Some of the film\u2019s mythology might sound familiar to fans of the well-established Monogatari<\/strong> franchise that started with Nisio Isin\u2019s series of light novels, because the tale of Araragi and \u201cKiss-Shot,\u201d as he calls her for short, serves as a prequel. Technically, it is a nearly two-and-a-half-hour fix-up of three short anime stand-alones that Oishi edited together and somewhat revised, like a senator cleaning up a floor speech for the Congressional Record<\/strong>. He hides the seams quite effectively, but his unique style, including frequent jump-cuts and transitional bumper-shots of ironically symbolic imagery rather helps in that respect. Frankly, nobody would ever accuse this film of being excessively neat and tidy, especially when it comes to the spilling of blood and guts, but it tells a logically continuous narrative.
One summer day, Araragi has a fan-service satisfying Seven-Year Itch<\/strong>-style encounter with Tsubasa Hanekawa, the smartest girl in school, who also resembles a pin-up model (as Oishi\u2019s ogling animation makes clear). Yet, Hanekawa responds quite graciously, flirting with Araragi in a way that hints at a deeper connection being forged. Unfortunately, she also off-handedly mentions rumors of a beautiful woman vampire stalking Tokyo. Subsequently, Hanekawa will wonder if she invited the chaos that follows by \u201cspeaking of the devil.\u201d
On his way home, Araragi encounters the apparently drawn-and-quartered Kiss-shot. She has lost a great deal of blood and cannot regenerate without her severed limbs. He wants to run, but her voice in his head keeps pulling him back. Overwhelmed by perverse compassion, Koyomi allows her to gorge on his restoring blood.<\/p>\r\n
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\u00a9Courtesy of Fantasia International Film Festival\u00a0 \u00a9Courtesy of Fantasia International Film Festival\u00a0 If you like the article, share your thoughts below!<\/strong><\/p>\r\n
Taking shelter in an abandoned cram school, Kiss-Shot plans Araragi\u2019s next move with the help of Meme Oshino, a trickster-fixer, sort of like a supernatural Ray Donovan, who can offer limited protection for a price. However, Oshino sticks his neck out for no vampire. Araragi must fight the monstrous trio of Guillotine-Cutter, Episode, and Dramaturgy on his own\u2014and it won\u2019t be pretty.
As she heals, Kiss-Shot reverts to her childhood body. To return to her mature femme fatale form, she must ingest her stolen limbs, so she constantly pressures Araragi to find them. His only respite comes during the twilight moments he spends with Hanekawa, who has not turned her back on him. In fact, their mutual attraction steadily grows stronger.
Scenes of Araragi and the childlike Kiss-Shot might bring to mind the Dance in the Vampire Bund<\/strong> franchise for some manga and anime fans, but Kizumonogatari: Koyomi Vamp<\/strong> is never as disturbingly graphic (if you do not know how so, don\u2019t google it to see). However, the violence in Oishi\u2019s three-into-one film is just as lurid as any vampire series you might care to compare it to.
Weirdly, the film makes it look like Araragi and Hanekawa are the only two humans (or human-aspiring characters) in the entire city of Tokyo, but that intimate, bittersweet vibe is part of what distinguishes the film, along with generous helpings of gore. The teens\u2019 relationship is so appealingly sweet, it creates real tension when the bad guys inevitably target her.
The multiple, constantly shifting animation styles also set Kizumonogatari: Koyomi Vamp<\/strong> apart from other anime features and might possibly induce seizures in susceptible viewers. Regardless, all the blood and chaos really pops off the screen. Yet, somehow, Oishi manages to corral the film\u2019s contradictory elements, making the over-the-top violence, leering fan service, and sensitive depiction teen angst work together in concert. Highly recommended for fans of vampire-themed anime horror, Kizumonogatari: Koyomi Vamp<\/strong> has a special one-day nationwide theatrical release on August 28, following its eagerly anticipated Fantasia screening.<\/p>\r\n![\"Kiozumonogatari](\"https:\/\/cinemadailyus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Kizumonogatari2.png\")
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Grade: A-<\/p>\r\n