Tubi Tuesday: Subspecies V: Blood Rise (2023)

After more than two decades, Nicolaou returns to the cult franchise “Subspecies” and ensures “Subspecies V: Blood Rise” was worth the wait.

Subspecies fans have been waiting 25 years for another installment of writer and director Ted Nicolaou’s fascinating, engaging, and visually stunning series.

The first film of the direct-to-video 1990s vampire series focuses on the conflict between vampire brothers Radu (Anders Hove) and Stefan (Michael Watson), with its three sequels focusing on Michelle Morgan’s (Laura Mae Tate, Denice Duff) vampire transformation as she tries to escape Radu’s clutches. Subspecies also had a spin-off, Vampire Journals, which focused on one of Radu’s fledglings, Ash, “The Music Lover” (Jonathon Morris).

The fifth installment, Blood Rise, is a prequel focusing on Radu’s origin story that seamlessly ties in with the previous films.

Blood Rise begins at the very beginning with Radu’s birth. As revealed in the previous films, Radu’s mother is an immortal sorceress, Circe (Yulia Graut), and his father is vampire King Vladislas (Kevin Spirtas). Crusaders take Radu from Circe. Raised by the church, Radu grows up not knowing his true origin. He’s trained to join the Knights of the Dragon, a secret society of crusaders whose mission is to fight “the ancient ones” and rid the world of pagan influence.

Radu wields the supernaturally-charged Sword of Laertes (mentioned in previous Subspecies films). He becomes known as “Radu the Fearless” in his relentless crusade against all enemies of the church.

As an adult, he returns to Castle Vladislas for the Bloodstone, an ancient relic coveted by vampires that drips the blood of the saints. Circe confronts Radu and tells him his true origins, which Radu doesn’t believe. However, while at the castle, he crosses paths with Helena (Denice Duff), who will change Radu’s life.

Nicolaou’s prequel, the story of Radu Vladislas, did not disappoint.

Shot on location in Serbia, the film includes picturesque shots of castles nestled in the rolling countryside.

Nicolaou and his crew set up an atmosphere reminiscent of classic horror movies with shadowy medieval chambers, tenebrous catacombs, and sumptuous gothic vampire lairs.

One of the most important points about the story is that it ties in directly with all of the previous films. All of the characters we meet in the original films are included. We see a younger Circe and a different version of King Vladislas, whose makeup is reminiscent of Max Schreck and Klaus Kinski as Count Orlok.

As Circe, Yulia Graut effectively channels Pamela Gordon, who played Circe in the second and third installments of Subspecies. Kevin Spirtas, in heavy makeup, does his own spin on portraying a less human King Vladislas than Angus Scrimm gave us in the original Subspecies. Ash “The Music Lover’s” origin story is included, with a solid performance by Marko Filipovic.

As always, Hove is the perfect Radu, transforming from a human being with a heart and a conscience beneath a stern exterior to the infamous vampire Radu Vladislas of Transylvania.

As a human, Hove plays Radu with many qualities we’ve come to know and love and/or hate. As a crusader, Radu is ruthless and determined to fulfill his mission. He pursues his enemies with the same relentless passion with which we’ve seen him pursue the coveted relic, The Bloodstone, and in his pursuit of fledgling Michelle.

Hove and Duff are a great pair, this time with Duff playing a much different character than the naive reluctant vampire Michelle.

Duff is just as enchanting as the cunning and merciless Helena.

Throughout the series, Radu often puts up a stone-cold facade concealing a heart he longed to give to Michelle. As a crusader, his cold exterior melts once he rescues Helena from Castle Vladislas.

Blood Rise is a captivating and fast-paced film. Nicolaou jumps right in and wastes no time in progressing the story from Radu’s birth to his transformation to a vampire.

The film is only an hour and 20 minutes, with Nicolaou only showing us relevant points in time.

What we’re ultimately treated to is a classic Subspecies film with beautiful scenery and gothic elegance, high vampire melodrama, creative and entertaining lore, and a gripping and engaging story.