Teenage Terminatrix

July 10, 2009

MOVIE REVIEW | 'BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE'

By JEANNETTE CATSOULIS

Upholding the Japanese media mandate that every teenage terminatrix resemble a murderous Catholic schoolgirl, “Blood: The Last Vampire” introduces Saya (Gianna, otherwise known as the South Korean actress Jeon Ji-hyun), an ancient vampire-human hybrid posing as a 16-year-old student. Ever since her father was killed by the über-demon Onigen (an excruciating performance by the Japanese model and actress Koyuki), Saya, assisted by a shadowy organization known as the Council, has pledged to rid the world of demonkind. In her down time she sips blood from bottles tucked inside brown paper bags, like a strangely sexy wino.

Set primarily on an American military base near Tokyo (the action takes place in 1970, but Vietnam references are conspicuously absent), “Blood” suffers from abusive close-ups, repetitive fight sequences and uninspired demon design. The French director Chris Nahon (adapting Hiroyuki Kitakubo’s animated short film of the same name) strains to connect low budget and high ambition, but his talent for atmosphere is repeatedly undermined by Chris Chow’s incoherent script.

Were it not for a last-minute appearance by the action legend Yasuaki Kurata — who, one feels, must have wheel-kicked his way out of the womb — “Blood” would be as pallid as Saya’s alabaster skin.

“Blood: The Last Vampire” is rated R (Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian). It has racist slurs and random slicing.

BLOOD

The Last Vampire

Opens on Friday nationwide.

Directed by Chris Nahon; written by Chris Chow, based on the Production I.G. anime film; director of photography, Poon Hang Sang; edited by Marco Cave; music by Clint Mansell; production designer, Nathan Amondson; produced by Bill Kong and Abel Nahmias; released by Samuel Goldwyn Films. Running time: 1 hour 29 minutes.

WITH: Gianna (Saya), Allison Miller (Alice Mckee), Liam Cunningham (Michael), J J Feild (Luke), Koyuki (Onigen) and Yasuaki Kurata (Kato Takatora).