**_Transylvanian castles, torches, villages, superstitious locals and… vampires_** Three young women—Laura Tate, Michelle McBride, and Irina Movila—travel to Romania to explore the country’s culture and folklore. Circumstances lead them to stay at an old fortress because of a local festival, where they encounter a man studying creatures that come out at night (Michael Watson). However, a dangerous vampire is lurking in a nearby castle and becomes interested in the women (Anders Hove). “Subspecies” (1991) feels like a contemporary gothic horror film with echoes of “Dracula,” but featuring a different villain. It holds the distinction of being the first American movie filmed in Romania following the end of the Iron Curtain—a noteworthy detail, as Romania was the only Eastern European nation to oust its socialist government through violence. Released more than a year before “Bram Stoker’s Dracula,” this film offers a lower-budget version of similar vampire stories set in Transylvania. While Coppola's movie was filmed in Los Angeles studios, "Subspecies" utilized real ancient ruins, castles and forests within Romania. Ultimately, it delivers a strong gothic experience thanks to its authentic Carpathian setting. The atmosphere, festival scenes, and general feel are comparable to “Howling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf” (1985), which was filmed in Czechoslovakia—though without any of the humorous elements. This film takes itself seriously, and the unsettling vampire combines aspects of “Nosferatu” (1922/1979) with Marvel’s Morbius. Among the female cast, Irina Movila is memorable as Mara. The lead character, Laura Tate as Michelle, evokes comparisons to Nastassja Kinski, though not quite to the same degree. There are some tastefully done nude scenes, but nothing exploitative; just so you know. The stop-motion puppet effects look a bit old-fashioned and corny. Just accept it and move on. Over the following seven years, three sequels and one related film were produced. The movie has a running time of 1 hour, 24 minutes and was filmed entirely in Romania, including Bucharest. GRADE: B

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