Despite some difficulties behind the scenes, the first Subspecies was another bonafide for the still relatively young Full Moon Entertainment. Much like Puppet Master and Trancers before it, this would be the start to one of their most popular franchises. The next two entries would be shot back-to-back with director Ted Nicolaou returning to helm these and every other entry. Much of the original cast and crew returned except for a few replacements, namely the female lead and effects crew. Makeup effects artist Greg Cannom moved on to bigger projects, including Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Mrs. Doubtfire, The Mask, and Titanic. Lead actress Laura Tate refused to return due to how rough the shoot for the first film was. In her place, they cast relative newcomer Denice Duff, whose prior credits include episodes of Northern Exposure and Matlock. Two years after the first film, Bloodstone: Subspecies II was finally released.
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Synopsis
Picking up directly after the first film, the villainous vampire Radu (Anders Hove) is restored thanks to his diminutive minions. Now alive again, Radu kills his brother Stefan while he sleeps, only to retreat when the sun rises. At sunset, Michelle (Denice Duff) wakes up to find her lover Stefan dead, and she takes off with the Bloodstone. Once in Bucharest, she calls her sister Becky (Melanie Shatner), who soon arrives in Romania to help her. Meanwhile, Radu seeks out his “Mummy” (Pamela Gordon) for help, and she tells him to retrieve the Bloodstone from Michelle. Once she arrives, Becky gets help from police lieutenant Marin (Ion Haiduc) and US embassy agent Mel (Kevin Blair). Eventually, Becky learns the truth about Michelle: she has become a vampire and is now Radu’s fledgling. Accompanied by Mel and Professor Popescu (Michael Denish), Becky seeks to hunt Radu and save her sister.
Review
Bloodstone: Subspecies II is the rare sequel that not only continues what worked previously but also expands upon it further. Like the last film, this takes full advantage of the Romanian locations, from the ancient castles to the nearby towns. Plus, Anders Hove once again delivers a great performance as Radu, channeling his inner Nosferatu and giving him some pathos. Also, whereas Laura Tate was somewhat flat in the last film, Denice Duff is a welcome change as Michelle. She adds a real human quality to the role, making the character more sympathetic and conflicted with her vampirism. Melanie Shatner also shines as Becky, the sister who’s determined to rescue her sister no matter what happens. Supporting players Haiduc, Blair, and Denish also have their moments, Denish in particular as the eccentric professor turned vampire hunter. All in all, the cast here is a step up from the previous entry.
As always, Nicolaou is a great director, incorporating dynamic lighting and harsh shadows to establish a foreboding mood. While Cannom’s effects work is sorely missed, the effects done by Wayne Toth and Norman Cabrera are still impressive. Speaking of effects, those expecting the return of the titular subspecies will be disappointed that they’re only onscreen very briefly. Starting with Bloodstone: Subspecies II, the title characters gradually get less and less screentime, which is good in this instance. Aside from bringing Radu back to life, they don’t factor into the plot, so nothing is lost with their absence. I’d say my main critique is that the pacing drags in parts, not much happening for long stretches. Even still, this is not only a fantastic sequel but yet another fantastic vampiric tale with more depth than expected. Overall, Bloodstone: Subspecies II is another highpoint in the Full Moon catalog.
Buy Bloodstone: Subspecies II on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4dBHlnZ.
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