Review: Subspecies 5 Bloodrise (2023)

Review: Subspecies 5: Bloodrise (2023)

By William Pattison

For Horror Bob’s Blog.

This time I’m reviewing the latest Subspecies prequel that tells the story of how Radu becomes a vampire…

Stolen by crusaders on the night of his birth, he has no knowledge of his bloodline: his mother is a demon; his father is a vampire. Trained and exploited by a brotherhood of mystic monks to slay all enemies of the church, fate brings him back one night to the castle of his father, armed with the monster-slaying Sword of Laertes, to destroy the vampire Vladislas and reclaim a holy relic: The Bloodstone. The events of that night turn Radu from a noble man into a vampire with no master, setting him on a centuries-long quest for sustenance, and companionship, for the treacherous one who stole him from the sun, and for the Bloodstone he hopes will bring him peace. Spanning 500 years in the life of the vampire Radu Vladislas, this long-anticipated prequel to the Subspecies series chronicles Radu's descent from a noble warrior for the Church to a depraved creature of the night.

Ted Nicolaou spent twenty-five years craft this film and it shows. Cinematography, FX, and scripting shows how dedicated Nicolaou and crew was dedicated to this film.

This film is blessed by the fact that for a film on a Full Moon budget and shooting schedule that this film is actually stunningly visual. Most of the shots come off with wonderful use of browns and yellows, which are not usual for vampire films. Most horror films use a lot of blues, grays, reds, and blacks. They also heavily use shadows. Thought this film still have dark scenes Nicolaou doesn’t depend on them for atmosphere. In fact the last time Nicolaou used this kind of pallet was in The Vampire Journals. But of course he would because this film is not only a prequel to Subspecies, but also The Vampire Journals as well, much like Subspecies 4 was a crossover with The Vampire Journals.

This film not only gives us the backstory of Radu, but also The Vampire Ash from Vampire Journals.

Now I’m  not saying this is a perfect film. There were a few things, mostly casting, that bugged me. The most annoying was the casting ofevin Spirtas as King Vladaslas. The main problem is the Kevin is no Angus Scrim. Also the makupthey slopped on Spirtas was not in anyway the King Vladaslas we knew from the original Subspecies. It looked like a bad  Nosferatu cosplay from a horror convention. Also, how many times does Radu have to kill his dad? In this film he killed him twice. I guess third or fourth time is a charm..lol.

Another thing that bugged me was Radu himself. Through most of the film he reminds me more of Angus Scrim than Radu. I was happy when in the second half of the film Radu was a bit more like the blood slobbering Radu the fans love. But still after twenty-five years Anders Hove has kind of lost Radu. The voice and the manerisms are a bit off. Still he wasn’t  as bad as he was in Subspecies four. I had to keep telling myself this isn’t  Radu Vladislas, this is Jake Vladislas…lol.

Also, I wish they had been able to bring the original Ash in this film, because the new guy doesn’t say Ash, or even young Ash to me. I’m  sorry there is only one Ash to me. No other actor can be The Vampire Ash.

Ok, I gave you the bad, but now I bring you a sample of what I really loved about this film. The new Bloodstone looked enough like the original to be acceptable. The Bloodstone in Subspecies 4 was a cheap assed piece of crap.

Now I have to praise Nicolaou for putting Denise Duff in the role of Helena. All I can say is brilliant. It was wonderful to see Denice after all these years (remember 25 years have passed). The way Ted connect Helena, the Queen  of the Bucarest vampires to Michelle is nothing less than brilliant…And it explains why Radu was so set on making her his immortal companion.

Ok, all in all this film is one of the best Full Moon films to come out in over a decade. Also, it is Ted Nicolaou’s masterpiece and shows he is a far better direct than most horror fans think. And to pull this brilliance off on a Full Moon budget and film scedual just proved Ted’s brilliance.

Can I recommend this film?, you ask. Fuck yes I can! When I say this film is the best Full Moon has created I’m  serious.

Check this film out yourself! It is currently on Tubi TV.

Keep on Creepin’ , Horror Bob’s Blog…

Now, let there be a bloodbath!!!

 

commentary: What Not to do when you are offered free publicity...

Well fellow creepers, this is your wonderful and extra sexy manager of Horror Bob's legacy, William Pattison, and I got something to say....

I've been interviewing people in horror for over twenty years and most of the time they are very nice and professional and realize this is a fan run blog, so I don't get paid and I do this on my own time (I'm a published author of thirteen books).

Now, yes I do understand that people in the horror film business are busy. It's like give me a break. I've been on both sides of the interview process, for example my interview with The Huffington Press. That interview was a rather lengthy one, around thirty-five questions and they were all write in questions, meaning I  wrote all my answer. The truth is most of the interviews that I have done as interviewer and interviewee have be write in questions. It's a standard in kuterary interviews.

So, I was a bit taken back when one of the iconic director of Charles Band's Full Moon films accepted my offer to interview him about his masterpiece that took him twenty-five long years to do. I would think that such an artist would be more than happy to do an interview about the films as well as THE FILM that he put so much artistry into.

Well, initially he was. But then I mentioned that I would be sending him the twenty  questions and all he had to do is take his time and just write in the answers and email the answers to me.

"Well, you could have done an audio interview and transcribe it. NOPE. I used to be able to do that but not now. It is one reason I haven't jumped back into podcasting since I lost the use of my legs and had to learn to walk again. I'm broke. I've been fighting to get social security disability. I don't have funds to do fancy stuff. Unlike Robert, who had a business and a steady income, I have no income. My family supports me, yes I'm a loser. Shit, I do all my blogging and reviews on a moto phone. Meaning I'm starving artist (Fuck you, Trump) who has had all his benefits pulled and I keep going by the stubble on m

y chin and a ton.. of creativity and smarts.

So, after accepting my offer to interview him, the said director suddenly wussed out and told me he had an ISSUE with  having to write his answers and swiftly backed out of the interview...

Give me a fucking break. I've interviewed directors like Adam Marcus, The great Lloyd Kaufman, Eric Red, and even the legendary Roger Corman, and not one of them quibbled about an

Ser email, write in interview.

Seriously, it is no doubt that Mick Garris never invited this guy to one of his lunches and bestowed the honor of the title of Master of Horror on him.

Personally, before he tossed me and Horror Bob like trash I thought of him as one of the best directors at Full Moon, beside the B Film Master Mr. Band.

Well, the old saying still holds... Don't meet your heroes because they will always disappoint you. I learned that one years ago when I met William Shatner (and it is Trekkie, not Trekker fuck you very much...).

So, anyway my point is in the last twenty years I have NEVER had a director fluff me off like that. It's a royal dick move in my book. 

I could accept, "I would love to, but I'm busy working on a script." But, " I just don't feel like writing answers. I do a lot of writing in my life." Oh, poor Boo Boo!

Look at the list again if the directors I interviewed. They all were class acts. I will say no more on this...

This royally makes me want to get my Harlan on, but I'm the nice Heir to the Great Ellison. I'm not going to waste my time. Also, I'm professional. If someone does the honor of offering me an interview there is a 90 percent chance I'll say yes (Well, unless their last names are Gilley, Hyde, or Albertson for examples...).

So, there is a lost opportunity and the waste of an outstanding set of twenty questions. His loss.

So, fans let's put on our Captain Happy faces and...ROCK!!!!

Keep on Creepin', Horror Bob's Blog.  .

Review: Subspecies 4: Blood Storm (1998)

Review: Blood Storm ;Subspecies 4 (1998)

By William Pattison 

For Horror Bob's Blog...

This time I have the the fourth and what was supposed to be the final film in the series at the time.

I did not like this installment of the series as much as the earlier three films, even though it was a crossover to Ted Nicolaou’s The Vampire Journals.

One of the main problems was that this film was done after Full Moon and Parmount’s distribution agreement had ended and Full Moon was having to drastically cut the budgets of it’s films. Also, because of budget cuts the FX and makeup budgets were butchered. It is the main reason the Subspecies doesn’t appear, because the had no budget for the stop motion for the little minions. It can also be seen in the makeup work for Radu. In this film Radu no longer slobbers blood because the had todudget the use of fake blood. Also he doesn’t  have his custom teeth. In fact all the vampires look to be stuck sharing vampire teeth. As well budgetary restrictions also was the reason why all Michelle’s associates and her sister died at the beginning of the film. Only the character of Marrin survived, but he was only saved by being made into a vampire. Oh, and best of all they had a very cheap looking Bloodstone in this film. Supposedly the original Bloodstone had gotten lost between films so they had to make a replacement one. This one looks like a fan made model of it. It is too big and just plain looks wrong. Amusingly a few years ago Full Moon out out a Bloodstone model and this one is the right size and looks amazingly like the original from the original three film. What a joke.

Johnathon Morris is back as the music loving vampire  from Vampire Journal,Ash. But this time we find out that  Radu is his master. Also that Radu has claim to everything he has built. Also we have Mihai Dinvale back from Vampire Journal as  the vampire trying to cure himself but remain immortal Doctor Blood.

The best addition to the cast is Floriela Grappini as  Ash’s apprentice Seriena.

All in all even though this is not the best of the Subspecies series I found it entertaining. And if you are a completeist you won’t  was to miss the conclusion of the story of Michelle and Radu.

You can watch this film for free on Fawesome…

Keep on Creepin’ , Horror Bob’s Blog…

Bloodlust: Subspecies 3 (1997)

Review: Bloodlust: Subspecies 3 (1994)

By William Pattison

For Horror Bob’s Blog

This time I’m reviewing the third installment in Ted Nicolaou’s isSubspecies…

In Bucharest, Rebecca finds her sister Michelle in the catacombs of an old castle and kills Radu with a dagger. They flee, but Michelle is incapable to leave the dark place since the sun is shinning outside. Rebecca promises to wait for her until the night, but Michelle is captured by Mummy that uses her blood to revive Radu. Rebecca and Mel try to convince Lieutenant Marin to bring the police to the catacombs to look for Michelle. The Chief of Police is skeptic and Mel summons his CIA friend Bob to help him to hunt the vampire Radu and rescue Michelle. Will they succeed?

His is a another wonderful edition to the Subspecies series. This Michelle, once again played by Denice Duff, is now a vampire and is now bound to Radu through a spell by Mummy.

Radu , played masterfully by Anders  Hove again, in this film spends his time trying to seduce Michelle into the dark life of a vampire when I’ve endulging in the seduction of the Bloodstone itself. This film is the perfect ending to this chapter of the Subspecies story.

I highly recommend watching this film with the other two Subspecies films as a marathon. That is the best way…

Keep on Creepin’ , Horror BoBob’s Blog…

 

Review: Bloodstone: Subspecies 2 (1993)

Review: Bloodstone: Subspecies 2 (1993)

By William Pattison

For Horror Bob’s Blog…

This time I’m reviewing the sequel to Ted Nicolaou’s Subspiecies…

 

Continuing after the first "Subspecies", a woman who has just become a vampire tries to escape the evil vampire, Radu, who seeks her as his love interest. But she has taken the vampire family's bloodstone, and now Radu must find her to get it back. While her sister comes to Romania to save her soul. It might be to late....

This is an excellent sequel. It starts right after the end of Subspecies. Michelle, now played by Denice Duff, is making the charge to a vampire after being bit by Radu and after his brother Stephan.

Denice Duff is a vast improvement over the actress who played Michelle. Her scenes with Radu are fantastic because of her range. Also, we can’t forgetAnders Hove as the horrifying, blood slobbering, Radu. He out does his performance in the first film. This film also has the additons of Melany Shatner (yes, William Shatner’s daughter) as Michelle’s sister Rebbeca, kevin spirits as CIA agent Mel, Ion Haidue as Chief of Police Marin, and Pamela Gordon as Radu’s Mummy, which I think is a fantastic edition to the story.

This film features a lot more FX and a lot more vampire action. One of my personal favorites is Nicolaou using shadows for a mease of transport for the vampires. Also once again they use the Subspecies very well in this film.

All in all this film does exactly what a good sequel does, it expands upon the original, much like Bride of Frankenstein did. I highly recommend this film…

Keep on Creepin’ , Horror Bob’s blog…

 

Review: Subspecies (1991)

Review: Subspecies (1991)

By William Pattison

For Horror Bob’s Blog…

This time I’m reviewing Ted Nicolaou’s classic vampire tale…

After many years in exile, the evil vampire Radu returns to the fortress of his father, the good King Vladislav, in Prejnar, and kills his father to steal the powerful Blood Stone. Meanwhile, the Americans Michelle and Lillian travel to Transylvania to meet their Romanian friend Mara to research the locals and prepare a study for their PHD about the Romanian culture. They are lodged in an ancient house in Prejnar by the rough local Karl that explains that the residents believe there are good and evil vampires, but they live in peace with the vampires led by King Vladislav for centuries. Soon, Michelle meets the zoology student Stefan and they have a crush on each other. But Radu breaks the truce between the vampires and the humans and he attacks the three women. Stephen rescues the girls and discloses to Michelle that he is Radu's half-brother. Now, Stephen and Karl wants to stop the vampire, but he is powerful and smart, and sneaks in the darkness.

This film is still the best of the series.

The villain, Radu is at his best here. He is his most scariest and at his most blood thirsty. Also, in this film they do the best job of using the title creatures, the right inch tall Subspecies, which are created by Radu breaking off his own fingers and use black magic to turn the fingers into the little demon creatures. The creatures are brought life through animation and still backgrounds. The animation and design of the creatures was done  uhby the same animator who created Gumby and Pokie.

The cast does a really good job. Unfortunately the character of Michelle, played in this film by Laura Mae Tate, was recast in Subspecies 2.

Phantasm star Angus  crim has an excellent cameo as the vampire king Vladislaz. Actor Anders Hove starts his iconic run as the blood slobbering Vampire/Warlock Radu Vladislaz. Also actor Michael Watson plays Radu’s brother Stephan.

This film, which was actually shot in Romania really handles and presents a lot the local vampire mythology as well. Including the ritual for finding the grave of a vampire.

All in all of you like some good, bloody, vampire action with a very original style of vampire this is definitely your film…

Keep on Creepin’ , Horror Bob’s Blog…

 

Review: Vampire Journals (1998)

Review The Vampire Journals (1997)

By William Pattison

For Horror Bob’s Blog…

This time I got a vampire film that is actually a spinoff of  Full Moon and Ted Nicolaou’s Subspecies films…

 

A 19th century vampire stalks a more powerful vampire lord in his quest to gain revenge over the death of his mistress. In his search for the vampire lord in Eastern Europe he kills many of his servants and fellow vampires while cursing a young female musician to vampirism as well.

I really enjoyed this film. I found the vampire Ash, played by Johnathan Morris, in this film a lot more interesting than the more gross Radu. I also found Ash’s adversary the vampire hunter played by Jason Gunn intriguing, a vampire hunting his own kind. Also, Kristen Cerre plays a beautiful victim of vampirism as the piano player Sophia. This film is beautifully shot. There are some shots the Nicolaou uses golden lighting rather than the usual reds, grays, or blues which gives this film a unique look.

Also, I liked that Nicolaou put is a scene where you see the vampires in their daylight forms, which makes them look very mummy-like. This was also a rather unique look for this film. It is unfortunate that it was never used again.

I have to say that this is not only an excellent extension of Ted Nicolaou’s vampire universe he started in Subspecies. It is a film I can highly recommend if you like Ted’s work on Subspecies you will love this film…

Keep on Creepin’ , Horror Bob’s Blog…