DreadClub: Vampire's Verdict
2024 American AI-generated animated film
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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]
- July 26, 2024
| DreadClub: Vampire's Verdict | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Hooroo Jackson |
Release date |
|
Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $405[1] |
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][1]
Release
The film was released July 26, 2024.[6]
Reception
Rotten Tomatoes lists three professional reviews, two of which are positive.[7] 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."[8] 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."[9] 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."[10] 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."[11]