Vampire Hunter D (Japan, 1985) – Episode 15

Cinemassacre’s Monster Madness is a yearly series of horror movie reviews produced by Cinemassacre Productions and airing around the month of October. This series is hosted by James Rolfe. This is episode 15 of Monster Madness “Around the World!”

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45 comments

  • KombatGod
    October 15, 2021 at 6:11 pm

    ANIME??? With the immense library of horror films to choose from I did not expect the Japanese entry to be anime! It’s a welcomed change of pace!

    btw, having re-read the Thriller Bark saga of One Piece just yesterday it was a treat to see that clip in there at 0:35, I surely would have never expected it!

  • Aiddon
    October 15, 2021 at 6:42 pm

    Ah, D, one of the most influential series in Japan. If it weren’t for this, stuff like Castlevania might not exist. And D is one of the most interesting lone wanderer characters around, you never learning that much about him even when questions are answered and often it just leads to new mysteries about him. He’s an eternal enigma, and it’s astounding that Kikuchi is still able to keep doing new stuff with him.

  • Mister V
    October 15, 2021 at 6:42 pm

    James, if you read this I know you’re a big White Zombie fan so I’m pretty sure you’d really enjoy Devilman. Not the newer Netflix series but the 2 episode OVA from the late 80s. It was an influence on Super Charger Heaven and Rob Zombie even drew a picture of Devilman in the liner notes of Astro Creep 2000. Check it out if you want to explore more anime, I think it’s right up your alley.

  • Lorenzo Buti
    October 15, 2021 at 6:46 pm

    Hey James, if you’re actually looking more into original R rated action anime flicks, you should definitely watch Golgo 13: The Professional. It was original released in 1983 in Japan. Almost a decade later there was an English dub. It features a lot of great intense action, violence, and sex scenes! Check it out when you get the chance!

  • horrorkesh
    October 15, 2021 at 6:57 pm

    when I was younger fighting anime like dragon ball z and yu yu Hakusho and bleach were huge to me but as I got older slice of life comedy and isekai have captured my interest so much more I grew out of those shows

  • VLN
    October 15, 2021 at 7:43 pm

    This was the thing that got me into horror anime. So stoked to see it on MM.

  • RamenSempai
    October 15, 2021 at 8:04 pm

    Bloodlust is awesome, I hope James gets to see it!

  • Johndragnell
    October 15, 2021 at 8:13 pm

    I gotta say it fells really nice to see James review some anime.

  • Kung Fu Werewolf
    October 15, 2021 at 9:12 pm

    This obscure OVAs is where the good stuff is.

  • diddymuck
    October 15, 2021 at 9:56 pm

    Bloody Mallory 2002 French heroes vs invasion from hell flick. tough lady guerilla Mallory, transvestite Vena Cava, and autistic child Talking Tina (who can mentally possess others and leap frogs from person to person as the film goes on) are called upon to protect the Pope from fallen angel front line attack by hell. Whack and stimulating flick that looks way cheap but still comes off as wildly entertaining. Viva la France.

  • MixMasterLar
    October 15, 2021 at 10:15 pm

    I am alll the way into seeing more classic anime on Cinemasscre

  • mrsleep
    October 15, 2021 at 10:16 pm

    Love this film, 10 minutes of exposition, then 70 minutes of killing vampires!

    Roll Credits.

  • ERINSsexyCAMELTOEinThePowerPadVideoFUCKYOUMIKEONTWITCHTV!
    October 15, 2021 at 10:41 pm

    I remember this being on TBS and Sci-Fi Channel back in early to mid 90’s man did it really spark my interest more in Anime.

  • Xena
    October 15, 2021 at 11:04 pm

    You forgot to mention the wonderful illustrations and character designs by Yoshitaka Amano.
    Mostly known for his work on Final Fantasy.

  • Tom Bowman
    October 15, 2021 at 11:32 pm

    Vampire Hunter D was what made me want to see more anime. I remember renting it from Blockbuster back in the day. I had no idea it came out in 1985 though. Seeing that this came out before Castlevania it is clear that Castlevania was inspired a lot by this anime. Want to watch this again it is not streaming on any of the major streaming services however I am currently watching it on Youtube.

  • Graham
    October 15, 2021 at 11:46 pm

    You need some anime recommendations? Here are some horror ones for you…
    Hellsing Ultimate (another vampire action gorefest)
    Paranoia Agent
    Death Note
    Monster

  • jamie
    October 16, 2021 at 12:04 am

    i like how talking about an anime film is something out of the ordinary for Cinemassacre when it comes to their Japanese reviews.

  • Mysterii
    October 16, 2021 at 12:49 am

    Regarding Lefty, he’s a sentient symbiotic lifeform residing in D’s left hand, having served Dracula in the distant past. The technical term for this in universe is “Countenanced Carbuncle”. Mashira from the second movie is said to be of his kind, allowing the werewolf to manifest a second mouth on his torso.

  • Matthew Kirshenblatt
    October 16, 2021 at 1:08 am

    I actually own this film on DVD. I looking at how it’s adapted from the novel is fascinating. I love this vintage dark anime.

    “Transient guests are we.”

  • Kinda like
    October 16, 2021 at 1:46 am

    “Kinda like”

  • Zeke
    October 16, 2021 at 5:44 am

    LOVE this movie, saw it back in the 90s which got me into anime! Bought it on VHS even! I need to find Bloodlust somewhere. I only saw it once and was way too high to remember :p

  • wf
    October 16, 2021 at 8:06 am

    Yes, watch Ninja Scroll already!
    Aside from its countless other amazing qualities, I sincerely believe it has the best editing of any film in history, animated or otherwise.

  • Baggzey23
    October 16, 2021 at 9:52 am

    More films should do stuff like this instead of remaking Dracula again and again

  • Thomas the Obvious
    October 16, 2021 at 4:22 pm

    2:40 You should really have said “desire” instead of urges. Pretty great alliteration wasted, there.

  • Flint
    October 16, 2021 at 6:40 pm

    That´s a great movie for sure – nice pick! And yeah, Berserk might blow you away, it´s awesome.

  • Spectre111
    October 16, 2021 at 8:32 pm

    This was the movie that was my introduction to what Japanese animation was all about and what it could be.

  • The Mad Yokai
    October 17, 2021 at 12:37 am

    I’ll say this the book is a lot better

  • Josh Martin
    October 17, 2021 at 8:30 am

    You should watch Genocyber, one of the goriest sci-fi anime ever produced. You’d love it!

  • Lich
    October 17, 2021 at 6:17 pm

    James you should really really see Hellsing Ultimate, it’s a very alternative take on Dracula with (literally) rivers of blood and gore. I would love to hear what you think about it.
    I just noticed you used and OST from it in the background and a clip in the beginning, so hoping you’re already getting around to it.

  • Neon Wave
    October 17, 2021 at 8:20 pm

    If I remember correctly, the face on his hand is a parasite that fused itself to his hand, D acting as the host.

  • Maxqowl
    October 17, 2021 at 11:49 pm

    This is great! Love to see more anime reviews from James. Bloodlust is amazing btw, it fixed a lot of issues of the first part, much more entertaining and just beautiful to watch.

  • Jake Allen
    October 18, 2021 at 8:08 am

    When D gets resuscitated by his hand, the book explains that he was stabbed in the heart with a steel spike. But only wooden stakes can kill vampires, so this merely stunned him/knocked him out. The hand is a magical parasite, so when it reattached itself to D’s arm, it injests earth and wind to gain strength back because it feeds off basic elements (earth, fire, wind, water… heart?) which was used to help D regain consciousness.

    If you’re a Hammer Horror fan, Vampire Hunter D is the perfect homage/sequel series. Dracula’s son (D) roams the Earth thousands of years in the future during a time thousands of years after vampires had taken over, created a technological utopia, and died off while leaving this technology to rot that humans have no understanding of. Humans were bred to be cattle for vampires during that time, and its specifically said that humans were engineered to not know how to fight vampires, and even if they stumbled across a way to do so, would forget and not be able to understand what they just did. Crosses mean nothing to humans, nor does garlic, incense, holy water (etc)… So, you have a wild west setting with futuristic weapons that are actually broken and failing, with humans who barely know how to use them or why most of it was created by the vampires in the first place. D hunts the remaining vampires that exist for some unknown reason, and every book ranges from pure action to mystery to romance over the course of a couple hundred years of in-story time.

  • Nick Nemo
    October 19, 2021 at 4:19 am

    Vampire Hunter D Bloodlust is better

  • JermZ
    October 19, 2021 at 8:29 am

    Hopefully we will see a berserk review in the future!

  • Citrakite
    October 19, 2021 at 2:22 pm

    Vampire Hunter D may be the first Anime movie I recorded when it was playing on TBS. May also be the first bootleg dvd I got conned by before Macross DYRL.

  • RainRainRain
    October 19, 2021 at 4:22 pm

    Kinda disappointed by this episode. Vampire Hunter D was pretty boring and forgetable from what I remember. Would have loved to see an in-depth review of the Ring/Ju-On movies or the horror stuff from Takashi Miike. Or what about Tetsuo: The Iron Man?
    Anyway, keep up the good work! ps: I miss Mike on your show a lot!

  • RawHunterX
    October 20, 2021 at 3:49 pm

    At the end of the vid you pretty much mentioned the absolute 2 anime you must watch:
    Ninja Scroll and Berserk.

    I think its easier to start with Ninja Scroll since its pretty much 1 animated movie.
    Then go to Berserk 1997 anime which is also pretty short for a series (25 eps).

  • Rhath
    October 21, 2021 at 3:27 am

    If you watch the 1997 Berserk anime make sure to watch episode 1 last. Start with episode 2.

  • ravin spawn
    October 21, 2021 at 5:16 pm

    yeah, I wouldn’t really call this one a horror movie, still a good one though.

  • Ichabod Crane
    October 22, 2021 at 3:54 am

    Man I remember loving this movie! Definitely will be rewatching!

  • Patrick Moore
    October 23, 2021 at 4:14 pm

    I would recommend for anime horror fans is any of the Ito horror stories, with both the anime and manga.

    Also see Machine Girl, Mutant Girl Squad, Tokyo Gore Police, Dead Sushi, and Frankenstein Girl Vs Vampire Girl.

  • Dylan
    October 29, 2021 at 11:13 am

    WE NEED A BERSERK REVIEW!!!!!
    James reviewing Berserk would be everything I’ve ever wanted.

  • Stave
    October 31, 2021 at 10:35 pm

    @Xena Is that some sort of really bad joke?

  • Chem
    November 2, 2021 at 2:10 pm

    Berserk fucking rules. It definitely qualifies as horror too, taking influence primarily from Hellraiser, The Evil Dead, and Phantom of the Paradise- along with Fantasy influences like Flesh + Blood, Conan the Barbarian, and Star Wars.

  • Anver Mahmud
    December 21, 2021 at 10:05 pm

    What’s that Opera Music being played in the background of this video? It’s beautiful.

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