Overall: 9.0
A great overall film that tackles classic gothic themes such as alienation and despair while also touching on classicism and prejudice. But D's unexplained partner that resides in his hand mars perfection.
Story: 9.0
A simple adventure story involving heroes and heroines, but the gothic style and thematic complexity gives the film so much more depth.
Character Development: 9.0
As the meat and potatoes of this film, character development gives "D" its substance. Intense feelings pulse under a permeable skin - D's inner struggle between his vampire and human halves; Lamika's aristocratic outrage over her father's interest in a commoner.
Art/Animation: 9.0
Dark tones complement the daily struggles with which the inhabitants of the town face. The barren landscape accentuates the "loner" theme common to westerns, while at the same time reflecting D's own bleak psychological landscape.
Translation/Acting: 9.0
The dialogue conveys deftly the emotions spurred by the main conflict, a tricky feat considering that the main conflict deals with internal psychological struggles and classicism.
MPAA Equivalent: R
The violence gets heavy and blood spurts everywhere.
X-Factors
The Amputated Hand-factor: 10.0
D has to have really taught that hand well for it to crawl back to him after being severed. I'm sure it already knows how to shake, so I guess teaching it to sit isn't too far off. The only thing it couldn't do is speak.
The Talking Hand-factor: 10.0
No, I was wrong, D also taught his hand to speak...there's actually a whole face in his hand.
