BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE
France, 2009, 88 minutes, Colour.
Gianna Alison Miller, J.J. Feild, Koyuki, Liam Cunningham, Michael Byrne, Colin Salmon, Larry Lamb.
Directed by Chris Nahon.
At only 88 minutes, this is a brisk, very brisk, action drama that has better production values than many and, in fact, is more interesting and entertaining than many. Even then, it is a variation on horror themes for the fans of graphic novels. Fans who wanted more simplistic characters and action have expressed disappointment because of its qualities.
It is an international collaboration, basically French, filmed in Argentina, Japan and the US, with a Korean actress as the lead, with an American companion (as the film is set in Japan in 1971 with a US base there for Vietnam action), a glamorous Japanese demonic villain and a supporting cast of British character actors. There is martial arts action but more along the Crouching Tiger variety from action choreographer, Corey Yuen, there are flashbacks to old Japan with a mythology of demons controlling the world, then a modern group, The Council, with Liam Cunningham, Michael Byrne and JJ field, who look like men in black who are using the last vampire warrior to destroy the literal mother of all demons, Onigen.
The acting of the principals is not one of the great features of the film but we accept the conventions of the genre and sit back and enjoy the stylish production values and the action.
1.The film based on a Japanese animated story? The cartoon style? The realism with live action?
2.The production values: the locations in Argentina, Japan, China? The international production and cast? How well did the film work as an international version of a Japanese story?
3.Photography, costumes and décor, the past, the present? Stylised? The musical score?
4.The initial information, Japan, centuries earlier, the demons, the confrontation with the demons? The hidden demons in the present? The Council and the confrontation with the demons? The search for Onigen? Saya and her missing to destroy Onigen? How well did the film illustrate these themes, myths?
5.The introduction to Saya, as a young woman, in the trains, the confrontation with the passengers, the deaths? Her being a vampire? Blood? Her relationship with Michael and the Council? The Council wanting her to find Onigen, to draw Onigen out and using Saya as bait? Michael and Luke, the men in black? Their control of Saya?
6.The story of Alice McKee?, her father the general, the base in Japan, the setting of 1971 and the Vietnam War? Her disobeying her father and going from the base, clash with him? At the school, the other girls, their hostility? Saya arriving, their ridiculing her? In the gym, their fighting with Alice, Saya coming to her rescue? Killing them? Alice and her return home, her panic with her father, Luke and his killing the general? Michael’s disapproval? Alice fleeing, finding Saya?
7.Luke, his ambitions, Michael in charge, Luke killing him? Luke’s death? The visit with the elder and his advice? Powell at the school, training Alice in martial arts?
8.Alice and Saya, in the hotel, mutual support? The sniper? The escape in the car?
9.The voyage through the mountainside, the truck, the attack of the demons? The fights, the crash?
10.The flashbacks, Saya’s background, her being trained by Kato? Her father’s death? The mystery of her mother’s absence? As a little girl, the friend, growing up, love? The attack of the demons? Kato’s death and torture? Her going on her mission?
11.The present: the appearance of Onigen, her beauty? Her explaining to Saya that she was her mother? The death of her father? The build-up to the confrontation, the fight? Alice’s role? Onigen and her deceiving Saya with the appearance of the little boy, Alice warning her that it was a mirage?
12.The final destruction of Onigen? Saya and her achievement of her mission?
13.Alice, the interrogations, the disbelieving police? The cover-up? The background of the Council being able to cover up all the deaths? - The possibility for a sequel and more action with Saya?
