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…
