunter. The part of Mayor Rohman got voiced by Tom Wyner. Sheriff Luke Dalton got voiced in the original dub by Kirk Thornton. A legendary voice actor this author has had the pleasure of meeting.
With them is Dr. Sam Fehring who in the original dub got voiced by Steve Kramer. And things are looking bad as the mayor and the Sheriff want to send her to the Internment camp. The premise of this move is to protect the townsfolk from infection. But the Doctor advises against it. And oh boy what a story he has to tell!
He then explains how they did so with another girl the count picked years ago. In retaliation the Count killed 31 villagers while the girl went mad with grief and died in the camp. Yeah, one would think that after such an experience that this village would know better than to do that! Those who fail to learn from history and all.
D promises to save Doris by killing the one who infected her. They release her but the townspeople aren’t eager to give her supplies. They explain they don’t want to get associated with a vampire. On the one hand it’s understandable they want to protect themselves. But Doris is still a human being for crying out loud!
Outside a tearful Dan's scared of losing her. After all she’s the only family he has left for reasons that will get discussed soon enough. D proceeds to have a man-to-man talk with the boy. He tells him it’s okay to cry but that his sister needs his support. He’s right on that count.
That night Doris is looking out the window knowing the count will come for her. She tucks Dan in yet her fear is clear enough. Downstairs D has a conversation with a mysterious other presence. This presence is D’s Left Hand. There’s a being that’s in the palm of his hand and it has quite the snarky personality.
This character also got voiced by Michael McConnohie.
Doris then descends to the living room. At which point some lore comes into play. Doris and Dan’s father was a werewolf hunter one of the very best. D then explains that tomorrow night is the Moon of Blood. It’s what some refer to as a Sanguine Moon.
Vampires don't go after women on such nights. They believe that female blood is unclean on such a night. So, he suspects the count may come after her this night. Doris then tells D about the vampire who attacked her. Count Magnus Lee has been around for over 5,000 years.
Yet he only reappeared 2 years ago. D makes mention that old vampires like him are powerful, almost invincible. Sounds like a real challenge. He then senses someone approaching the farm. He then uses Left Hand, D’s humunculous, to put Doris into a deep sleep, so she’ll resist the count’s summons.
D’s instincts prove accurate. A werewolf breaks some of the crucifixes near the property. The rest get taken out by a mysterious figure with a flying bladed weapon. Before they can take out the farm’s remaining defenses D shuts them off. He heads outside to confront the figures that approach the farm. The main figures turn out to be a green-grey haired man.
This is Rei Ginsei, a mutant. In the original dub Kerrigan Mahan voiced the mutant servant of Count Lee. With him is Countess L’armica Lee, Magnus Lee’s daughter. In the original dub Edie Mirman took on the voice of the character. As it turns up, she is very prejudiced against humans believing herself to be of noble heritage.
Oh, lovely one of those snobbish types, they’re always loads of fun!
Rei and D engage in a fierce fight in which the hunter proves very strong. But D gets a surprise when the blade that was to have stabbed Rei stabs him. It seems Rei is a rumored mutant who has the ability to twist space around him. Hey that’s dirty fighting you mutant cretin!
But when Rei goes in for the kill, he gets a surprise. D is not some ordinary vampire hunter, he is a dhampir, the half-breed spawn of a vampire and a human. Well, this situation has gotten a lot more interesting. He pushes Rei away as he recovers.
The prejudiced L’armica decides she wants to kill him herself. She thinks herself superior to him and launches an attack of her own. But D fends it off and sends both scurrying back for the castle with a warning to the count. “Visitors from the past shall return to the darkness whenst they came.”
The meaning of this will become clear in time. Count Lee’s sources make him aware of Rei and L’armica’s trip against his wishes. The count's amused because this is something new and interesting that's happened. The first time in many centuries. Yeah, immortality isn't all it's cracked up to be.
L’armica talks to a portrait of Count Dracula. And she makes it clear she hates the idea of a commoner getting brought into “The Nobility”. Of note “The Nobility” is what vampires call themselves as they now control the world in this future. Gee they sound like they’re a world of fun and laughs!
Rei then explains that Count Lee wants them to return to their quarters until summoned. It's meant as punishment for their unauthorized excursion. And it’s clear Rei wants to join the nobility. But L’armica mocks and laughs at his efforts. Yeah, it’s clear that Rei like Greco is going to be trouble.
This situation keeps getting better and better.
D goes to the castle to confront Count Lee. As he proceeds through the horrors that await him it seems hard but not too hard. One would think Count Lee would have better defenses. Yeah, not a good sign if the defenses are lacking! Left Hand makes it clear that they’re walking into a trap.
But the vampire hunter is already aware of this fact. Wow, that’s real confidence if D is already aware of this.
He meets Rei and a mutant witch in charge of the castle sentinels. They send D toppling down into the catacombs of the castle. There D and Left Hand get to see firsthand the results of the nuclear war that happened thousands of years ago. Welcome to the post-apocalyptic world, it’s fun and laughs for everyone. Again, note the dripping sarcasm.
But D’s problems are about to get a lot worse. He comes across three naked women playing harps. The problem is these women are not what they seem. They are in fact the Snake Women of Midwich. They are powerful demon women who drain the life force of unsuspecting men they come across.
And they’ve set their sights on D as their next meal. Of note Joyce Kurtz voiced the women in the original dub.
Meanwhile Rei, this time at the count's orders, attacks the Lang ranch again. His mutants subdue both Dr Fehring and Dan. Doris keeps them from getting killed by agreeing to go with Rei.
Doris then meets the count again and makes it clear she has no interest in being a willing bride to him. He then explains how D got captured by the Snake Women who have been draining his life force. They’re intoxicated by the pleasure of their effort. And it's been over a day since they captured him. Lee then puts Doris to sleep eager to make her his bride.
Meanwhile the Snake Women are about to get a fatal surprise. D ends up showing his fangs and draining the demonic women of their blood. Oops, surprise the snake women weren’t expecting this! L’armica enters the quarters where Doris is sleeping. She's disgusted with the idea of the young lady becoming her stepmother.
But meanwhile things are getting interesting in the catacombs. D is free from the grip of the Snake Women. And said demon women have come down with a nasty case of dead! Cut to pieces by a freed D, now that’s karma right there!
Left Hand makes some quips about how D will always show his fangs in the end because of his blood. After a brief argument D warns Left Hand to knock it off or he’ll slice him off. To this the creature capitulates.
L’armica is about to stab Doris when D breaks into the room. He overpowers the female vampire but doesn’t kill her. Instead, he takes Doris and flees. D smashes through the defenses leaving behind a gory and bloody aftermath. Rei makes it clear he won’t return to the castle until he kills D.
This mutant he’s determined that much is certain. Doris then awakens back at her home while D is seeing to the defenses for the place.
That night in town there’s tension in the air. Count Lee’s messenger has come to see Rei. Yeah, that’s usually not a good sign. Greco is hanging out with some women of loose morals. But he decides to ditch them to investigate.
He goes to the innkeeper and finds the monitoring room for the inn. There he overhears a conversation between Rei and the Count’s messenger. The count gives him a special candle. The incense of it can paralyze anyone with vampire blood. The Count’s orders are to use the candle against D since he is dhampir.
This gives Greco the beginning of an idea. Yup, called it, Greco is without a doubt going to be trouble.
Dan gets kidnapped by Rei who demands that D come alone so they can settle things. He uses the ancient code of the vampire hunters to do so. Doris realizes this is being done to separate D from her. Give the count credit, he can plan strategies very well. Having centuries of experience will do that.
D and Rei meet up while Dan watches trapped on a cliff far above. After some trash talk back and forth, the two have at it. But Rei gets a nasty surprise. The candle goes out and has no effect on the hunter. And for his efforts the mutant gets a hand sliced off.
Ouch, that’ll ruin anyone’s day or night!
Meanwhile Dr. Fehring met up with Doris. He's guiding her to what he calls a location that will protect her from evil. Considering how unpleasant this movie has been why does this seem too good to be true? Then L’armica appears before them. Worse Doris can’t turn around because the ravine they’re driving on is so narrow.
Yup, this is the perfect spot for a trap. Doris gets a nasty surprise when the doctor removes her crucifix and leaps off the cart. As it turns up, he got transformed into a vampire sometime earlier. And he’s been trying to bring her to the Count.
L’armica then orders the doctor to bring Doris to her. That’s right before a surprise twist as the countess stabs the Doctor and sends him falling to his death. Doris's horrified look says everything. Yeah, this movie keeps getting uglier.
L’Armica suggests that Doris go far away from her father’s lands so he can’t reach her. What’s this a surprise act of charity from the countess? That’s a change of pace for certain.
But things go sideways again when Greco shows up holding the real candle. It seems the one Rei got was a fake, it’s a case of the old switcharoo. Very sneaky Greco, very sneaky! And the ambitious fool is intent on using L’armica to trap the count, use the candle, and kill him. Because Doris has gotten infected, she’s harmed by the candle’s effects too.
It seems Greco wants the count’s power and wealth for himself. Uh-oh that’s some dangerous ambition right there.
L’armica doesn’t want any of this and demands Greco kill her. But that plan comes to a halt when Greco goes toppling downwards thanks to a shot from Dan. He and D are very much alive and in good health.
Halfway home they send L’armica back to the castle with no problem. Doris explains that D’s issue is with her father, not her. So, killing her would be against his code of honor. L’armica mentions honor doesn’t mean much in the world she comes from. Her father believes the strong are born to take from the weak.
D surprises her when he mentions her ancestor Count Dracula never believed in that. How could he know that about or even know Dracula? D who are you good sir?
After getting cleaned up Doris tells D her true feelings. She’s fallen for the vampire hunter and fallen hard poor girl. She embraces him triggering his vampire nature. But D resists and pushes her away. This brings into play something Dr. Fehring mentioned earlier.
Because of D’s nature he is a man of action. Love is something that is an anomaly to him. And he cannot share the warmth of another person due to his own nature. Ouch, what a way to go through life!
So that’s why D resists biting her.
His own code demands that he not do such things. Ho boy D you poor tormented soul.
Meanwhile Greco somehow managed to survive the fall and he is furious. Then he runs into Rei who recognizes how he got played. Yeah, the mutant servant is furious at Greco’s treachery. The encounter proves fatal for the mayor’s son. Karma is a harsh mistress because she doesn’t play games!
Rei then uses the candle to weaken D and then slices off his Left Hand. “An eye for an eye, or in this case a hand for a hand,” he calls it.
Yeah, Rei you’re not aware of what D’s Left Hand is, do you? L’armica learns to her horror that her mother was common born. Thus, throwing a monkey wrench into her worldview. Oof, that’ll do the trick every time.
After that it’s a race against time to save Doris. Can D recover in time to keep the vampire lord from making Doris his bride? And what of Rei and Dan, how will they figure into the scheme of things?
Now as stated this was one of the movies that turned me into an anime fan. Some say the story wasn’t all that great. But I'm going to have to disagree with that notion in the politest sense. The story and characters are rich and compelling but not overdone. Michael McConnahie as D and Left Hand is fantastic.
Barbara Goodsen as Doris Lang is compelling. And Jeff Winkless is both evil and terrifying as Count Magnus Lee. In fact, the entire dub cast of this movie does a fantastic job. It is true this dub got done in the late 80’s. But even then, there were signs of how good dubbing can make a good anime movie even better.
And as for the visual effects? One can only expect greatness from an old school anime film. The heart and spirit of anime oozes from this movie. Granted this movie has an R rating because it has a lot of gore and bloodshed in it. So, this movie is without a doubt not for children.
That said Vampire Hunter D is an excellent film. A great story, good characters, and mind-blowing visual effects make it a true classic. I give Vampire Hunter D a solid A rating. Pick up this anime movie on DVD, Blu-Ray, 4K, or stream it. This is the perfect film for a good Halloween horror movie watch.
Oh dear, all good things must come to an end. And I’m sorry to say the October Vampire Party has come to a close. I hope you enjoyed my review of this anime sci-fi/horror/romance. If you have any movie requests, please let me know in the comments section below.
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