Customer Reviews

Bloodstone: Subspecies II [VHS]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

sorry for the pun, but its true that Bloodstone is one of those forgotten films of the 80's. Most people who saw it in the theater then have forgotten they did and the movie disappeared from theaters never to be heard from again, that is until now. I, for one, was one of the people that forgot about this film For years my memory of the film layed dormate, then one day I saw it on the shelf at one of our local DVD store. I was totally surprised to see it, so I picked it up. This DVD release by Image/Omega Entertainent is a beautiful release. Widescreen, digitally remasted, with plenty of special features. I was impressed. As for the movie, it brought back great memories. The story is your average adventure affair, much like Indiana Jones, Romancing The Stone, & Firewalker, but it does have many comical moments. The best part of the film is the police chief that speaks with a funny back of the throat voice. I found myself mimicking this voice for days after I saw the movie. The film was a pleasure with its adventure, off-the-wall humor, and exotic locations. If you like adventure films, give this lost gem a try, you shouldn't be disappointed. And for those of you who saw the movie, and can't remember...refresh your memory.

Bloodstone was previously released on the defunct Simitar label. This DVD Re-release for 2003 is far superior. The picture is in true Animorphic Widescreen and has been fully remastered and color corrected. New animated menus included as well. It also includes various trailers of other Nico Mastorakis productions, as well as a nice feature on the films of Nico Mastorakis that runs about 55 minutes in length.

The only complaint I have about this DVD is that It's advertised as having a new 5.1 sound mix. It is even advertised on the boxart and listed on the sound options on the disc itself. But, when you click on the 5.1 option it brings up a screen saying something like "Not available on this disc version". It's not a big deal, but still somewhat misleading. All in all though, this is a very professional disc to a great 80's movie.

Follow a charming American Ex-Cop, his rich wife, a bumbling Indian inspector and a ruthless British Millionaire as they struggle for control over the world's largest ruby - India's Legendary - BLOODSTONE

This movie suprised me. I had watched the trailer first and groaned, "another bad, bad movie." It turns out the movie is not bad and there are some great extras. The image and sound is good. There is one caveat, make sure you get the copy that has "2003 Version" near the top of the title. Another bit of advice. This DVD is not worth the price Amazon is charging, unless you are a die-hard Mastorakis fan. You can pick this up at many other vendors for a third of the price. One of the extras on this disc and others in this "collection" is a great autobiograpy on the films of Nico Mastorakis. He seems like a fairly smart and decent person. It makes you want to buy the entire "collection", but like I stated not at the Amazon price.

"Bloodstone: Subspecies II" is the sequel to 1991 low-budget movie "Subspecies" released by Full Moon Entertainment. This sequel upgrades the effects and adds more blood and gore to the mix. The story follows Michelle who was bitten by the evil vampire Radu, but also bitten by the good-hearted vampire Stefan, after Radu disposes of Stefan he goes after Michelle who has stolen the Bloodstone from him, an ancient relic that drips the blood of saints.....with it, vampires can survive without feeding off humans, they simply drink from the stone, this is what Michelle plans to use it for, but Radu wants to use it for evil and to increase his power. Michelle calls on the help of her sister Becky and the help of others including an American Embassy worker, Lietunant Marin, and a professor who seems to know a thing or two about the Bloodstone and vampires. Meanwhile Radu, with the help of his ghoulish Mummy, stalks the night in search of Michelle while Becky and the others are also in search of Michelle, who will find her first? Great shadow effects work and for its particurally low budget it also has some nice gore and blood effects that will satisfy most horror fans. Anders Hove is great in his role as Radu, very over the top. The video also inclues Full Moon's Videozone which is a behind the scenes look into the making of the film. This movie was filmed back to back with Subspecies III so be sure to see both movies as they are like one continuious movie when watched together.

If you're looking for Bloodstone: Subspecies 2, this ain't it.

This second installment in the Subspecies series is a much better story than the first. At least it has more originality. The premise is Michelle, the woman the brothers Stefan and Radu did battle over in the first movie, is desperately trying to enlist the aid of her sister to flee the monstrous Radu who considers her his "fledgling". She also is fighting to keep the bloodstone, a mysterious stone that bleeds the blood of the saints, which can allow a vampire to live without feeding on humans. Yes, the worn out dialog continues with this movie but the improved story line keeps the viewer hanging in there. At the end we see what appears to be the demise of Radu . . . but everybody knows vampires have a nasty habit of coming back for a sequel. It still has a comic-book quality to it but with a decent vampire tale to go with it. As with the first movie, "Subspecies" I'd recommend this for diehard fans only.

THIS IZ A GOOD MOVIE. IF U LOVE VAMPIRE MOVIES. WELL THIS IZ FOR YOU.

This is a great vampire movie for horror fans. You will truly enjoy it. If you like the other "Subspecies" movies, then you should definitely watch this one.

First of all, if you haven't seen the first of the Subspecies movies, this review mentions things that happened in it, so go rent it first and then come back for more.

At the end of Subspecies, we left Radu impaled and decapitated by his brother Stefan and Stefan's love, Michele. Stefan bit Michele so that she could be with him forever, and retired to his casket clutching the Bloodstone.

Bloodstone:Subspecies 2 picks up exactly where the first movie left off, with Radu's headless body lying upon the cold stone floor of the castle. But Stefan missed Radu's subspecies, the little gargoyle type creatures of Radu's creation. The subspecies push Radu's head back onto his shoulders, where it knits back into place, and pull the stake out of his chest.

Welcome back, Radu! The first thing Radu does is kill Stefan as he sleeps in his coffin, then moves to kill Michele also. But the sunlight comes in and chases Radu away, not just from Michele but from the Bloodstone still clutched in Stefan's hands.

Michele awakes, and grabbing the Bloodstone, leaves the castle and heads out to Bucharest. She calls her sister Becky, who immediately jumps a plane to find out what's wrong. Michele knows what she is now, and desperately wants to be human again.

Radu follows Michele, and now we are introduced to Radu's "Mummy", a skeletal creature to whom he brings the blood of his father. Radu admits to his mother that he wishes to keep the girl Michele instead of kill her, and with mother's help and a lot of manipulation, they all return to Transylvania with Becky in tow.

This is a great sequel to the first Subspecies movie, and as I said before, Radu is the best vampire ever. Anders Hove does a great job acting, and Denise Duff takes over the role of Michele here in part 2, a role she continues with through the end of the series.

There is more biting, more drooling, more blood, more beautiful scenery; just as we saw in the first movie. In the ending, Michele must fight Radu for her sister's life, even knowing that it is too late to save her own.

Well, don't just sit there, go and watch it for yourself. This is vampire cheese at its tastiest peak, smelly and pungent and terrific with crackers. Enjoy!