MY CALL: I really loved the Subspecies franchise. Yet this sequel just left a bad taste in my mouth. The budget limitations are woefully apparent, and the movie forces this bad budget upon viewers with poor judgment. It hurt me writing this review. MORE MOVIES LIKE Subspecies V: Hopefully you saw Subspecies (1991), Subspecies II (1993), and perhaps Subspecies III: Bloodlust (1994; aka, Awakening). You could probably skip Subspecies 4: Bloodstorm (1998) altogether.
The child of a demoness and a vampire stolen by the church’s knights at birth, Radu (Anders Hove; Subspecies I-IV, Critters 4) has lived his life a crusader charged with dispatching the world of evils that may threaten the church. His missions deliver him, now an aged holy knight, to the castle of his infernal parents where he rescues Helena (Denice Duff; Subspecies II-IV, Night of the Living Dead 3D: Re-Animation) and her cursed halfbreed son. Amid his efforts to save Helena, Radu gives in to her fiendish temptations and finds himself a vampire. Now tormented with eternity, he learns to use the shadows and sorcery to his benefit.
The budget limitations of this prequel are woefully apparent. 1) Swordplay choreography is limited to one-take techniques combined into a choppy fight scene of quick cuts. But Anders Hove is getting old and no stuntman was used—so I say bravo for the effort. 2) The demoness mother’s mystical teleportation lacks any grace as she just blips in and out of sight. Truly, that’s just plain annoying. 3) The vampire Vladislav’s makeup leaves much to be desired. 4) The shadow-walking effects are very rough—not as good as in earlier movies. Really, if you’re going to do the exact same gag/effect as a previous franchise installment, it needs to be of at least comparable quality. Otherwise, just don’t do it! You’re “asking” the franchise fans to be disappointed. Feels like a rookie mistake.
As a huge fan of the franchise, I wanted to forgive these limitations and choose to celebrate that this movie was able to happen. But alas, the shortcomings are just too numerous, and too blaring. I kinda’ wish this movie never happened at all.
Moreover, the hunting (vampire prey) is totally phoned-in, the vampire attacks and bite scenes are also quite weak, the blood baptisms are sloppy and lack any impact or gravity, and the “training” of Radu’s servant vampires felt like empty peer pressure with added blood. This felt so empty. There was even a bloodless multi-stab vampire slaying. What gives? Why even make this movie?
Eventually Radu is reunited with his creator Helena and we suffer some lame “Queen of the Vampires” spiel as she tries to powerplay Radu and his offspring. Power struggles and vengeance ensue, but nothing satisfying comes of it beyond a momentary twisted neck gag which is not really shown to us enough on screen (i.e., the “twisting” is more implied than shown, we just get the hokey result).
I really loved the Subspecies franchise and director Ted Nicolaou (Subspecies I-IV, Terror Vision, Puppet Master vs Demonic Toys, Vampire Journals). Yet this sequel just left a bad taste in my mouth. It hurt me writing this review.