Subspecies (1991)

Truly Dreadful Film

It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

This movie did an outstanding job of combining sci-fi with horror in a Romanian setting that would seem like it could have been the source of the Dracula legend. In fact, Bran Castle in Romania, which serves as Castle Vladislas in the movie is often cited as the place where Dracula (Vlad the Impaler) lived. Although that isn't true, Bran Castle was the temporary home to this films fictitious vampire Radu Vladislav. The acting in the movie was quite good and the special effects impressive; especially given the film's meager budget. Subspecies, The first of the movies in the series, is also clearly the best of the four movies and it has developed quite a real cult following over the years.

Director Ted Nicolaou who also created the other three parts of this classic series, Bloodstone: Subspecies 2 1993, Bloodlust: Subspecies 3 1994 and Subspecies 4: Bloodstorm 1998 has created another gem in Subspecies.It stars Anders Hove who was also in the other three parts of this classic series, Bloodstone: Subspecies 2, Bloodlust: Subspecies 3 and Subspecies 4: Bloodstorm.Also starring is Angus Scrimm who was also in other classic flicks, Phantasm 2 1988, The Never Dead 1979 and was the narrator in Wishmaster 1997.It also stars Irina Movila.I enjoyed the Gothic atmosphere, animation and the look of the vampire.If you enjoyed this as much as I did then check out other classic vampire flicks, 30 Days of Night 2007, Blade 2 2002, Blood for Dracula 1974, Daughters of Darkness 1971, Daybreakers 2009, Dracula 1992, Dracula 2000 2000, Desert Vampires 2001, Fright Night 1985, From Dusk Till Dawn 1996, From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money 1999, Frostbiten 2006, Dracula 1958, The Living Dead Girl 1982, Near Dark 1987, Night Watch 2004, Perfect Creature 2006, Underworld 2003, Underworld: Evolution 2006, Vampire Circus 1972, Vampires 1998, The Lost Boys 1987, Suck 2009, Underworld: Awakening 2012, Livid 2011, What We Do in the Shadows 2014, We Are the Night 2010, Afflicted 2013 and Van Helsing 2004.

Subspecies is set in Romania where two American college students Michele (Laura Mae Tate) & Lillian (Michelle McBride) arrive to study local folklore with the aid of local friend Mara (Irina Movila). There they rent rooms in a hotel & become curious about the mysterious ruins of a nearby castle, it turns out that a powerful & evil Vampire named Radu (Anders Hove) lives there who has stolen the Bloodstone from his father King Vladislav (Angus Scrimm). Radu takes a fancy to the three girls & starts drinking the blood of Mara & Lillian, meanwhile Michele falls for a guy named Stefan (Michael Watson) who just so happens to be Radu's brother. Michele & Stefan decide to team up & rid the world of the evil Radu...Directed by Ted Nicolaou this film seems to be quite highly regarded amongst genre fans & while it's not terrible I certainly wouldn't call it very good & I could't really see anything much to get excited about. Subspecies is a rather slow going film, not that much actually happens & while it does try to stay close to certain classic Vampire lore there's all this nonsense about a Bloodstone & some little monsters that grow from the tips of Radu's severed fingers for some reason. Subspecies could have been a half decent film if not for the fact that it's dull, I really can't remember that much about it, good or bad. The character's are alright but some f the dialogue is silly & there's a scene which bugged me near the start when the girls are at the castle ruins & one says they have to go because it's getting dark yet it's still clearly the middle of the day & very bright. There's also a scene where one of the American girls finds a coffin that hotel's attic & doesn't really seem that bothered by it, I am not being funny but is some bloke whose house I was staying at had a coffin in his attic I would be very, very worried if you know what I mean. I don't think I would ever want to watch it again, there's no real threat, the plot is weak that mixes classic Vampire themes with silly subplots & I was distinctly unmoved by it all. Not the worst film ever but hardly the best either.The film looks alright with nice locations & some local scenery although you feel the look is down to the budget rather than the makers attempt a authenticity. There's not much gore apart from a decapitation & some broken off finger tips. For no apparent reason the makers throw in some average looking stop-motion animated monsters that really don't do anything or have much significance to the story.Filmed on the cheap by Charles Band's Full Moon Entertainment production company in Bucharest in Romania, the production values are alright & better than many later day Band productions. The acting isn't great with many of the cast putting in below par performances while genre regular Angus Scrimm has a small cameo at the start. There's a little bit of style here on occasion with a few scene reminding heavily of the original Nosferatu (1922) in particular the bit showing Radu's shadow coming down the stair with his long claw like fingernails standing out.Subspecies is a film that many seem to like for reasons I don't quite see, I thought it was throughly average at best & overall rather dull. Followed by Bloodstone: Subspecies II (1993), Bloodlust: Subspecies III (1994), Subspecies 4: Bloodstorm (1998) & the spin0off film Vampire Journals (1997).

This is one of the best and moodiest Vampire Tales ever! I love this movie really. The character are great, even the locations and the story. Indeed the Picture isn't a big budget production, but it is absolutely worth seeing.OK there are some faults (especially the Names of the Castle and the Locations) in this movie, but such mistakes are typically and are almost in every Horror Movie.The scenery fits perfect to the story and is close to reality,I can say that honest, because I visit them once when I was in Romania in my Vacations.In my opinion this is the Best Part of the Subspecies Series.