Subspecies is a Romanian-American direct-to-video vampire horror film series produced by Full Moon Studios and Castel Film Studios. The series ran from 1991 to 1998, and followed the exploits of the undead Radu Vladislas, portrayed by Anders Hove, and his efforts to turn Michelle Morgan (Denice Duff) into his fledgling. A spin-off film, Vampire Journals, was released in 1997, which featured characters that would go on to appear in the final installment. Ted Nicolaou wrote and directed all five films, including the spin-off. The series was shot on location in Romania, utilizing stop-motion and rod puppet techniques to achieve the look the director wanted for the titular creatures. The films have received generally mixed reviews, with critics citing vampire clichés as a downfall, but generally commending the director's choice in filming in Romania, as well as the special effects. Films Subspecies (1991) Subspecies (1991) follows three college students, Mara, Michelle, and Lillian, as they begin a study on Romanian culture and superstition in the small town Prejmer. They are befriended by Stefan, a student studying nocturnal animals. It is revealed that the nearby Castle Vladislas has been caught in a power struggle between vampire brothers Stefan and Radu. Centuries prior, King Vladislas was seduced and cursed by a sorceress who eventually gave birth to Radu. After banishing Radu's mother, the king met a mortal woman. She gave birth to Stefan, who prefers to live in the open, and loathes his vampire heritage. To gain control over the Bloodstone, a relic that is said to drip the blood of the saints, Radu kills his father. In an effort to hurt his brother, Radu turns Mara and Lillian into vampires. Stefan, having fallen in love with Michelle, helps her try and free Mara and Lillian from Radu's control. Stefan drives a stake through Radu's heart and severs his head with a sword, killing Radu. Unfortunately for Stefan, Radu bites Michelle before his brother can kill him and mingles his blood with hers, which forces Stefan to turn Michelle with his own blood in order to keep her from becoming like Radu. As Stefan and Michelle sleep, Radu's minions set about resurrecting their master. Bloodstone: Subspecies 2 (1993) Bloodstone: Subspecies 2 (1993) picks up directly after the events of the first film, with Radu's minions, the Subspecies, reattaching Radu's head and removing the stake from his heart. Radu finds Stefan and Michelle sleeping,