Blood: The Last Vampire (4½ Stars)

After realising I'd forgotten all about "Vampyres" last week I looked through the vampire films in my bookcase to see if there were any other forgotten films. And I found this one. I picked it up, tried to remember what it was about, and nothing. Not even the film's description on the back rang a bell. So I watched it. And..... wow! This is a film that certainly doesn't deserve to be forgotten.

This is a British live action remake of a Japanese anime film. The film takes place in 1970 in Japan. The background is a war that has been going on for centuries between vampires and humans. Although it is hinted that there are vampires all over the world, in this film we only see Japanese vampires. With the exception of  a sports teacher played by the great English actor Colin Salmon. Protecting humanity from vampires is an ancient organisation called the Council, which is based in America but has agents all over the world. Apart from killing vampires the Council also prevents the general population from discovering the existence of vampires. The Council is assisted by Saya, a 400-year-old Japanese girl who has a human father and a vampire mother. Saya refuses to become a full member of the Council and is only working with them to gain information about the whereabouts of Onigen, the demon who killed her father.

After hearing about a series of killings at an American air base the Council arranges for Saya to go undercover, posing as a schoolgirl at the base's high school. She soon discovers that the school itself contains vampires, including her classmates and the aforementioned sports teacher. Saya becomes friends with Alice McKee, the daughter of General McKee who is in charge of the base. When the general finds out about the vampires he is executed by Council agents to prevent the secret being spread. This leads to Saya having to fight against the Council as well as the vampires.

The action is fast paced, choreographed by Hong Kong action director Corey Yuen. The vampires are realistic, despite their ability to walk in the sunlight. As I've said before, every vampire film reinvents vampires. The plot is well written and logical, and the characters are well developed.

Click here to view the trailer.