Vampires Reborn: Subspecies IV: Bloodstorm

And a fine greetings to you all as we are back for Day 3 of Vampires Reborn. Hey, remember that Radu guy coming back from what appeared to be his final death? Well... he might just have been put back together yet again. Seriously, has no one learned to burn his body to ash and then scatter the ash to the four winds? Or dousing his ashes in holy water making a consecrated ash pie and tossing globs of Radu to the walls of the Vatican? Maybe keep the ashes in your impromptu Satanic knick knack shelf. Whatever the case of lack of forethought, the master has risen once again to torment Romania, claim his fledgling Michelle and cut a bloody swath through the lands. This is Bloodstorm: Subspecies IV

Bloody Robert Smith of the Cure stole my look.

Fleeing from the castle via Mercedes after bundling Michelle into a body bag our young heroes attempt another escape from this ancient evil only to it all in tears. The car has maybe made about 8 klicks from the castle (4.9 miles for the rest of of the American civvies) before crashing into a tree killing Mel, Rebecca and the poor abducted girl from the village leaving Michelle still in the boot (Trunk for the yanks again) via body bag.

Good samaritan and doctor Ana Lazar (Ioana Abur of Sherlock, Hellraiser: Deader, Offset, Pu-239, Ghouls and Mirrors) finds the wreck and proceeds to investigate finding the occupants to be dead with the exception of Michelle and brings her to a nearby clinic ran by a colleague and mentor Dr. Niculescu (Mihai Dinvale of Return from Hell, Trancers 4: Jack of Swords, Dark Angel: The Ascent, Trancers 5: Sudden Deth and Vampire Journals). The good creeper er um doctor immediately recognizes Michelle as a child of the night and embarks on finding out about her sire. With an extremely burnt Radu attempting to heal up from the direct sunlight, our favorite sadist/dribbler and all around baddie has risen again, healed by his blood golems/gnomes/creatures that reside in him via magic as he looks for his fledgling, carrying with him the relic Bloodstone. Best to check in with a few of the kids he has made over the years... and by years I mean centuries.

Cold grave!! 

Leaving Castle Vladislav, Radu makes his way to Bucharest to lay claim to the holdings and wealth that his former fledglings Ash (Jonathon Morris of The Prisoner of Zenda, The Practice, Bread, The Fantasticks, Vampire Journals and Subspecies 4: Bloodstorm), a being of some centuries old and used to being the master of his town, getting his way and ruling his power base. Radu has now kicked in his door metaphorically and demands sanctuary.

Dr. Niculescu is also a vampire using his scientific knowledge to cure himself of vampirism but the blood thirst is still within him hoping that Michelle can lead him to the Bloodstone that might be the key to finishing his work. Ana still concerned where Niculescu's intentions lie, she checks in on Michelle as Radu has figured where his "child" has gone off to due to their psychic connection.

Will Niculescu be able to fend Radu off? Can the Bloodstone be the cure all it appears to be? Will Michelle ever be free of Radu??

My only real complaint to this film is the interlinking of Vampire Journals and Subspecies 4 given a continuity error. Ash had claimed the Sword of Laertes from Zachary via Vampire Journals when after capture he dispatched Ash and got the blade back...so Ash has his unlife holding the blade and Radu lays claim to it. Very minor nitpick because it actually blends well the rest of the series.

Kevin Spirtas and Melanie Shatner were both unavailable to come back for this sequel as this was continued 6 years later but again director Ted Nicolaou pulled it off.

Sloppy eater?  What do you mean?

Vampires Reborn: Bloodlust: Subspecies III

Welcome back for Day 2 of Vampires Reborn and I feel a sequel is on the rise. No, not psychic but I did see the write-up idea jotted down so I have an in. Today's feature plays catch up with the thrilling vampiric adventure of yesterday so I know of what I speak and what I speak is more dribbling of spittle and blood as Radu makes his repugnant way back to the screen. This can only mean one thing...that he is a bit miffed. This is Bloodlust: Subspecies III.

Good luck not getting catacomb lice like me!  Sleep tight!

Following right after the events of Michelle's (Denise Duff) betrayal of stabbing Radu (Anders Hove) in the face with the enchanted dagger that slew his father, Mummy (Pamela Gordon) takes Michelle's blood for a spell and pulls the dagger out of Radu, bringing him back to life or undeath...whatever. Rebbecca (Melanie Shatner) escapes this horrific adventure narrowly with the thanks of the now late Professor Popescu (Michael Denish of Bloodstone: Subspecies II, Bloodlust: Subspecies III, Vampire Journals and Subspecies 4: Bloodstorm) allowing her to run off and find American Consulate Mel (Kevin Spirtas) and Lt. Marin (Ion Haiduc) in figuring out their next move.

Mummy not so Dearest and Radu cast a spell of teleportation taking them out of the catacombs and back to Castle Vladislav and rest for the day. Back with Mel and Marin, Rebecca's story sounds like the rantings of a lunatic as they try to calm her down and take in what she is saying. Pleading to Mel to help her break into the castle and explaining that Radu is a true monster.

I think I have someone in my teeth.

Much to his disagreement, Mel contacts his buddy from the CIA, Bob (Michael Della Femina of Mandroid, The City, Italian Movie and City by the Sea) who is a muscle-bound, rock climbing gun nut. After a few days of planning and weapons gathering from the late professor's office, our fledgling heroes muster courage to face Radu and Mummy. Mummy does not care for Michelle nor Radu's affection for her. She warns Radu that Michelle will be his death.

Under the cover of day waning into dusk, Bob arms everyone including Marin who reluctantly joins the group to save Michelle.

Inside the castle, Radu and Michelle begin the roles of Master and apprentice as he unveils the powers and abilities of the vampire, including the feeding.

Will Mel, Rebbecca and Bob arrive in time to save Michelle? Will Radu bend her to his will? Is Mummy a Lich or a Mummy?

Shot back-to-back Bloodstone: Subspecies II but for some reason the extended film was broken up into two films as it will balance the costs. Full Moon Entertainment has producers on board and some that would jump ship so cutting down on x amount of time per movie became an issue with The Puppet Master 4 and 5 so logically the same happened with Subspecies II and III. Each pair was one long film cut into two films adding a few additional scenes for each latter sequel as well as 2 minutes of the prior film to give continuity.

Think Becky, what would Buffy do?

Vampires Reborn: Subspecies II: Bloodstone

Welcome to Vampires Reborn and I hope we have some fun this week. The tempatures are not very seasonal and constantly changing so that is a teensy bit baffling. That being said we make our way back to the ambicious duo Charles Band of Full Moon Pictures and Ted Nicolau where the series that brought them the most notation is underway and all we have to do is find out what is what. This is Bloodstone: Subspecies II

TURN DOWN THE FLOOD LAMPS!!!!

Picking up right where the original left off Radu (Anders Hove of Subspecies, Critters 4, The Silencer, Family Passions, Bloodstone: Subspecies II, Cagney & Lacey: The Return and Dark Horse) was staked and beheaded and one would normally come to the conclusion job well done (Personally, I would have burned the body and buried the head 60 some miles away from each other but that is just me) but his blood spawned stop motion creations manage to draw the carved oak stake from his chest while his head becomes fused with his spinal column once again. Yup, douse them in holy water, then kerosene and flame on! Arising from the final death nearing dawn, Radu stakes his brother Stefan and prepares to claim Stefan's lover Michelle (Now, Denise Duff of Martial Law II: Undercover, Silk Stalkings, Frogtown II, Dark Vengeance, The Silencing and Song of the Vampire) for his own but the sun rises in time and Michelle is safe for now. As she has been recently turned she was given the relic, the bloodstone for safe keeping. The stone that drips the blood of the saints and more than a drop or two is empowering.

Michelle rises to the night before Radu, flees the castle and hightails it back to the fort with relic in hand. In spite of Radu having to drag his carcass all the way upstairs from the dungeons, he checks on the clearly done for Stefan and cannot find the bloodstone. Michelle makes her way to Bucharest, checks into a hotel and calls directly home reaching her sister Rebecca (Melanie Shatner of Star Trek, Knots Landing, The First Power, The Alien Within, TekWar and Mercy Point) trying to explain the power Radu has over her and how she is changed. Rebecca trying to track Michelle down, must rely on both Lt. Marin (Ion Haiduc of Bloodlust: Subspecies III, Amen, Mimic: Sentinel, My Name Is Modesty: A Modesty Blaise Adventure and Vineri seara) and American Consulate Mel (Kevin Spirtas of The Hills Have Eyes Part II, Friday the 13^th Part VII: The New Blood, Valley of the Dolls, Voyeur II, Apt Pupil and Daredevil) to guide her around this ancient city and shed some light on what could have possibly happened to Michelle.

Yes, I am cliche wise professor of these vampire movies.

Radu in hot pursuit of Michelle, stops in to say hi to his "mummy" an ancient necromancer almost lich like creature hell bent on using the bloodstone herself and delights at the news of both the Vampire King and Stefan's death but is most vexed with Radu for not producing the bloodstone.

Will Rebecca reach Michelle in time while she still holds her humanity? Will Radu slay the countryside? Could Mummy be any more creepy?

It is unclear why Laura Mae Tate did not want to reprise her role as Michelle but honestly Denise Duff really brought life to that role as she was terrified, conflicted and experiencing changes of mind and body, you felt her fear. Hoves as Radu is slightly sadistic, alone because of his appearance being almost Nosferatu's Orlok and you almost feel sorry for him.

The atmosphere is eerie, the musical score chills you to the bone and the performances are pretty sound for a "B" movie. Bloodlust was intended to be all one movie but production was done up similar to Puppet Master 4 and 5 diced and added additional scenes, filmed back to back.

BEHOLD!! THE MAGUFFIN!!!!

Vampires Reborn

Well the holiday of Christmas will be rearing its head as Black Friday probably already had a kill and maim count and yes I did not go out for that VERY REASON. Festive films a plenty for the season. Some of these films are heartwarming, others are campy but sweet and then some are Made for TV movies with so much tripe cliches you will feel as though you have seen this film 20 to 30 times at length.

Can't imagine why Jake doesn't want to review flicks like mine.

So rather than breaking into some Frank Capra, I am reminded of one Vampire franchise that I have been neglecting for some time and that is the Subspecies series. Yes, you may have many a question is to why I would choose the holly jolly Christmas time to speak of abominations of nature that feed on the living in order to continue existing... Well corporation Christmas spending and such themes make it hard to enjoy Christmas at the fullest so we will just have to press on and do our level best to get the gifts, make the gifts and give thanks to those in our life that matter deeply to us and not worry about getting a TV really cheap at the expense of others' lives. Yeah Black Friday, I am not a fan.

I am touching base on this particular series for about 3 reasons. One, really do not want to read more comments on the Christmas themed Horror films and how could I watch that and so on. Two, really am a wee bit tired of clay motion jolly films I have seen to death so I want cut down on that for reviews and three, my brain is so lagged from different projects I simply could not come up with a thing for the week at all. I could have bugged all of you readers for input but you may or may not get back to me ASAP so this is what we got.

You all knew I would return...for the holidays!

Seasons Continue: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Hey folks, thought I should give a follow-up for Day 3 so consider this a Day 4 of Seasons Continue. The world was nearly taken over by alien forces and a handful of powered beings and talented normals fended them off. The Avengers, a pet project of SHIELD handled things but what keeps away the next threat? Are they expected to continue on the good fight without any support at all? Or did director Nick Fury think that maybe he should have a few mobile specialists at the ready? This is Agents of SHIELD.

Yes I know Thor and no I am not putting in a word for you.

With the events of New York almost toppled by an alien force called the Chitauri and super beings appearing, the world is scared. So scared that a cadre of agents are at the ready to stop devices of unknown origin, potential terrorist threats or high tech affliations from waging wars across the planet. With a network of agents, techs and hiarchy, SHIELD is on the case. Given multiple sanctions to operate in different countries, one team is out there dealing with the impossible or unexplained. Back from the literal dead, Special Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg of One Hour Photo, We Were Soldiers, The West Wing, Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor, The Avengers, Lego Marvel Super Heroes, Ultimate Spider-Man and Agents of SHIELD) after Loki put his bladed septre through his heart is somehow been saved within time but was deemed classified intel so even the Avengers are unaware of his resurrection.

Putting together a team to help he needs specialist Grant Ward (Brett Dalton of Blue Bloods, Army Wives, Killing Lincoln, Until Dawn and The Resurrection of Gavin Stone) ace pilot and former specialist Melinda May (Ming-Na Wen of Mulan, Spawn: The Animated Series, ER, The Batman, Vanished, SGU Stargate Universe, Two and a Half Men and Eureka) to fly the "Bus", a retro-fitted communications/recon plane, an engineer and tech guru weapons designer Leo Fitz (Iain De Caestecker of Coronation Street, Lip Service, The Fades, Up There and Assassin's Creed III) and a biochemist/MD genius Jemma Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge of Hollyoaks, Shelter, The Thompsons, Reach Me and The Wolves at the Door).

Welcome to Hogwarts!

Intercepting a hack that made its way through SHIELD's most classified intel a rightous hacker demands that SHIELD comes clean with all the info they have hidden from the world. Considering some of the more dangerous artifacts and super powered beings they have encountered, Coulson steps up and talks with this hacker. Our brillant keyboard jockey Skye (Chloe Bennet of Intercept, Nashville, Jake and the Never Land Pirates and Agents of SHIELD) is offered a choice: to either get on board with SHIELD and do the same good works or look at the Federal statues she has been building as a hacker. Can this slap dash team do good in the field? Are they ready to handle what life throws at them? Can they even begin to imagine the possiblities?

With Joss Whedon's production company Mutant Enemy (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly and the Dollhouse) he and his brother Jed lead a team of no less than 11 writers cranking out a full 22 episodes for this season, bringing familiar faces of Marvel into the small screen and introducing a whole new fan base into the Whedonverse. Successfully directing a few of the episodes between both the first and second Avengers movie, they have tried to balance small screen with big screen and creating a coherent universe between the two. So if you love comics, spy shows and a little bit of action with decent story arcs then step up and join SHIELD. 

So your the heartthrob, right?

Seasons Continue: Arrow Season 2

Welcome back to Day 3 of Seasons Continue. Hope everyone got stuffed full of bird and are billious for it. Yeah I didn't feel like writing on Thanksgiving. Grumble at your leisure. With that in mind I thought we would catch up with DC comics favorite archer and see where we left off. After narrowly escaping a duel to the death with Malcolm Merlin (John Barrowman of Doctor Who, Desperate Housewives, Torchwood, Arrow and The Flash), thrashing the sesmic quake devices, the Glades via Starling City have collapsed, homes and lives destroyed and Queen's mother sent to prison. Can the city be saved?  This is Arrow Season 2.

This hood doesn't make me look silly, right?

Ollie (Stephen Amell of Hung, Private Practice, Heartland, Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, Injustice: Gods Among Us, Arrow and The Flash) has sought refuge back on the island for 5 months as Starling City starts to lick clean its wounds. Diggle (David Ramsey of Con Air, The Good News, All of Us, Dexter, Outlaw and Blue Bloods) and Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards of Soldiers of the Apocalypse, Romeo Killer: The Chris Porco Story, Arrow, Arrow: Blood Rush, Normal Doors, Vixen and The Flash) make their way to the island to warn Ollie that his company needs him as much as the city does and that what he did last year mattered to so many. His best friend Tommy died thinking he was a murderer and he cannot go back to that path.

He no longer has the list to operate on and must expand on his crime fighting status other than just attacking one percenters. Felicity upgrades the Archer's Den (My name, they went with Arrow Cave because that's original) with the latest tech,decryption devices and hacking software while Arrow is leaving wounded, alive men versus corpses. Laurel (Katie Cassidy of 7^th Heaven, Black Christmas, Spin, Supernatural, Harper's Island, Melrose Place, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Arrow The Wolves at the Door) lost Tommy and blames the vigilante for not being able to save him and thus organizes a task force to capture "The Hood" at all costs.

Tommy, can I have your suits when you die?

Meanwhile, gun toting designer impostors are using The Hood as a cover to lash out at the city officials that failed to protect them, FEMA medicine trucks are being hijacked and there seems to be a man or woman behind the shadows of the fate of Starling City. Little sister Thea (Willa Holland of The O.C., A Summer in Genoa, Legion, Straw Dogs, Tiger Eyes, Gossip Girl and Arrow) is managing Ollie's nightclub pretty damn well while her bartender/boyfriend Roy Harper (Colton Haynes of The Gates, Look, Teen Wolf, Arrow, Arrow: Blood Rush and Triumph) is throwing himself into danger, trying to do all the things his hero archer can without any of the training.

Ghosts of the past come to haunt the city of the present as Team Arrow has to unite and stop the oncoming dangers that lie ahead. Are they up for it? Can they give 110%? Will they fail the city?

This season we get some DC villain favorites like the Bronze Tiger (a terrifying bad ass martial artist that can go toe to toe with Batman) Deathstroke the Terminator, Ras Al Ghul and his League of Assassins and the creation of The Suicide Squad so it definitely did not lose the stride it built up for Season 1 but this crazy train just picked up a little more steam.

The cue card says stare off with knowing..WTF does that even mean??!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Hey folks,

Jake here via Rotten Reelz Reviews and just wanting to wish you all a happy turkey day.  I hope the tryptophan hasn't taken complete control of your bodies and allowed the little ones to run amok, cramming hot wheels tracks up your collective septum.

Guess who's getting stuffing??!!!

Got some things happening with the blog and podcast Rotten Ramblin' On.  Looks like we will get that microphone after all as my co-host decided to snag one.   We are demanding fans write into the gmail. rottenramblin'on@gmail.com or to the FB page: https://www.facebook.com/Rotten-Ramblin-On-1532285520395532/?ref=hl  

We are still attempting to get guest stars as well as the Skype program for interviewing them for audio recording as a whole.   Sorry if the technical errors have progressed to a level of SPACE MADNESS...but Shawn and I are not rolling in it financially and we have to make due from time to time.

I will gab with him on studio guests visiting and we will go from there.   Until then, enjoy your family time, your bird and a well overdue nap.