Subspecies (film)

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Subspecies
Directed by	Ted Nicolaou
Produced by	Ion Ionescu
Written by	Jackson Barr and David Pabian
Starring	Michael Watson, Anders Hove, Angus Scrimm, Irina Movila, Laura Tate, Michelle McBride
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date(s)	1991
Running time	90 min.
Language	English
Followed by	Bloodstone: Subspecies II
IMDb profile

Ratings
United States:	R

Subspecies is the first film in the Subspecies quadrilogy of films, which was produced by Full Moon Studios. Full Moon is famous for producing low budgeted horror films, like the Puppet Master film series.

[edit] Plot

Tagline: The Night Has Fangs

Three college students embark on a journey through Transylvania, and stay together in an old monastery near the broken remains of Castle Vladislas. What the girls do not know is that there is a feud brewing between two vampire brothers, Radu (Anders Hove) and Stefan (Michael Watson).

Radu and Stefan could not be more different. Centuries ago, King Vlad (Angus Scrimm) seduced a young sorceress and impregnated her; that sorceress gave birth to the unholy, malevolent creature that is Radu. After Radu's birth, King Vlad killed most of the sorceress' family and drove the rest out of their castle. Later, Vlad met a young, mortal woman. She gave birth to Stefan. Stefan prefers to live in the open, and loathes his vampire heritage, while Radu has little patience for the living. Radu was eventually banished from the castle, but, returns when he learns that King Vlad is about to give Stefan his heritage. Radu slays his own father to take control of the precious Bloodstone, a family heirloom, which will give him greater power and sustain his life without having to feed on fresh blood. The "subspecies" are a group of small creatures, created from Radu's own flesh when he snaps off his own fingers. These little minions assist Radu in taking the Bloodstone and perform any other bidding that he wishes.

Stefan meets the college girls and falls in love with one of them, Michelle. Radu and Stefan have no love for each other, though both seem to be attracted to the same woman, the lovely Michelle (Laura Tate). Stefan and Radu battle for the Bloodstone inside the castle. Stefan drives a stake through Radu's heart and severs his head with a sword. Unfortunately for Stefan, Radu infected Michelle's blood with his own and the only way to save her is for Stefan to turn her himself. After Stefan bites Michelle, he lays her in a coffin to be reborn as his vampire wife. He also lays down to rest, for the sun is just about to rise.