Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans (2009)(Minor Spoilers)

 

**This post contains MINOR spoilers**

The Story- Lucian (Michael Sheen), the first-ever Lycan, and the first werewolf born in human form, plans to lead a rebellion against the vampires and Viktor’s (Bill Nighy) coven. Lucian fiercely fights to free his fellow enslaved Lycans from Viktor’s clutches, and Viktor runs into an unexpected problem, when his daughter, Sonja (Rhona Mitra) gets involved. 

Sonja and Lucian’s secret and strictly forbidden relationship unravels, when a suspicious Viktor questions Sonja’s loyalty. Viktor sets a trap, but a resilient Lucian refuses to quit. Supported by Raze (Kevin Grevioux), the Lycan slaves, and other werewolves carrying William’s strain of the infection, Lucian eventually joins the all-out assault on Viktor’s coven.

My Thoughts- Rise Of The Lycans is cleverly constructed for first-timers, and fans of the Underworld series. If you’re new to Underworld, you can still get into it, without knowing everything about the original Underworld or Evolution, because it’s vampires vs werewolves! The Lycan slaves, rising up to fight back against their vampire overlords and oppressors, and Viktor, the mad tyrant, is a story that writes itself.

For fans of the Underworld films? You’ll get to see more fleshed-out versions of Lucian and Viktor’s characters, how the bond between Lucian and Raze started, and you’ll also know Viktor was never misunderstood, because Viktor, the vampire ruler, was always a maniacal asshole and a devious manipulator. Andreas Tanis (Steven Mackintosh)? I guess you could say you’ll see a more dignified and noble version of him, before he was exiled by Selene under Viktor’s orders. But a lot of the familiar character traits for Tanis are still there. You’ll see how the seeds were planted for Tanis’ partnership with Lucian, why Tanis prioritizes “survival,” and Tanis’ is serious about protecting his “precious scrolls.” 

They touched on the dangers of William’s infectious strain of werewolves, and his rampages. Werewolves with William’s strain of the infection are “mindless beasts,” who can’t revert back to their human forms, but it’s just enough to the point, where you know what’s going on, without feeling lost, or having the need to go back and watch Evolution. You can say the same thing about Lucian’s backstory and the explanation for being the first Lycan. It’s all here. Simple, informative, and just enough bits and pieces of information, easily tying everything together.

Sonja? She’s fierce, rebellious, and Sonja will defy Viktor, if her moral compass points her in that direction. Sonja clearly has no interest in Viktor’s vision for her future, because Sonja, in a variety of ways, constantly rejects the path Viktor puts in front of her. And Sonja falls in love with a Lycan! Sound familiar? It’s easy to see and pick up on the parallels between Selene and Sonja. You can also see why Selene reminded Viktor of Sonja, and why Viktor possibly believed he had a second chance at a good father/daughter relationship, because Selene and Sonja are basically carbon copies of each other. 

A lot of mixed feelings for the love story between Sonja and Lucian. The forbidden love storyline is packed with cliches. Sonja is vampire royalty, and the daughter of a powerful and overbearing father. She falls for Lucian, the lowly blacksmith, and of course, Viktor vehemently rejects their relationship. He’s disgusted at the thought of his precious daughter poisoning the bloodline with a filthy Lycan slave. Oh, and of course, Sonja wants to run away from the coven, abandoning a life of royalty, because she’s chasing the happily ever after ending with Lucian. 

But I’ll say this, Michael Sheen and Rhona Mitra share believable and good chemistry together. Sonja and Lucian are genuinely willing to take big risks to protect each other. Hell, they’re willing to die, if it comes to that. Lucian doesn’t have to be tough and scrappy around Sonja, he can be vulnerable. Sonja can just be her normal self, when she’s with Lucian, taking a break from being a hardened warrior, or living up to her father’s high standards, and the pressures that comes with the lifestyle of a future vampire elder. 

Rise Of The Lycans works as a solid and entertaining prequel. The movie still looks and feels like an Underworld movie, and they did a really good job of capturing the medieval era, with the set pieces, the dialogue, the wardrobes for the vampires, the Lycans, and the humans. 

As far as the acting goes, Michael Sheen’s fiery (“ARE YOU WITH ME!”) and emotional performance as Lucian is superb, and Sheen puts a lot of passion into Lucian’s rah-rah speeches. Bill Nighy doesn’t hold back as Viktor, a strong and dedicated performance, as the powerful vampire ruler. The scene, where the council votes on Sonja’s fate is a good one. Viktor has this conflicted wide-eyed expression on his face before he makes his decision. On one hand, you can sense a loving father, who still cares about his daughter, but Viktor’s ego and his pride wouldn’t allow him to do the right thing. Good scene.

Rhona Mitra holds her own well as Sonja, playing the privileged daughter, who’s torn between being loyal to her father and not wanting to abandon the love of her life. And hats off to Larry Rew for his performance. Kosta (Rew) is a sadistic bully, but Lucian makes sure he gets his comeuppance for the brutal and bloody whipping scene.

Rise Of The Lycans features some solid action sequences and one on one sword fights, including Sonja facing off against Viktor. Father vs daughter, in the rain, at night, AND Sonja reveals a big secret? Oh, the drama!

The home stretch delivers on all fronts. I absolutely loved the breakneck speed approach to the big final battle between the werewolves and vampires, because it’s supposed to be a chaotic and bloody mess. Also, Lucian chasing after Viktor for a final showdown delivers some nice thrills, complete with a brutal and gory final blow.

Rise Of The Lycans succeeds as an Underworld film, that shows the early stages of the war between the vampires and the Lycans. The feud between Viktor and Lucian really works as one of the pillars for the story, and you get a better understanding for why Lucian and Viktor hated each other so much. 

Lots of nuggets for Underworld and Evolution throughout the movie, including different characters, the dialogue, visuals, and certain items (e.g. Sonja’s necklace). You can see why Lucian valued Sonja’s necklace, why it means so much to him, and why it’s not just a necklace, that simultaneously works as half of the key to William’s prison.

Also, there’s something that’s almost impossible to ignore about Viktor, and his relationships with Sonja, Selene, and Lucian. The lies, the manipulation tactics, using his own daughter as bait for a trap, and knowing how his relationship with Sonja ended? There’s a pattern for all of it, that leads to two conclusions: Viktor was a shitty father, and a terrible father figure for Selene and Lucian.

Rating-7/10

Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans (2009)

 

**This review contains spoilers**

The Story- Lucian (Michael Sheen), the first-ever Lycan, and the first werewolf born in human form, plans to lead a rebellion against the vampires and Viktor’s (Bill Nighy) coven. Lucian fiercely fights to free his fellow enslaved Lycans from Viktor’s clutches, and Viktor runs into an unexpected problem, when his daughter, Sonja (Rhona Mitra) gets involved. 

Sonja and Lucian’s secret and strictly forbidden relationship unravels, when a suspicious Viktor questions Sonja’s loyalty. Viktor sets a trap, but a resilient Lucian refuses to quit. Supported by Raze (Kevin Grevioux), the Lycan slaves, and other werewolves carrying William’s strain of the infection, Lucian eventually joins the all-out assault on Viktor’s coven.

My Thoughts- Rise Of The Lycans is cleverly constructed for first-timers, and fans of the Underworld series. If you’re new to Underworld, you can still get into it, without knowing everything about the original Underworld or Evolution, because it’s vampires vs werewolves! The Lycan slaves, rising up to fight back against their vampire overlords and oppressors, and Viktor, the mad tyrant, is a story that writes itself.

For fans of the Underworld films? You’ll get to see more fleshed-out versions of Lucian and Viktor’s characters, how the bond between Lucian and Raze started, and you’ll also know Viktor was never misunderstood, because Viktor, the vampire ruler, was always a maniacal asshole and a devious manipulator. Andreas Tanis (Steven Mackintosh)? I guess you could say you’ll see a more dignified and noble version of him, before he was exiled by Selene under Viktor’s orders. But a lot of the familiar character traits for Tanis are still there. You’ll see how the seeds were planted for Tanis’ partnership with Lucian, why Tanis prioritizes “survival,” and Tanis’ is serious about protecting his “precious scrolls.” 

They touched on the dangers of William’s infectious strain of werewolves, and his rampages. Werewolves with William’s strain of the infection are “mindless beasts,” who can’t revert back to their human forms, but it’s just enough to the point, where you know what’s going on, without feeling lost, or having the need to go back and watch Evolution. You can say the same thing about Lucian’s backstory and the explanation for being the first Lycan. It’s all here. Simple, informative, and just enough bits and pieces of information, easily tying everything together.

Sonja? She’s fierce, rebellious, and Sonja will defy Viktor, if her moral compass points her in that direction. Sonja clearly has no interest in Viktor’s vision for her future, because Sonja, in a variety of ways, constantly rejects the path Viktor puts in front of her. And Sonja falls in love with a Lycan! Sound familiar? It’s easy to see and pick up on the parallels between Selene and Sonja. You can also see why Selene reminded Viktor of Sonja, and why Viktor possibly believed he had a second chance at a good father/daughter relationship, because Selene and Sonja are basically carbon copies of each other. 

A lot of mixed feelings for the love story between Sonja and Lucian. The forbidden love storyline is packed with cliches. Sonja is vampire royalty, and the daughter of a powerful and overbearing father. She falls for Lucian, the lowly blacksmith, and of course, Viktor vehemently rejects their relationship. He’s disgusted at the thought of his precious daughter poisoning the bloodline with a filthy Lycan slave. Oh, and of course, Sonja wants to run away from the coven, abandoning a life of royalty, because she’s chasing the happily ever after ending with Lucian. 

But I’ll say this, Michael Sheen and Rhona Mitra share believable and good chemistry together. Sonja and Lucian are genuinely willing to take big risks to protect each other. Hell, they’re willing to die, if it comes to that. Lucian doesn’t have to be tough and scrappy around Sonja, he can be vulnerable. Sonja can just be her normal self, when she’s with Lucian, taking a break from being a hardened warrior, or living up to her father’s high standards, and the pressures that comes with the lifestyle of a future vampire elder. 

Going back to the original Underworld film, Sonja’s death wasn’t a big surprise, because you know what happens, after Michael Corvin sees everything through flashbacks from Lucian’s memories. Still, Sonja’s execution checks off all of the necessary boxes. Lucian is completely losing it, because he realizes there’s nothing that he can do to save Sonja, but he does his best to comfort Sonja during her final moments. Lucian and Sonja saying their final goodbyes to each other, the roof slowly opening before the sunlight comes in, and Lucian’s reaction to Sonja’s charred corpse? Good stuff all around for the one big emotional and gut-wrenching scene here.

The movie ends with a shot of Selene perched on a balcony with a voiceover from Kraven, when he tells her the truth about Viktor murdering her family. Placing Selene’s only appearance in the movie, while Kraven exposes Viktor’s lies? It’s the right move. Short, ironic, and her sole appearance validates Selene’s decision to murder Viktor. And Selene needs to be here (Selene also narrates the opening) in some way, shape, or form, because Selene IS Underworld. ROTL also puts the spotlight on an important chapter during Viktor’s reign of terror, so you can see why Lucian was obsessed with his quest for vengeance, hybrids, and becoming a hybrid himself in the 2003 film.

Rise Of The Lycans works as a solid and entertaining prequel. The movie still looks and feels like an Underworld movie, and they did a really good job of capturing the medieval era, with the set pieces, the dialogue, the wardrobes for the vampires, the Lycans, and the humans. 

As far as the acting goes, Michael Sheen’s fiery (“ARE YOU WITH ME!”) and emotional performance as Lucian is superb, and Sheen puts a lot of passion into Lucian’s rah-rah speeches. Bill Nighy doesn’t hold back as Viktor, a strong and dedicated performance, as the powerful vampire ruler. The scene, where the council votes on Sonja’s fate is a good one. Viktor has this conflicted wide-eyed expression on his face before he makes his decision. On one hand, you can sense a loving father, who still cares about his daughter, but Viktor’s ego and his pride wouldn’t allow him to do the right thing. Good scene.

Rhona Mitra holds her own well as Sonja, playing the privileged daughter, who’s torn between being loyal to her father and not wanting to abandon the love of her life. And hats off to Larry Rew for his performance. Kosta (Rew) is a sadistic bully, but Lucian makes sure he gets his comeuppance for the brutal and bloody whipping scene.

Rise Of The Lycans features some solid action sequences and one on one sword fights, including Sonja facing off against Viktor. Father vs daughter, in the rain, at night, AND Sonja reveals she’s pregnant with Lucian’s child? Oh, the drama!

The home stretch delivers on all fronts. I absolutely loved the breakneck speed approach to the big final battle between the werewolves and vampires, because it’s supposed to be a chaotic and bloody mess. Also, Lucian chasing after Viktor for a final showdown delivers some nice thrills, complete with a brutal and gory final blow.

Rise Of The Lycans succeeds as an Underworld film, that shows the early stages of the war between the vampires and the Lycans. The feud between Viktor and Lucian really works as one of the pillars for the story, and you get a better understanding for why Lucian and Viktor hated each other so much. 

Lots of nuggets for Underworld and Evolution throughout the movie, including different characters, the dialogue, visuals, and certain items (e.g. Sonja’s necklace). You can see why Lucian valued Sonja’s necklace, why it means so much to him, and why it’s not just a necklace, that simultaneously works as half of the key to William’s prison.

Also, there’s something that’s almost impossible to ignore about Viktor, and his relationships with Sonja, Selene, and Lucian. The lies, the manipulation tactics, using his own daughter as bait for a trap, and knowing how his relationship with Sonja ended? There’s a pattern for all of it, that leads to two conclusions: Viktor was a shitty father, and a terrible father figure for Selene and Lucian.

Rating-7/10

Underworld (2003)(Minor Spoilers)

 

**This review contains MINOR spoilers**

The Story- Selene (Kate Beckinsale), a vampire and a Death Dealer, finds herself stuck in the middle of a troubling dilemma.  A loyal and dedicated soldier in the secret generational war between Lycans and vampires, Selene uncovers a plot orchestrated by Lucian (Michael Sheen), the determined leader of the Lycans. 

Michal Corvin (Scott Speedman), a seemingly ordinary human, is targeted by Lucian. Supported by a Lycan scientist named Singe (Erwin Leder), Raze (Kevin Grevioux), and other Lycans, Lucian relentlessly pursues Michael for his blood. Unbeknownst to Michael, he is a direct descendant of Alexander Corvinus, the forefather of vampires and Lycans.

Selene reaches out to her coven leader, Kraven (Shane Brolly) for help, but Kraven dismisses Selene’s suspicions. Desperate for answers and an ally, Selene secretly takes a bold risk, when she decides to perform a ritual, awakening Viktor (Bill Nighy), the true ruler of Selene’s coven and a vampire elder, who shares a strong bond with Selene.

My Thoughts- Selene is the fierce and fearless ass-kicker, who’s emotionally rough around the edges. But as the story progresses, Selene softens up, and you’ll see a more vulnerable character. She starts out as the rebellious and no-nonsense Death Dealer, who lives for hunting and killing Lycans, but you’ll see the turn towards Selene showing more humanity throughout the movie, during her scenes with Michael, and when Selene finds out Viktor is not the savior that she always believed he was. Terrific character development.

There’s no denying Kate Beckinsale owns Selene. Good facial expressions, she’s kindhearted, when it’s necessary, and she’s believable, as a rough and scrappy fighter, who won’t quit. When you think about Kate Beckinsale and her career, Underworld should be the top pick. Why? Because she’s always consistent with her performances as the vampire Death Dealer, and it’s another case, where I have hard time picturing anyone else playing Selene. 

Details! I’m always a big fan of details, and Underworld puts a lot of effort into creating their own brand of an action/horror film, featuring vampires and werewolves. Putting emphasis on  Lycans over werewolves is one step in the right direction. Glowing light blue eyes for the vampires, blood memories, UV ammunition is used against vampires, silver nitrate bullets for Lycans, and the Lycans don’t necessarily need a full moon to transform, because older and more experienced Lycans are capable of transforming at will!

To take things further, there’s a clear separation of classes between the vampires and Lycans. There’s more structure for the vampires to the point, where they’re represented as a tight secret organization. Covens, it’s established the elders, including Viktor, Amelia (Zita Gorog), and Markus, are all-powerful vampires, who are tasked with being leaders.

The vampires are also elitists. You can see it with how the vampires dress and how they carry themselves, giving off an aura of pretentiousness. Selene, being a Death Dealer, clearly doesn’t fit in. She’s a rebel and a grunt, so of course she’s on the receiving end of snooty looks from the other high society types in the coven. 

The Lycans? A pack of “wild dogs” fighting to survive against the vampires. The Lycans are portrayed as being more barbaric (underground Lycan fight clubs!) and crass. On top of that, Lycans were forced to work for and protect the vampires during daylight hours as slaves. 

Michael Sheen’s Lucian is a perfect fit to lead the Lycans. Yeah, he’s motivated by revenge against Viktor, but at the same time, Lucian is fiercely persistent about fighting and defeating the vampires, because he knows what it’s like to live a life of servitude without any dignity.

The werewolf transformations? I wouldn’t say they’re bad, but it’s not enough for a big reaction. There’s ONE werewolf transformation (e.g. Michael’s transformation in the back of the police car) that’s pretty good, but the vast majority of the transformations are pretty basic. 

Selene and Michael’s love story? Beckinsale and Scott Speedman share believable chemistry together. Selene and Michael are two outcasts, with their backs against the wall. They need each other to survive. I get that, but the setup for the love at first sight stuff in the subway just feels a bit forced.

The original Underworld is still a strange film for me. I’ve always believed it should’ve been at a higher level? The material is right there, but Underworld is strangely missing an extra spark. 

Looking at it now, Underworld feels dated. We’re talking about an early 2000’s film, so you can see the influences from The Matrix for the aesthetics, including the wardrobes, and the overall vibe and feel of the movie. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, but it’s definitely noticeable.

Underworld had the potential to be something bigger, but the overall end result is still more than satisfying. Solid and enjoyable performances from Kate Beckinsale, Michael Sheen, Scott Speedman, and Shane Brolly holds his own well enough as Kraven. But Bill Nighy takes the top spot for the best performance here. Nighy effortlessly brings an esteemed and strong demeanor, as the vampire elder, when Viktor enters the story, slowly shifting the momentum to the fifth gear.

Underworld also finds away to work every character with a significant amount of screen time into the story, ensuring each character has a meaningful role. Kevin Grevioux’s Raze fills the role of Lucian’s trusted muscle. Kraven is a whiny and entitled backstabbing weasel. Sophia Myles’ Erika sneaks around as a shameless opportunist, who gets burned in the end, and Erwin Leder plays Singe, the slimy Lycan scientist. Every character with a decent amount of spotlight directly affects the outcome of the story, especially Kahn, the weapon’s specialist, played by Robbie Gee.

Rewatching this one for the first time in years, and Kraven revealing his plans and his true intentions was still a bummer for me. Timing is the problem. They exposed Kraven’s backdoor shenanigans way too early, but there’s a big reveal that trumps Kraven’s double-cross, when Selene learns the truth about Viktor, and what happened to her family.

IF you’re going to give away a big reveal during the early stages of the movie, another swerve needs to hit at the right moment to justify that choice, and it’s truly a big shocker for a number of reasons. A nice swerve, and Beckinsale did a good job selling Selene’s heartbroken reaction.

Underworld starts off with a bang during the shootout at the subway, a good tone-setter for a movie that’s loaded with hard-hitting and fast-paced action sequences. Underworld features a good amount of bloody violence, and the ambush at the train station is appropriately brutal. Also, mixing sleek and gloomy visuals and cinematography works as another layer that helps Underworld establish its own unique identity.

It’s a movie that checks off all the boxes for a stylish popcorn action/horror flick, capped off by a strong finale, and Underworld’s story is loaded with depth. Underworld’s intricate and rich lore for the history behind the vampires, the Lycans, and the war, is simply amazing. The cliffhangers? Effectively building intrigue and anticipation for the next sequel, Underworld ends with a few big questions: What’s going to happen to Kraven? And what’s next for Selene and Michael? 

Rating- 7/10

Underworld (2003)

 

**This review contains spoilers**

The Story- Selene (Kate Beckinsale), a vampire and a Death Dealer, finds herself stuck in the middle of a troubling dilemma.  A loyal and dedicated soldier in the secret generational war between Lycans and vampires, Selene uncovers a plot orchestrated by Lucian (Michael Sheen), the determined leader of the Lycans. 

Michal Corvin (Scott Speedman), a seemingly ordinary human, is targeted by Lucian. Supported by a Lycan scientist named Singe (Erwin Leder), Raze (Kevin Grevioux), and other Lycans, Lucian relentlessly pursues Michael for his blood. Unbeknownst to Michael, he is a direct descendant of Alexander Corvinus, the forefather of vampires and Lycans.

Selene reaches out to her coven leader, Kraven (Shane Brolly) for help, but Kraven dismisses Selene’s suspicions. Desperate for answers and an ally, Selene secretly takes a bold risk, when she decides to perform a ritual, awakening Viktor (Bill Nighy), the true ruler of Selene’s coven and a vampire elder, who shares a strong bond with Selene.

My Thoughts- Selene is the fierce and fearless ass-kicker, who’s emotionally rough around the edges. But as the story progresses, Selene softens up, and you’ll see a more vulnerable character. She starts out as the rebellious and no-nonsense Death Dealer, who lives for hunting and killing Lycans, but you’ll see the turn towards Selene showing more humanity throughout the movie, during her scenes with Michael, and when Selene finds out Viktor is not the savior that she always believed he was. Terrific character development.

There’s no denying Kate Beckinsale owns Selene. Good facial expressions, she’s kindhearted, when it’s necessary, and she’s believable, as a rough and scrappy fighter, who won’t quit. When you think about Kate Beckinsale and her career, Underworld should be the top pick. Why? Because she’s always consistent with her performances as the vampire Death Dealer, and it’s another case, where I have hard time picturing anyone else playing Selene. 

Details! I’m always a big fan of details, and Underworld puts a lot of effort into creating their own brand of an action/horror film, featuring vampires and werewolves. Putting emphasis on  Lycans over werewolves is one step in the right direction. Glowing light blue eyes for the vampires, blood memories, UV ammunition is used against vampires, silver nitrate bullets for Lycans, and the Lycans don’t necessarily need a full moon to transform, because older and more experienced Lycans are capable of transforming at will!

To take things further, there’s a clear separation of classes between the vampires and Lycans. There’s more structure for the vampires to the point, where they’re represented as a tight secret organization. Covens, it’s established the elders, including Viktor, Amelia (Zita Gorog), and Markus, are all-powerful vampires, who are tasked with being leaders. 

The vampires are also elitists. You can see it with how the vampires dress and how they carry themselves, giving off an aura of pretentiousness. Selene, being a Death Dealer, clearly doesn’t fit in. She’s a rebel and a grunt, so of course she’s on the receiving end of snooty looks from the other high society types in the coven. 

The Lycans? A pack of “wild dogs” fighting to survive against the vampires. The Lycans are portrayed as being more barbaric (underground Lycan fight clubs!) and crass. On top of that, Lycans were forced to work for and protect the vampires during daylight hours as slaves. 

Michael Sheen’s Lucian is a perfect fit to lead the Lycans. Yeah, he’s motivated by revenge against Viktor, but at the same time, Lucian is fiercely persistent about fighting and defeating the vampires, because he knows what it’s like to live a life of servitude without any dignity.

The werewolf transformations? I wouldn’t say they’re bad, but it’s not enough for a big reaction. There’s ONE werewolf transformation (e.g. Michael’s transformation in the back of the police car) that’s pretty good, but the vast majority of the transformations are pretty basic. 

Viktor killed Selene’s family! A big reveal, when Kraven tells Selene the truth about Viktor. How does Selene respond? She kills Viktor to save Michael (now fully a hybrid). The setup for Viktor’s death was so good. Selene leaping in the air with the sword, Viktor, blades drawn, is ready to fight, but there’s a problem: Selene got a clean hit. The visual of a stunned Viktor standing there, while Selene shows the bloodstained sword, before half of Viktor’s head falls off? Easily the big chef’s kiss moment for the entire movie.

Lucian won in the end. Through flashbacks, it’s revealed Viktor was directly responsible for his own daughter’s death, because she was impregnated by Lucian. Lucian was forced to watch Sonja’s (Viktor’s daughter) agonizing execution. Viktor, believing he was protecting the bloodline from a forbidden “abomination,” justified Sonja’s punishment. Lucian planned to use Amelia and Michael’s blood to become a hybrid himself, but he was betrayed and killed by Kraven.

Still, Lucian got what he wanted. Viktor killed Sonja, the love of his life, to prevent the birth of a hybrid. But Michael turned into a hybrid from Selene’s life-saving bite. Selene, someone, who Viktor loved like his own daughter, fell in love with a werewolf. Add in the strange layer for Selene reminding Viktor of Sonja, and Viktor hoping he could have another chance to get it right for a father/daughter relationship, only for Selene to turn on him and kill him, because she eventually chose Michael over him. Man that’s gotta sting for Viktor. Lucian’s actions really set things in motion for one of the most brutal forms of revenge imaginable.

Selene and Michael’s love story? Beckinsale and Scott Speedman share believable chemistry together. Selene and Michael are two outcasts, with their backs against the wall. They need each other to survive. I get that, but the setup for the love at first sight stuff in the subway just feels a bit forced.

The original Underworld is still a strange film for me. I’ve always believed it should’ve been at a higher level? The material is right there, but Underworld is strangely missing an extra spark. 

Looking at it now, Underworld feels dated. We’re talking about an early 2000’s film, so you can see the influences from The Matrix for the aesthetics, including the wardrobes, and the overall vibe and feel of the movie. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, but it’s definitely noticeable.

Underworld had the potential to be something bigger, but the overall end result is still more than satisfying. Solid and enjoyable performances from Kate Beckinsale, Michael Sheen, Scott Speedman, and Shane Brolly holds his own well enough as Kraven. But Bill Nighy takes the top spot for the best performance here. Nighy effortlessly brings an esteemed and strong demeanor, as the vampire elder, when Viktor enters the story, slowly shifting the momentum to the fifth gear.

Underworld also finds away to work every character with a significant amount of screen time into the story, ensuring each character has a meaningful role. Kevin Grevioux’s Raze fills the role of Lucian’s trusted muscle. Kraven is a whiny and entitled backstabbing weasel. Sophia Myles’ Erika sneaks around as a shameless opportunist, who gets burned in the end, and Erwin Leder plays Singe, the slimy Lycan scientist. Every character with a decent amount of spotlight directly affects the outcome of the story, especially Kahn, the weapon’s specialist, played by Robbie Gee.

Rewatching this one for the first time in years, and Kraven revealing his plans and his true intentions was still a bummer for me. Timing is the problem. They exposed Kraven’s backdoor shenanigans way too early, but there’s a big reveal that trumps Kraven’s double-cross, when Selene learns the truth about Viktor, and what happened to her family. 

IF you’re going to give away a big reveal during the early stages of the movie, another swerve needs to hit at the right moment to justify that choice, and it’s truly a big shocker for a number of reasons. A nice swerve, and Beckinsale did a good job selling Selene’s heartbroken reaction.

Underworld starts off with a bang during the shootout at the subway, a good tone-setter for a movie that’s loaded with hard-hitting and fast-paced action sequences. Underworld features a good amount of bloody violence, and the ambush at the train station is appropriately brutal. Also, mixing sleek and gloomy visuals and cinematography works as another layer that helps Underworld establish its own unique identity.

It’s a movie that checks off all the boxes for a stylish popcorn action/horror flick, capped off by a strong finale, and Underworld’s story is loaded with depth. Underworld’s intricate and rich lore for the history behind the vampires, the Lycans, and the war, is simply amazing. The cliffhangers? Effectively building intrigue and anticipation for the next sequel, Underworld ends with a few big questions: What’s going to happen to Kraven? And what’s next for Selene and Michael? 

Rating- 7/10