User reviews

Conclusion to the planned trilogy directed by Ted Nicolaou this third film ends rather openly suggesting that Full Moon Productions were already sizing up future instalments. This time Radu kidnaps Michelle and takes her to the castle that he shares with his mother, a Sorceress. He teaches her to master her vampire powers, willing to sacrifice everything to empower his true love when Michelle's sister Rebecca attacks his stronghold.

The trilogy is weakening here with little original storyline and little excitement. However the series still - at this point - remains highly unique and still fantastically riveting. Once again the acting is of a high standard, the Romanian locations breathtaking and the script, score and direction, even in this 'weaker hour' surpass many larger budget films. Stable stuff.

Now I know that most of the Subspecies fans prefer the second movie over Bloodlust: Subspecies III, but I think this was actually my favorite of the series. This is where we see a little bit of Radu's weakness and that he can have mortal feelings for another, even love. Weither or not he's in love with Michelle, I think he admires her innocence and beauty, the power she holds over him, she knows it and definitely takes advantage of it, who can blame her, right? But I love how the story goes into Radu, he fears this emotion, understandably, and it blinds him. This is strangely a tragic love story that really intrigues me, it goes from teacher/student to love/hate. Radu though I promise still delivers the good scares like the other Subspecies movies.

Radu and his student, Michelle, are up to a lot, while he teaches her what it means to be a vampire, Radu's mother thinks it's a bad idea to keep her. Michelle's sister, Morgan, will not give up and she will do anything to save her sister's should. Michelle tells Radu that she can never love him, that she hates him and would rather just die instead of being a vampire but Radu wishes for her to stay with him forever.

Bloodlust: Subspecies III is just continuing where the second Subspecies left off. My favorite scene was where Michelle is outside and Radu comes from behind her and she asks what can kill them, the dialog he delivers as well as his expressions, for a low budget film, Anders Hove is a good actor and makes Radu very believable. The scene was beautifully done between him and Denise. This was a fun series to get into, I really have enjoyed it, these are the horror films I've been looking for and would highly recommend them for a good scare.

7/10

Still in the thrall of the evil vampire Radu (Anders Hove), Michelle yearns to be taught the skills of the vampire. Meanwhile, her sister Becky tries to free her from his evil clutches, and this time, she has brought some help.

Shot back to back with part two, the "Subspecies" series is one of the better things to come out of Full Moon. Maybe it had creative independence, or maybe the budget was better in that era. I am not sure. But we haven't seen anything this good from Full Moon in a long time.

Others have commented that, despite the low budget, the film is a lot of fun because it doesn't take itself too seriously. That's true. But also, this is legitimately good -- good acting, and amazing makeup. The plot may be a bit silly as it moves into part three (and just wait for part four!) but you have to expect a bit of deterioration with sequels.

Though not quite as great as "Subspecies 2," and with an unsatisfying ending, it was still better than the original.

It picks up where the last one left off, with babe Michelle in the vampiric clutches of Radu and his shrivelled, cackling mother, and the forces of good attempting to save her. There were some great and legitimate moments of tension, mostly due to characterization, and that's always welcome. Anders Hove does a fantastic job as the pitiful, all-too-human vampire, Radu, in love with Michelle who can only hate him. It was well-written, although a lot slower-moving than "Subspecies 2," but definitely worth a look.

I was fortunate enough to watch the third installment in the "Subspecies" franchise back-to-back with the previous two movies, making a whole evening out of it. And it was interesting to find out that parts II and III were also filmed back-to-back.

Again, this is a direct continuation of the events that transpired in "Bloodlust: Subspecies II" and continued where part II left the audience. This is really something that is unique and definitely is a defining event for the franchise.

"Bloodlust: Subspecies III", like the previous two movies, while being in the horror genre, is not a movie that is made to scare the audience or gross out the audience with over-the-top special effects and ways to kill or maim characters. No, again, this is about character development and about story progression. Those are factors to the franchise that I immensely enjoy and it make for some very good entertainment.

Needless to say that Anders Hove carries the movie phenomenally as he did with the previous two movies. He definitely puts so much energy and personality into the Radu character and makes it for a very memorable character in the vampire genre.

"Bloodlust: Subspecies III" makes for good entertainment, and it is delivering a straight forward storyline and script, much alike the previous two movies. There are little surprises or plot twists along the way, but the previous two movies weren't known for that either. The introduction of Bob, a soldier of fortune-like character, seemed very forced and misplaced in the movie. Especially because the character served very little purpose and was brought to a most sudden and random demise.

If you have watched the previous two movies in the "Subspecies" genre, then you definitely should sit down to watch the third movie as well. "Subspecies" is a gem within the vampire genre.

In Bucharest, Rebecca (Melanie Shatner) finds her sister Michelle (Denice Duff) in the catacombs of an old castle and kills Radu (Anders Hove) with a dagger. They flee, but Michelle is incapable to leave the dark place since the sun is shining outside. Rebecca promises to wait for her until the night, but Michelle is captured by Mummy (Pamela Gordon) that uses her blood to revive Radu. Rebecca and Mel (Kevin Blair) try to convince Lieutenant Marin (Ion Haiduc) to bring the police to the catacombs to look for Michelle. The Chief of Police is skeptic and Mel summons his CIA friend Bob (Michael Dellafemina) to help him to hunt the vampire Radu and rescue Michelle. Will they succeed?

"Bloodlust: Subspecies III" is a great sequel of this series. Combining horror with comedy, this film is highly entertaining and will not disappoint the fans of vampire stories. Last but not the least, Radu's mother steals the show. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Volúpia Sangrenta" ("Bloody Voluptuousness")

After the great first film and the amazing sequel, "Bloodlust: Subspecies III" is not that cool. Radu Vladislas is now a typical bloodsucking vampire, a romantic one. The special make-up effects are fine, the cinematography is not that good and the Romanian filming locations are not that interesting as in the two first films. This third film is a good direct-to-video release but could be better!

With 'Subspecies 2' being so good, this installment was a bit of a letdown. The affects are not as good, and the film is more comedic. Why is Lieutenant Marin suddenly such an idiotic character? And Radu's laughing mother was so annoying!

The shadow effects are not as realistic and at times seems experimental. The story has way too many conveniences and is simply not believable. There's also the faithful 'victim falls for the detective' cliche. In general, this film is more lighthearted than serious, and wasn't as enjoyable, yet nevertheless still watchable and entertaining.

Poor Radu. He's been stabbed and staked by his fledgling Michelle and her sister Becky and left for dead in the bottom of a dusty crypt in a Bucharest cemetery. But Radu's mummy comes to the rescue, recapturing Michelle almost instantly and healing her much abused son before the next moon rises. Upon awakening, Michelle is horrified to realize that Radu is not dead, nor has he released his hold on her. The bizarre threesome flee the cemetery and head back to Castle Vladislas. Michelle, disgusted by her vampiric urges, nevertheless demands that Radu show her the ropes. Radu, pathetically in love with the beautiful Michelle, alternatively tries to win her affections and force her into submission. Mummy resents the new fledgling and urges her son to destroy her. And Becky has not yet given up on the idea of a rescue, and she's brought plenty of back up this time.

This third entry in the Subspecies series is every bit as fun as the first two, allowing its cast of characters to grow and evolve. Anders Hove as Radu becomes an object of pity here, revealing Radu not as evil incarnate, but as a lonely, miserable wretch who has never been loved...not even by his mummy. Michelle's continued rejection of her hideous Master is heartbreaking to watch. Time and again she professes her hatred for Radu, and Radu accepts it in silence and takes her back without a word against her, protecting her no matter what the cost. His love for her is genuinely pathetic and one can't help but feel some pity for him at last. Denise Duff as Michelle is very good once again, expressing sorrow and pain but also satisfaction and enthusiasm in her new found powers. Highlights include an emotional scene between Radu and Michelle atop the battlements of Castle Vladislas, and a brief but very funny sequence involving Becky, Radu and a gun loaded with silver bullets.

Fans of the first two should not miss this third installment. Followed by a fourth film (Bloodstorm: Subspecies 4) which, sadly, is nowhere near as good as the first three Subspecies films.

Continuing directly after the major cliffhanger of the previous film (well after a short recap of the aforementioned movie at least) Subspecies 3 jumps right back into the thick of it. With Rebecca trying to save her beloved sister/recent vampire Michelle from evil vampire Radu and his witch of a mother.

While there are parts of the film that I really enjoyed, this third film as a whole is a bit too padded and i believe that it would've been better served (artistically if not financially) by trimming it down and combining the footage left with part 2 to make a much better film. As it is, the film was OK, it just could've been such better.

Eye Candy: Elvira Deatcu gets briefly topless and Melanie Shatner provides T&A

Like with the previous entry, Subspecies: Bloodlust picks up where Bloodstone had left off.

But immediately you notice that everything is patently worse.

The acting sure went downhill fast.

There's no introductory effects overload.

And the story is starting to become pretty ridiculous.

Basically, the evil vampire- Radu- and his mother are trying to force the vampire maiden- Michelle- to give up her remaining ties to mortal world.

Despite desperately needing to eat, she plays along just enough to learn about her abilities, so that she can use them to kill him at some later point, given the opportunity.

In the meantime, however, she uses this newfound magic to lure an unsuspecting fiddle player to his death.

While her sister and boyfriend are actively trying to hunt the vampires down, so that they can kill them once and for all...hoping this will free her from the curse that strickens her.

In order to do so...they team up with her boyfriends gun-totin' CIA buddy.

He gives them each six silver bullets, made from an antique crucifix.

But it doesn't do them much good.

Leaving Michelle to face an ultimatum...that would see her give up her mortal ties, in exchange for saving her sister.

That is...unless they can truly kill him this time...

The ending of this installation of the quadrilogy is pretty funny.

But knowing there's another one makes me shake my head a little.

Because this one was very mediocre.

5.5 out of 10.

Watching the Subspecies films back-to-back probably wasn't such a good idea: it drives home just how similar the films are and how little the plot advances with each one. Part III follows on directly from Part II and sees Becky (Melanie Shatner) continuing in her quest to rescue her vampiric sister Michelle (Denice Duff) from the clutches of evil vampire Radu (Anders Hove). Aided by policeman Marin (Ion Haiduc) and American embassy guy Mel (Kevin Spirtas), Becky attempts to enter the Vladislas castle where Radu resides with his manky mother (Pamela Gordon)...

The bulk of Bloodlust consists of dreary dialogue, the plot plodding along at a snail's pace with very little of interest happening for much of the time. There's so little meat to the story that I think that parts II and III could have been edited together to make a single film, and it still wouldn't have been that great. By now, the authentic Romanian locations have lost their charm (the castle was cool at first, but no longer impresses) and the atmosphere and visuals feel old hat. And those watching for more of the series' cool stop-motion minions will be sorely disappointed: they only make an appearance in the closing moments and are on screen for just a few seconds.

This was a film that I knew of the series, but not necessarily which film was what. I believe that I tried taking Part II home to watch from the video store but got lost since I hadn't seen the original. The cover of these movies always caught my attention though and plus, back then I was a huge Full Moon fan. I've now given this a second watch as part of my Foray through the Fours.

Synopsis: still in the thrall of the evil vampire Radu (Anders Hove), Michelle (Denice Duff) yearns to be taught the skills of the vampire. Meanwhile, her sister Becky (Melanie Shatner) tries to free her from his evil clutches, and this time, she's brought help.

We start where the last movie left off. It shows scenes to fill us in and get us up to speed. Professor Popescu (Michael Denish) is killed by being stabbed through the chest with a spear. Rebecca escapes from the crypt with the help of her sister, Michelle, who tells her she cannot follow because she is a vampire. She goes back down into the crypt where Radu's mother, this mummy/witch who is played by Pamela Gordon, takes her deeper.

Becky alerts the police and they launch an investigation. They are led by Lieutenant Marin (Ion Haiduc). They don't find evidence of what she claims happened, outside of the body of Popescu. Mel shows up to support Becky. He doesn't believe her though either. That is until something weird happens, causing everyone to flee the crypt. There is laughing, smoke and a strange light. This is a ritual to allow Radu, his mother and Michelle to teleport back to the castle.

There is an interesting triangle amongst this group. Radu is in love with Michelle. She wants him to teach her his ways. She agrees to this if he will spare her sister. Radu's mother doesn't believe her. She believes that Michelle harbors hate for him and is using her female ways to persuade him. He won't hear this though due to his feelings for her. We do see them go out hunting where she drinks blood, but she cannot kill the victim.

We also have Becky and Mel, who are being followed by Lt. Marin. Mel doesn't fully believe Becky, but he does help her steal artifacts and a book from the office of Popescu. They go to the castle, looking for a way in. This becomes a race to save Michelle before it is too late. The problem is that they're up against forces stronger than them.

That is where I'll leave my recap and introduction to the characters. Where I want to start is that one of the best parts about this film is that it was shot back-to-back with Part II. That helps keep the tone as well as prevent continuity issues. That was something I wanted to give credit for. The other thing is that I'm surprised my sister and I didn't watch this series growing up. I remember I tried taking one of them home from the video store, but it jumped right in and was lost so it was shut off. It also was more adult than films we were used to from Full Moon.

Now I'll bring back up that this is my second time seeing this movie. I've only seen the first two once. With this rewatch, I love that Radu is in love with Michelle. She can placate him to save her sister by telling him that she wants to learn to be a vampire. The only misstep here is that she wants to die soon after. That does feel rushed since this movie picks up the morning after. I love that Radu's mother, the mummy witch, knows what is in Michelle's heart. Since he's blinded, he hangs on to every word she says about wanting to learn his ways. This does feel like it borrows from Dracula kidnapping Mina and then seeing what happens after she's been turned. It is a toxic relationship that he isn't seeing the signs.

There is then the other story where Becky brings the police to this crypt. She must tell Mel about what happened to the professor. What is good here is that Lt. Marin doesn't believe her and he shouldn't. He's a cop. I like that it doesn't take long for Mel to come around to what happens in the crypt while the police are searching for clues. This doesn't waste any time was good for the pacing. If anything, I'd say that things move a bit too fast here and don't let elements develop fast enough. That could alleviate my issues with Radu and Michelle.

I will end this out by saying that you don't necessarily have to see the previous two films to enjoy this one. Like I said, I don't remember everything that has happened to this point. The issue though is that if you truly want to enjoy this, they are mandatory. There are things that I do think get lost so keep that in mind before seeing this.

I'll then go over to the acting. I thought that Hove is great as Radu. He has such a creepy look before they make up as vampires. He then brings enough creepiness for this to work. He is a Count Orlok/Nosferatu style vampire that is more animalistic. Duff is solid as his love interest. She manipulates him which is good. There is part of me that believes she does want to learn to be a vampire. It is the feeding part that she's struggling with. Spirtas is solid along with Shatner as our heroes here. Gordon is also creepy as the mummy/witch. Haiduc adds comedy that I'm not fully sure works. He's fine though. Michael Della Femina has an odd role as this CIA agent who is friends with Mel. It feels like he's there for convenience to progress the story and for a bit of levity. Other than that, the rest of the cast rounded this out for what was needed.

All that is left then is filmmaking. I thought that the cinematography was good. They're able to capture the setting. It feels like this is in a small village as well as this nearby castle. Being shot in Romania helps. How they frame the attacks helps to hide the seams. There are mostly practical effects here which look good. The blood as well as the looks of Radu and the mummy/witch are great. I even love the little imp creatures even though we don't see them until the end. There were effects that aren't great, but that is a limited basis. The soundtrack fit what was needed.

In conclusion, this is an underrated series from pique Full Moon. I love this concept of an animalistic vampire finding the 'love of his life' and doing what he can to teach her his ways. There is good mythology here. This is more of a character study though of Radu and his love for Michelle. The acting here is solid with Hove and Gordon leading the way. This is made well for its budget. The effects, cinematography and framing are the tops. Won't be for everyone. But this is a solid vampire film that does its own thing.

My Rating: 6.5 out of 10.

I'm quite surprised at myself for having not watching this Charles Band Full Moon Features production before and have quickly become a fan of the Subspecies series of films. I think what I like most about the series is that the vampires here are neither the Bela Lugosi elegant gentlemen type, nor are they the emo Anne Rice/Sookie Stackhouse type of vampires. The vampire Radu is a nasty scary looking monster. In many ways, he reminds me of the Steve Niles vampires in "30 Days of Night." In this third installment, Radu is still controlling one of the sisters from the previous film and her other sister is trying to free her from Radu's thrall. As with the previous films, this was competently directed by Ted Nicolaou, who makes the most of the European locations and the real-life castle that was owed by Band's production company at the time (and which appeared in just about every Full Moon film of this era, even one misguided Trancers film). Anders Hove continues to be creepy as Count Radu, the practical special effects are solid (and bloody), and the production values are better than most Full Moon productions. Overall, this one is a must see for fans of Charles Band films, but honestly this film is probably not one for non-fan of Full Moon Features.

Just edges out S2 as my favorite in this hugely entertaining vampire series, mostly on the strength of Anders Hove and Denise Duff's performances. Same basic plot: Rebecca and her Fearless Vampire Stalkers continue where they left off, in pursuit of her sister Michelle, Radu, and the Bloodstone; while Radu tries futilely to gain the love and loyalty of his adamantly defiant "fledgling", Michelle.

Hove has completely sounded the depths of Radu's character and his portrayal of this tragic monster is poignant and heartfelt. Unable to command his headstrong protégé's fealty to the master she refuses to acknowledge, unable to win her heart with gifts or intimate displays of trust, Radu's despair is utterly human, yet he never turns on her. Despite his constant praise of pain and suffering, his deathly face conceals a heart capable of loyal and true love.

As for Denise Duff as Michelle, she is probably the coolest vampiress EVER, and if it not for Radu would no-doubt be the star of this series. The Subspecies movies deserve acclaim for their strong female characters, and Michelle is the toughest, a determinedly human woman who resists becoming a vampire with every fiber of her strength and will. At the same time, we see her grow in undead power and skill, and realize that if she keeps control of the Bloodstone - with which she can resist the need to kill - she'll become an immortal to reckon with. Her scenes with Radu are really something to see, as the two vampires match wills eye-to-eye again and again, and she forces Radu to blink every time.

Their story is truly "Beauty and the Beast" without the happy ending, and indeed it's hard not to think of that classic story in the sequence where Michelle begs to see her sister just one last time. Like the Beast, Radu is unwilling to let his "pretty one" go, but gives his permission, hoping to prove his love by a gesture of faith in her; and just as in the fairy tale, his hopeful gesture has sad consequences. The look on his face as she sweeps past him while he pleads for her devotion could bring a tougher fan than me to tears. --These are some of the best characterizations in modern vampire film, and among the very few that I really care about.

Once you see this you will NEED to see #4!

Maestro, Ted Nicolaou's tragic vampire opus becomes ever more twisted in 'Bloodlust: Subspecies III'. Only recently undead, Michelle's (Denice Duff) dismal fate is now grimly entwined with her deathly pale, murderously besotted vampire master, Radu. The cruel, calculating, sibling slaying wretch is now the incumbent monarch of forbidding Vladislas castle. Corrupted by loneliness, jealousy, and a thirst for power, Radu's obsession over, Michelle's sublime beauty and the mythic Bloodstone fuelling his bloodlust. Acting as one demented, Radu conspires viciously to make, Michelle willingly share his eternal damnation. Courageously resisting his vile, necromantic advances, Michelle's rejection merely increases, Radu's grim resolve to possess her absolutely!

The anguished, weakening, increasingly pale, Michelle inevitably succumbs to her primal need to feed. Bullied into rejecting all familial ties, she unhappily surrenders to Radu, reluctantly becoming his resentfully blood-drinking, charnel house-dwelling consort. Her plucky sister, Becky (Melanie Shatner) and her handsome companion, Mel's (Kevin Spirtas) tenacious attempts to free Michelle from the crepuscular confines of doomy Vladislas castle are nothing short of heroic! Escalating to a memorably bloody melee, the fulminating evils of demonic, Radu and his maniacal sorceress mother (Pamela Strong) are not easily bested.

Maintaining Subspecies stylish eerie Gothic motifs, visually gifted director, Nicolaou injects a little extra vampire venom into his hallucinatory, blood-curdled bacchanal of profane vampire lust, malevolent sorcery, and thrilling melodrama. Dramatically set against the stunning, medieval majesty of doomy Vladislas castle, Radu's tormenting quest to secure, Michelle's love descends madly into a relentless cavalcade of savage subterranean set horrors!...as for this especially craven plasma prizing princeling, The Bloodstone is thicker than water!

Not only is 'Bloodlust: Subspecies III' yet another fabulously fright-packed Full Moon phantasmagoria, but proof rhesus positive that, Nicolaou's sanguineous Subspecies series is now the reigning apex predator of Gothic horror. The malign, Radu being the pallid crowned prince of DTV vampire villainy! No longer shall this grim-faced, long-fingered fratricidal fiend be confined to the shadowy, mildewed catacombs of Vladislas Castle, Radu deserves to be immortalized as a Gothic Horror icon. Radu, you are simply tomb much vampire for the daylight world to ignore!

After escaping from the vampire lair, a woman continues the search for the deadly vampire and his bride in her sister with the help of her friend only to have the local authorities disbelieving in their story which complicates matters until they finally are forced together to stop them.

This was an enjoyable if somewhat flawed entry. Once again, this one manages to get plenty of mileage out of its Gothic trappings, which are kept to a high majority of the time throughout here. The opening resurrection ceremony, featuring the demonic hag performing the ritual on the girl by slicing her arm and using the blood to reanimate the other vampire or the discovery of the bloodied and mangled bodies from the previous encounter gives this a great start, and the use of them flying away out from under the investigators eyes is a solid and engaging ploy. Keeping the vampire and his mummified mother on-screen for a large portion of this section as he attempts to teach her the ways of the vampire like she wanted gives this a kind of enjoyable entrance into the whole affair. Those training sessions offer some rather fine moments being held in the candlelit room which adds to the atmosphere of him training her before eventually forcing her to drink from the city girl he captured for her. That also leads nicely into the final half where it really manages to let loose with some fine action in the assault on the impenetrable lair high inside the castle walls with their initial scaling of the walls and the resultant firefight with the mummy before having the tables turned and leading into the fun of the vampires being awakened which gives way to them being captured and tortured by the two. Even without the frantic actions and confrontations throughout here, the violence and gore manages to hold off enough to really work quite a lot to really like here. It does have a few rather noticeable flaws throughout here though. The main issue holding this one down is the fact that there's not a whole lot of real vampire action in here unlike the others in the series. The middle portion of the film descends into an endless series of either investigation scenes with the two trying to look into the history of the vampires in the area while avoiding the authorities or scenes of him trying to teach her how to be a vampire. While there's some fun to be had with the idea of her out stalking those around the city and upsetting the community which in turn leads into their distrust of the investigation, that this is what the movie descends into leaves it not all that exciting for a large portion of the running time which is somewhat frustrating. As well, the film manages to spend a great deal of time worrying over the grave seriousness of finale but it just drags it all out to endless degrees which severely reduces their impact as it features a ton of elements that pad this one out quite heartily, from their turning on each other to the escape attempt and finally leading into the actual way out of the castle which is far longer than necessary. Otherwise, there's not much to dislike here.

Rated R: Graphic Violence, Nudity and Language.