Subspecies (1991)
Studio: Full Moon Entertainment
DVD Release Date: April 15, 2008
Directed By: Ted Nicolaou
Cast: Laura Tate, Michael Watson, Anders Hove, Irina Movila & Angus Scrimm
Review By: Annie Riordan

Three female American students – one brunette, two blondes, gosh guess who lives to the end? – journey to Romania to study the local folklore. Little do they know that the ruins of Castle Vladislas are still very much inhabited by an ancient and very ugly vampire dude named Radu. With his Nosferatu pedicure, heavy metal hairdo and excessive drooling, Radu is, understandably, not the most popular member of the royal vampire family, but nevertheless plans to claim the throne of vampiric royalty from his goody-two-shoes brother Stefan. But Stefan has fallen in love with Miss Brunette and vice versa, so Radu sets out to claim her as well! Can Michelle and Stefan battle the forces of evil, and will their love survive Stefan’s allergy to sunlight?

I love Full Moon Ent. Their films are such cheesy handfuls of silly crapola, but all are infused with a good sense of fun and a genuine love for the horror genre. Subspecies is no exception. Filmed on location in Romania during what looks like a crisp autumn season, it’s a stunningly beautiful film with a great score to match!

Okay, so the acting isn’t all that great. Michelle and Stefan are somewhat stiff, and good ol’ Angus Scrimm – who looks like George Washington in drag, by the way – is killed off before the credit sequence. However, the local supporting cast is wonderful, and gets to show off their colorful traditions during a cemetery celebration scene. Andres Hove as the disgusting Radu steals the whole movie as the shar pei-faced baddie with the overactive saliva glands. You end up rooting for him, as his personality and devotion to the role blows everyone else off the screen.

Girls in lingerie, swords fights, plenty of blood and some really cool claymation monsters make Subspecies a winner, sort of a weird combination of a Hammer flick and an old Ray Harryhausen vehicle. Vampire enthusiasts should enjoy this fun shot in the arm to the genre, and Full Moon addicts shouldn’t miss it!

Brutal As Hell Rating: 3 ½ out of 5