DreadClub: Vampire's Verdict
| DreadClub: Vampire's Verdict | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Hooroo Jackson |
Release date |
|
Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $405[1] |
DreadClub: Vampire's Verdict is a 2024 American animated film directed by Hooroo Jackson. It is the first AI animated feature film[2][3] and the first AI anime feature film. It premiered on July 3, 2024 and was released on July 26, 2024 on Prime Video, receiving a Blu-ray release on August 31, 2024.[4]
Premise
Sophomore Betty Gray's romance with Duchamps De Ve, the leader of the banned occult group Dread Club, spirals out of control when a rival from his past accuses him of being a vampire. As Duchamps fights to clear his name in court, Betty must race to prove his innocence, while facing an onslaught of hate from those who brand him as a monster.
Production
The film was made entirely by Jackson, directing the film for $405 between February and July 2024 using only AI technology for sound, music, performances, imagery and animation, using AI as a writing partner. Several sequences utilized AI editing with LLM-dictated paper edits.[1]
Jackson documented the production in a self-published ebook, Artificial Imagination: The Making of "DreadClub" (2024). The book presents his LLM prompts during the six-month production of the film.[5]
Release
The film was released July 26, 2024.
Reception
Rotten Tomatoes lists three professional reviews, two of which are positive.[6] Martin Carr wrote, "DreadClub: Vampire's Verdict is an animated A.I. feature film that takes movie making to another level. Writer-director Hooroo Jackson has fashioned something unique with this Gothic horror romance, that not only feels cinematic, but proves to be truly engaging."[7] Bobby LePire of Film Threat praised the film, writing, "This is an intriguing first step into the potential of artificial intelligence in filmmaking. More importantly, it highlights Jackson as a talented filmmaker with style."[8] William Schwartz of Book & Film Globe criticized the film’s storytelling and pace, stating, "The characters never, ever stop talking. Not even to take a breath."[9] Film critic Ronak Kotecha also noted the excessive dialog, and says "Odd detours to the main story detract from the film somewhat while the absence of actual flesh-eating vampires is a mystery. Yet, on the whole, the viewer is assured of an engaging pageant of myth, mystery and melodrama."[10]
References
- ^ a b "The Adventures of Hooroo Jackson Across the A.I. Revolution". FilmInk. August 16, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
- ^ Lees, Dominic (December 12, 2024). "2024: The Year in AI". Sight & Sound. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
- ^ L'Wren, Alexa (July 10, 2024). "AI-Generated Anime Feature, 'DreadClub: Vampire's Verdict' Streams in July". Animation World Network. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
- ^ "DreadClub: Vampire's Verdict (Blu-ray)". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
- ^ Jackson, Hooroo (2024). Artificial Imagination: The Making of "DreadClub". Apple Books (ebook listing). Retrieved August 27, 2025.
- ^ "DreadClub: Vampire's Verdict". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
- ^ Carr, Martin (July 30, 2024). "Dread Club: Vampire's Verdict is a Truly Impressive A I Feature Film from Hooroo Jackson". martincarr.co.uk. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
- ^ LePire, Bobby (August 6, 2024). "DreadClub: Vampire's Verdict". Film Threat. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
- ^ Schwartz, William (August 28, 2024). "The Verdict on the AI-Generated Film 'DreadClub: Vampire's Verdict' Is In". Book & Film Globe. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
- ^ Kotecha, Ronak (September 25, 2024). "A Review of 'DreadClub: Vampire's Verdict' — An engaging A.I. flick about legendary bad blood". ReviewRon. Retrieved August 27, 2025.