Event Review: SUBSPECIES V: BLOOD RISE at The Emmaus Theatre

SUBSPECIES V: Blood Rise

Synopsis:

“Stolen by crusaders on the night of his birth, he has no knowledge of his bloodline: his mother is a demon; his father is a vampire. Trained and exploited by a brotherhood of mystic monks to slay all enemies of the church, fate brings him back one night to the castle of his father, armed with the monster-slaying Sword of Laertes, to destroy the vampire Vladislas and reclaim a holy relic: The Bloodstone. The events of that night turn Radu from a noble man into a vampire with no master, setting him on a centuries-long quest for sustenance, and companionship, for the treacherous one who stole him from the sun, and for the Bloodstone he hopes will bring him peace. Spanning 500 years in the life of the vampire Radu Vladislas, this long-anticipated prequel to the Subspecies series chronicles Radu’s descent from a noble warrior for the Church to a depraved creature of the night.”

I’ve waited a long time to see SUBSPECIES V: Blood Rise.  I was excited for months. The anticipation growing like wild flowers in a field. It was a beautiful day out as I walked up to The Emmaus Theatre, and spotted my friend(s), and the beautiful theatre with a marquee that read SUBSPECIES V BLOOD RISE. I never saw SUBSPECIES in a theater.

SUBSPECIES V was directed, written, and edited by Ted Nicolaou. It stars Denice Duff, Anders Hove, Kevin Spirtas,  Stacia Nikolic, Olivera Perunicic, Marko Filipovic, Yulia Graut, and Petar Arsic.

The immensely talented Anders Eriksen did the special effects and Asia Eriksen did the creature effects. They knocked it out of the ball park.

The Emmaus Theatre welcomed a few members of SUBSPECIES V on Monday, including Asia Erisen who brought the vampire baby along. The Emmaus Theatre staff was awesome as always. They had some incredible stuff for sale, and on display for SUBSPECIES, and Charles Band’s incredible FULL MOON universe.

SUBSPECIES is an iconic film. The first SUBSPECIES film set a standard for some vampire films. S Radu doesn’t sparkle, he’s not living this fancy lifestyle. He is a vampire, he is a cold, blood dripping from his mouth vampire. Radu is this creature of the night in a true form. Anders Hove portrays him with such wickedness and perfection.

Denice Duff made her first appearance in, BLOODSTONE: SUBSPECIES II as Michelle. She would be become an iconic character standing beside Anders Hove’s Radu. Denice portrays Helena in SUBSPECIES V. She is Radu’s master. Denice did an awesome job. She played a Vampire Queen, a master, a fledgling to Radu, a sister, a friend. She brought every element to her characters in the SUBSPECIES universe. There is not anything Denice Duff could not do.

There were a few scenes that truly stood out. If you look closely at the people talking in the little town bar that Radu goes to. (I guess even vampires need a Gallows Hills Spirits. This joint would be Radu’s Gallows.) The people are talking and listening to music by Ariel (Stasa Nikolic) and Ash (Marko Filipovic) (The Carpenters of the Vampire world.) You notice the people talking, and I did spot Denice having, what looked like a genuine conversation. It’s the small things in a film. Films can take a long time, and a lot of work goes into a film. Kevin Spirtas portraying Radu’s father, Prince Vladislas was pure awesomeness. Kevin appeared in BLOODSTONE: Subspecies II as Mel.

Ted Nicolaou did a good job with the story. He took us on a journey with Radu and his family. Yes, vampires have families folks. It did feel a little Inigo Montoya-ish… You know, “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die” It seemed like everyone wanted to kill Radu, and make it stick. I am curious if there will be another one. I won’t reveal spoilers but it would be interesting to find out more of the story. I would recommend watching the film.

Make sure to check out SUBSPECIES V: BLOOD RISE.

It will be playing on Friday again at The Emmaus Theatre.

www.emmaustheatre.com/

m.imdb.com/title/tt11075540/

www.fullmoonfeatures.com/directed-by-charles-band