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Horror film

Vampire Clay (2018): Cast & Ratings

Vampire Clay (2018) movie poster

Vampire Clay is a 2018 horror film directed by Sôichi Umezawa, starring Kanji Tsuda, Asuka Kurosawa and Ena Fujita. It runs 1 hour 20 minutes. Critics gave it 56% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 5.2/10.

IMDb rating
5.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes
56%
Echo Score
57
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Vampire Clay (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 20m (80 min)
Director
Sôichi Umezawa
Genre
Horror
Original language
Japanese
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Vampire Clay About?

The premise of Vampire Clay without spoilers.

While attending Aina Academy for preparatory classes, Kaori’s artistic abilities flourish. However, a mysterious clay reveals a dark history, and unsettling events begin to occur. Student projects are inexplicably ruined, classmates disappear, and a group of dangerous individuals, mimicking vampires, starts imitating and attacking students. As an artist's malevolent spirit seems to possess the clay, its deadly power raises a disturbing question: can art be so destructive that it leads to death?

Vampire Clay Themes & Keywords

· 9 tags
  • four word title
  • hiragana in title
  • kanji in title
  • romanization of title
  • part of series
  • first of series
  • first part
  • japanese horror
  • asian horror
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Cast & crew

Vampire Clay Cast

Kanji Tsuda leads the cast, with Asuka Kurosawa and Ena Fujita. Directed by Sôichi Umezawa; 7 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Vampire Clay

· 3 more
From the director

More from Sôichi Umezawa

One more film directed by Sôichi Umezawa: ABCs of Death 2.

Full filmography
Ratings

Vampire Clay Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Vampire Clay 56% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 5.2/10. Our Echo Score gives it 57/100, strongest in sensory experience (80) and weakest in story & flow (45).

57 /100

Vampire Clay Echo Score Breakdown

Vampire Clay presents a visually daring but structurally uneven horror experience. Critics and viewers alike praised its idiosyncratic visual design and inventive practical effects, yet frequently noted the film’s stunted character development and ramshackle pacing. The narrative coherence often sags under its bizarre premise, though the energetic gore sequences generate sporadic excitement. Direction and editing receive mixed reactions, with some commending imaginative staging and others lamenting jarring cuts. Overall, the film’s bold sensory flair outweighs its narrative and emotional shortcomings, resulting in a middling yet memorable entry.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 50

    In terms of art and craft, Vampire Clay’s visual inventiveness is offset by uneven direction and editing. Practical effects and stop-motion sequences draw commendation for their originality and texture. Critics, however, point to inconsistent staging, abrupt cuts, and moments of clumsy pacing that undermine tension. While some viewers appreciate the film’s outsider-art idiosyncrasy, the sporadic technical cohesion limits its overall craftsmanship.

  • Character & Emotion 55

    In terms of character and emotion, Vampire Clay delivers minimal depth and fleeting engagement. The ensemble performances attend adequately to splatter-comedy moments but lack nuanced interaction or emotional resonance. Reviewers highlight perfunctory acting and one-dimensional personalities, which hinder audience investment. Though the cast exhibits occasional commitment to the film’s tongue-in-cheek tone, the absence of layered characterization limits the film’s emotional impact.

  • Story & Flow 45

    In terms of story and flow, Vampire Clay oscillates between inventive premise and disjointed execution. Reviewers criticize its convoluted structure, laboured explanations, and pacing that dissipates tension before key moments. Some viewers enjoy the film’s absurd originality, yet many find the plot far-fetched and underdeveloped. These narrative inconsistencies yield an experience that surprises sporadically but struggles to sustain coherent engagement across its brief runtime.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    In terms of sensory experience, Vampire Clay excels in tactile creature design and visceral gore. The practical effects, stop-motion animation, and unsettling visuals earn consistent acclaim for their originality and texture. Sound design and score enhance the film’s unsettling atmosphere, although occasional digital elements feel uneven. Despite minor criticisms of sporadic polish, the film’s bold sensory palette remains its most distinguished and engaging attribute.

  • Rewatch Factor 55

    In terms of rewatch factor, Vampire Clay offers uneven replay value. The film’s inventive creature work and quirky tone may prompt repeat viewings among dedicated horror enthusiasts. However, its shallow character development, narrative inconsistencies, and fleeting emotional impact limit lasting appeal. While standout gore sequences retain cult interest, the overall inconsistency discourages broad revival, resulting in modest enthusiasm for subsequent viewings.

Videos

Vampire Clay Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 2 trailers.

Official International Trailer [Subtitled]
  • Trailer Arrow Trailer [Subtitled]
Details

Vampire Clay Also Known As

7 alternative titles, including “吸血黏土” and “Chi o sû nendo”.

Also known as
  • 吸血黏土
  • Chi o sû nendo
  • Вампирска глина
  • Вампирская глина
  • 피를 빠는 인형
  • 吸血粘土
  • Argila Vampira

Seen Vampire Clay?

FAQ

Vampire Clay FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Vampire Clay, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Vampire Clay?

Vampire Clay runs 1 hour 20 minutes (80 minutes).

When was Vampire Clay released?

Vampire Clay was released on April 20, 2018.

Who directed Vampire Clay?

Vampire Clay was directed by Sôichi Umezawa.

More films by Sôichi Umezawa

Who is in the cast of Vampire Clay?

Vampire Clay stars Kanji Tsuda, Asuka Kurosawa and Ena Fujita, among 7 credited actors.

How is Vampire Clay rated?

Vampire Clay has 5.2/10 on IMDb, 56% on Rotten Tomatoes, 61% on TMDB and 4.1/5 on Movie Insider.

Does Vampire Clay have a post-credit scene?

No. Vampire Clay has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Vampire Clay in?

The original language of Vampire Clay is Japanese.

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