BASED on the famous Japanese anime ­franchise, Blood tells the story of Saya ­(Gianna), an immortal vampire hunter. Her ultimate ­mission is to kill the ­Onigen (Koyuki), a ­mysterious demoness who ­murdered her father centuries ago.

Now living in 1970s Tokyo, Saya works for the mysterious Council, killing vampires that threaten humans in exchange for information on Onigen’s whereabouts. While her Council handler Michael ­(Cunningham) respects her skills, others ­regard her as a freak.

While undercover as an exchange student at a US army base, Saya rescues her classmate Alice (Miller) from being attacked by ­vampires. The two form a bond, and Alice follows Saya to her final, climactic ­showdown with Onigen.

The film gives Saya a new backstory, ­offering a deeper look into her emotions. But apart from a few scenes that pay tribute to the anime, the movie stands on its own.

Gianna does well in her first action role, perfectly portraying Saya’s strength. Martial arts movie fans should look out for Japanese film legend Yasukai Kurata in a flashback role as Saya’s mentor Kato.

However, the movie isn’t without its flaws. The plot is weak, with a twist one can see a mile away.

The acting is either overdone or unconvincing and the CGI vampires (or ­chiropterans) shockingly fake.

Gianna and Koyuki both speak English for their roles, with varying effects. Their final scene isn’t so much a battle between good and evil as a battle of the English word.

However, fans should still be able to enjoy this if they approach it with an open mind. – Anansa Jacob