User Reviews

Ted Nicolau is one of the most underrated B-filmmakers out there.

And- aside from TerrorVision- the Subspecies series is his crowning achievement.

Now in it's fifth installation, Blood Rise harkens back to a time since past, to give us the backstory of Radu.

Showing us what he was like before he was a vampire.

A Templar knight- and man of compassion- sworn to protect the Bloodstone.

Up until the moment he gave in to temptation, and was turned into a vampire.

Making this film a prequel to the rest of the series.

Because it was only after he was turned, that he was initiated with the occult knowledge of the dark arts.

And it was only with these powers, that he was able to become the villain we've come to know so well.

He takes on two fledglings of his own.

A couple troubadours, whose music he is allured by.

Only to trade them off for access to the Bloodstone.

As the blood it provides make vampires trip balls.

That's why it's all about the Bloodstone, baby.

The creature effects in this are quite well done.

With Radu taking on a particularly Nosferatu look.

The plot, however, could use a bit of nuance to it, though.

As it's construction is a bit too simplistic.

But it's entertaining enough.

And not a disappointing addition to the series.

As long as you don't expect it to be more than another gothic episode in the dark soap opera that is Subspecies.

5.5 out of 10.

Its crazy that it took decades for this latest installment to finally be released and even crazier that many of the cast from the 90's films were in this, I thought this was gonna be a continuation of the previous entries but instead this is a prequel which I think they(Full Moon) wanted to explain the origins of Radu probably from the beginning of the series. The story is very well presented and there was much more to work with in terms of CGI and special effects than in the previous films which made for more dramatic scenes and the story is easy to follow along with the pacing as well, I would really like to see another installment in the series to follow up on the events of Blood storm because this wouldn't make sense as the final film in the series but have no problem with this either.

Really recommend this especially if you're a fan of the 90's films for the back story to how Radu became what he is and this also explains the spin off of Vampire Journals as well, it was well done and worth the watch for sure.

The 'Subspecies' franchise started way back in 1991 with the release of the low-budget B-movie 'Subspecies'. This was followed by 'Bloodstone: Subspecies 2' in 1993, 'Bloodlust: Subspecies 3' in 1994, and concluded (or so we thought) with 'Subspecies 4: Bloodstorm' in 1998. Now, 25 years later, the saga continues with 'Subspecies 5: Bloodrise'. All films were written and directed by Ted Nicolaou, and Anders Hove stars in all of them. Denice Duff stars in 'Subspecies 2-5'.

When Radu was born, Crusaders took him away, and he was raised by the Church. When he stumbles upon his Father's castle one day, he finds Helena (Denice Duff) and her son, Stefan. Believing to be victims of his Father, he pities them. Even when discovering Helena has been bitten, he still cares for them, but his compassion soon seals his fate.

I'm a bit confused by the storyline. In this film, Radu (Anders Hove) is turned into a vampire by Helena, when he is an elderly man. In the first film, Radu was born a vampire, and his brother was Stefan. I'm therefore not sure whether this is intended to be a reboot of the series, and not an actual continuation. This film revolves mainly around Radu's fledgelings, Ash and Ariel.

With budgetary constraints evident, the film is no masterpiece, but it certainly is far better than Subspecies 3 and 4, both of which were more comical. 'Subspecies 5' (thankfully) contains no comedic elements. It is more disturbing in its story and imagery than its predecessors, and a full-on horror. It shows no mercy whatsoever. Thing is, this might just be my favourite in the series thus far (Subspecies 2 was also very good). Oh, and do I smell sequel...?

Totally unnecessary prequel. The first half is filled with voice over exposition. So, the main narrative doesn't feel like it starts until 40 minutes in.... to an 80 minute film.

Radu is still a great character, but I can't say the same for anyone else here. Some of the acting here is bad even by Fullmoon standards. I was also disappointed by the "action" and the special effects. By action of course I mean watching old men tap swords together as if they are fighting. The special effects are a far cry from those of previous installments. There are no little demons.

At the end of the day, this one should have stayed dead.

The "Rise" portion of the title let's you know what you're in for here. This film serves as the origin story for the primary character of the franchise, Radu Vladislas - once again brilliantly portrayed by franchise regular Anders Hove. Here, the film largely succeeds in humanizing the franchise's monstrous and iconic villain.

I was fortunate enough to catch this on its one day only theatrical release at my local Alamo Drafthouse and enjoyed the post feature making of and interviews with the cast and crew held by Charles Band. In addition to successfully humanizing Radu as a character, I have to also praise the technical aspects of the film as it looks and sounds great- easily sporting the most polished cinematography of the series. I found myself hoping they expound on a couple of the plot points and make a Subspecies VI. Hopefully if another entry is made it doesn't take another 20 years.

I didn't know that there was a part five of the "Subspecies" movies even being made. And thus, imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon this movie from Full Moon Features by random chance here in 2023. I enjoyed the first three movies in the franchise, though I never had the chance to watch the fourth movie. But still, I opted to sit down and watch this fifth movie regardless of not having seen part four.

The storyline in "Subspecies V: Blood Rise" was adequate enough, though personally I don't understand why they opted for an origin story. But it made for adequate enough entertainment, nonetheless.

It sort of is a bit strange that they opted to do an origin story 32 years after the original first "Subspecies" movie was released. But still, it was nice to see Anders Hove return to the role of Radu Vladislas, nonetheless.

The acting performances in "Subspecies V: Blood Rise" were fair. It was mostly an all unfamiliar cast ensemble, aside from Anders Hove and Kevin Spirtas. However, it should be noted that the actors and actresses did put on generally good performances throughout the course of the movie.

Visually then "Subspecies V: Blood Rise" was okay. Though, you're not in for a grand spectacle of special effects or anything. But the special effects were suitable enough, given the premise of the movie. It was, however, a pleasure thing to watch Radu's gradual decay and change from human to the monstrous vampire creature he came to be.

Was the 2023 movie "Subspecies V: Blood Rise" from writer and director Ted Nicolaou, whom has served as a director throughout the entire franchise, a necessary movie to add to the "Subspecies" franchise? In my honest opinion, hardly so. But it was watchable for what it turned out to be. I doubt, however, that I will ever return to watch it a second time.

It should be noted that there certainly was something nostalgic about hearing the theme of the "Subspecies" movies again in a new interpretation in the movie. It was somewhat hauntingly beautiful.

My rating of "Subspecies V: Blood Rise" lands on a five out of ten stars.

It's been 25 long years since the release of Subspecies IV, so it's hard to believe this sequel even exists. Better still, it's actually a good movie! We live in an age of disappointing reboots, but this isn't one of them.

Of course, you have to grade movies like Subspecies on a curve. Is Blood Rise a conventionally good film? Probably not, but it's solid by B-movie standards. The music, costumes, and cinematography all exceed expectations; clearly, this was a labor of love for the production team. The makeup and special effects are more erratic, but still admirable given the low budget. The location filming in Serbia is excellent and preserves the unique European flavor of the series.

Most importantly, Anders Hove effortlessly slides back into the role of Radu - a repulsive yet somehow sympathetic character, and one of cinema's coolest vampires. As with the earlier entries, he's the best thing in the movie by miles, but the supporting cast is pretty solid. Notably, Hove plays the role seriously this time and isn't as campy as before, which might disappoint fans who enjoy the more overt comedy of the previous films ("Muuuummy!")

The plot of Subspecies V is merely okay, alas. It jumps around in time a lot, meaning that some situations can feel rushed and underdeveloped. Also, there's a conspicuous lack of action and crowd scenes - betraying the limitations of making a period-piece movie without enough money. Still, the film is good at glossing over its weaknesses and playing to its strengths, like mood and character.

I think Ted Nicolaou wanted to make a strong directorial statement with this film, by demonstrating that it's possible to create a serious and impactful Subspecies movie in 2023. While I personally prefer the more fun approach of the previous films, I was impressed by what he achieved here. This is probably the best Subspecies movie since part 2, and it's a nice blend of nostalgia and new ideas.

So...can we get a sixth one?

Was blessed to see the film premiere at Horrorhound Weekend...OMG Ted knocked it out of the park....the cinematography, the landscapes, the score, the poetic dialogue, and our cast was amazing...Anders's evolution as Radu from crusader to vampire lord was nothing short of badass.... Denice Duff as new character Helena is a very memorable different character for her....her performance is awe-inspiring. Kevin Spiritas was once Mel Thompson, U. S. Embassy in parts 2 and 3 and now he becomes the role Angus Scrimm was in the original SS...He is King Vladislas the father of Radu...we are also brought into the world of musicians Ash and his sister Ariel (Stasa Nikovic who was so sweet to meet) very vulnerable and deadly...the Bloodstone is there....i could go on and on but see this movie when it comes out ASAP.

I didn't even know they were goin to make another subspecies until I came across it on Tubi and so glad I did. I actually never watched any of the full moon movies when I was younger I remember seeing a few of them on the blockbusters shelves as a kid tryin to convince dad to rent them but that never happened. But in the past few years I watched quite a few here and there and have found they're definitely hit and miss but the subspecies films are the gems of the collection in my opinion. Radu is what a vampire is supposed to look like and has been played excellently over the years by Anders hove. His transformation from man to monster is amazing in this one. It took awhile to realize where it was goin but once it all came together this ended up being one of the best in the series I hope to see more from them, I actually think it would make a good mini series.

Subspecies V: Bloodrise

Arriving twenty five years after Bloodstorm: Subspecies IV seemed to put a final cap on Full Moon's most distinguished franchise, Bloodrise resurrects the story with a prequel . This film is geared toward telling us how series villain Radu Vladislas became the uncompromisingly vicious vampire fans have grown to love over the course of three decades.

Directed by Ted Nicolaou - who has now helmed every film in this franchise ( including the excellent Ash centric spin off Vampire Journals) and written every chapter save for the original - the new film opens with the birth of Radu to immortal sorceress Cersce and undead royalty Prince Vladislas.

The untimely intervention of a troop of Crusaders results in the newborn creature being spirited away the night of his birth. Taken in by the church and given potions to affect a more human appearance, Radu grows to adulthood and becomes a holy Crusader himself , pursuing and destroying evil well into an advanced age, all the while unaware of his own supernatural bloodline.

One sojourn brings Radu and his traveling companion back to where he was born and, in what proves to be a fateful encounter that will change the course of his life, he meets a beautiful woman named Helena and her son, Stefan, both fleeing from the boy's father, Prince Vladislas.

And that's where I'll end my synopsis, because there are twists and revelations ahead that serve to deepen the overall lore of the Subspecies saga and reveal more to audiences about how Radu eventually transformed into the monster we love to hate, not only physically, but psychologically. There are some plot developments I found pleasantly surprising and I wouldn't want to spoil that for long time fans who haven't seen this yet.

So, the question on everyone's mind is: Does it work? Is this a cheap cash in , direct- to -video knock off more akin to the Full Moon that gave us unsatisfying trash like the Axis Puppetmaster films or those godwaful Corona Zombie releases? Or is it a return to the era of the initial Subspecies films, the first three Puppetmaster movies and gems such as Trancers, Doctor Mordred or Head of the Family?

Resoundingly and unquestionably, this film falls squarely into the latter category. This is a carefully constructed, polished piece of legitimate horror cinema. It runs about the same length as the original films and, like those previous installments, it rises above its budgetary limitations and doesn't at all feel like a direct to video release.

Once again, lush location shooting ( with Serbia now standing in for Romania) captured through gorgeous cinematography allows the film to enjoy a authenticity artificial sets can and never will be capable of capturing. I'm of the opinion this is visually the best looking Subspecies film. Honestly, it's the best looking Full Moon movie period and, to further drive home the point, I thought it looked better than most of the wider release independent films I've seen in the past few years. One aspect of Bloodrise in particular I have to applaud is the exquisite lighting. As a rule, I don't focus on specific technical details like that , but given how much of this movie is set in actual caves, castles and catacombs, it's amazing how much clarity there is to the cinematography, with everything granted an eerie ambiance by the ever present flicker of torchlight. As before, the location shooting becomes a character in its own right.

So now that I've addressed the visual/technical quality, how effective is the story?

Well, very, if I'm being honest. However, this comes with a couple of caveats.

One is retconning. Fans who vividly remember the opening scene of the original Subspecies will quickly realize a substantial retcon is unfolding in this one. It seemed to me this was written as more of a direct prequel to Bloodstone Subspecies II and beyond than necessarily the first film, as it reimagines some of the events from that movie. It's all still there, but it's presented differently.

Here's where personal opinion takes over: Objectively, I found myself preferring the new version of these events as presented in Bloodrise. Not only do they add an emotional subtext to Radu as a character in the original films, after seeing this movie, some of the moments of vulnerability Radu demonstrates in Bloodlust: Subspecies III now land with more impact. You know a movie has understood the assignment and done what it set out to do brilliantly when it retroactively adds depth and meaning to the previous films rather than dilute or diminish them.

The other issue people may have is with the pacing. Bloodrise covers centuries in Radu's existence, so it has a lot of ground to cover. Accordingly, it glosses over certain eras of his life, such as the period between the night he's born and the introduction of Anders Hove as the elderly Radu in the waning days of his life as a Crusader. Again, I personally didn't have a problem with this because they had a limited budget and eighty minutes to tell the story in. Despite these limitations, the film does manage to cultivate the feel of an epic chapter in the larger story begun in the original.

That's largely because Ted Nicolau again demonstrates his mastery behind the camera , stripping away the fat to deliver a lean, mean horror drama that somehow manages to feel sweeping in just under 90 minutes. I can't express enough admiration for the work Nicolau has done with this franchise.

He's aided by a returning cast who are so accomplished here it feels as if they just finished filming Bloodstorm Subspecies IV before diving headlong into this one. These people haven't missed a beat in twenty five years.

Anders Hove is the absolute rock star here, for the first time in the franchise spending much of the film without the signature vampire makeup and proving it was never the f/x that made this character. Human Radu is, if anything , even more fascinating than post-transformation Radu. It's a riveting performance and the best Hove has delivered to date.

Denice Duff also sets the screen ablaze with a juicy, compelling performance as Helena. It's obvious Duff is enjoying the opportunity to let loose and play to her dark side here and there's a moment between her and Radu involving a cleverly ironic narrative reversal of what came before that long time fans should appreciate.

Kevin Spirtas has fun with a spirited supporting appearance as Prince Vladislas, all but unrecognizable under some heavy f/x makeup but delivering an energized and entertaining performance nonetheless.

Stasa Nicolic and Marco Filipovic each deliver notable work as, respectfully, Ariel and her brother Ash, traveling troubadours who become Radu's first fledglings. Filipovic in particular does a superb job of portraying a much younger iteration of the character who would eventually play such a pivotal role in Radu's future. The circumstances of his transformation are a highlight of the film.

As long as fans are willing to accept the retcon and that the film by necessity cannot cover every single moment of Radu's life in detail, they should have a blast with Subspecies V: Bloodrise.

Here is a movie that offers a compelling narrative , boasts terrific performances, is true to the history of the material, and moves with polish and prestige as it tells its surprisingly emotional story. It both brings the beloved franchise back in a honorable way and manages to entertain on its own terms. I haven't been able to say that about a lot of recent horror movies, particularly not the majority of the mainstream, big budget wide release films.

Bloodrise is not only a terrific addition to the series, I think it elevates the entire saga. I also think it's the best of the films since part II. It's a brilliant return to form for Full Moon and I sincerely hope it's an indication of what we can expect moving forward. Subspecies fans have cause to rejoice. Highly recommended.

****1/2 out of *****

Wow! Where to begin?

This movie is absolutely incredible! It's been years since Radu has graced our television screens. When last he did, it was a very different world!!!

I sat in my own home, with original VHS posters and a Thai version of subspecies 2 (poster) and it's as magical to behold this new film as it was all those years ago in my fathers basement!

This is a gorgeously done origin story and a reclaiming of Full Moon Movies! It's done so beautifully I wasn't expecting to love it this much, but I absolutely did!

If you grew us on Radu like I did, you're in for a treat! I'm half in tears just remembering the magic, and blown away by what a wonderful film this was! Check it out!

Having been denied his background, a Crusader for the Church is confronted by the vampire that birthed him which sets him off on a journey with several fledglings he's turned into vampires like him, bringing them on a quest for vengeance that leaves numerous bodies in their wake to put everything surrounding them to rest.

There's quite a lot to really like with this one. One of the better efforts here is the stellar setup that features a strong storyline to get this going. The main setup here of the vampire child taken and turned into a soldier for the Church which brings him into contact with the supposed vampire who spawned him and the doubt that carries in what he does all comes off incredibly well here. The change that occurs as he goes from the no-nonsense slayer to someone who can take pity on the vampire woman and her son with the way he takes them on despite knowing full well what's going to happen so that the devious nature of his fate isn't a surprise, due to this fantastic setup. The outcome of all this is the film's entertaining and brutal scenes offering the descent into vampirism. There's plenty to like here involving his initial turn and series of encounters on the outskirts of the community which soon puts him into the sphere of the family members he turns. This is the best part of the film where it becomes a fantastic series of training setups of his bloodthirsty teachings that are essentially scenes of them out hunting, seducing, and feeding on victims which feeds their desire to leave him with their knowledge to do their own thing. This type of subservient romance leads into the action-packed finale that has quite a lot of brutal confrontations and shocking twists that give this one a lot to like. This one does have some minor issues that hold it back. One of the main factors with this one is the seemingly random storyline here that makes this one feel somewhat scattered and disorganized in how allegiances keep shifting. Far too often the scene shifts focus or the upperhand is dictated merely because somewhat does something unexpected to supposedly shift their allegiance to a new figurehead in the moment so it can come off as padding to keep this one going. As well, another issue here is a rather bizarre sense of franchise retconning that does oddly come off better than the original storyline it replaces but the need to switch it up when it could've been fine without it, yet that's a personal opinion rather than a subjective one.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence, Nudity, and Language.

This movie popped up on a streaming service I was browsing through and it made me remember this series I grew up watching.

I only saw 1,2 & 3 but this one is probably the best I have seen from the series.

This is an origin story of Radu (the main villian in the story). Sure there are lots of mental gymnastics you have to do to make the story make sense.

Radu in the first movie looks very young and he starts this movie off as an older man but truly I think if you can suspend that disbelief this is a fantastic Vampire movie.

I truly enjoyed it and it made me want to go back and find 4. Even rewatch the whole series. I don't think most people will be disappointed with this film. Unless you need your vampires to be super sexy and glittery.