Underworld: Evolution (2006)

 

**This review contains spoilers**

The Story- Selene (Kate Beckinsale) searches for answers with Michael (Scott Speedman), after Viktor’s death. Meanwhile, Markus Corvinus (Tony Curran), a vampire elder, and the first-ever vampire, awakens from his hibernation, assisted by Singe’s (Erwin Leder) blood. A determined and enraged Markus pursues Selene and Michael with plans to free his brother, William (Brian Steele), the first-ever and most powerful werewolf, from his centuries-old prison.

Andreas Tanis (Steven Mackintosh), a vampire and a historian, reluctantly helps Selene. Tanis warns Selene about the severity of William’s possible rampage, and Selene holds half of the key to William’s prison. Eventually, Markus corners Selene and Michael, but Alexander Corvinus (Derek Jacobi), the forefather of all vampires and Lycans, and Markus and William’s father, makes one last desperate attempt to tip the scales in Selene’s favor……

My Thoughts- Viktor was a liar, a false idol, and a ruthless leader, so who could possibly be worse? Enter Markus. Markus is completely nuts, more vicious, and he’s willing to kill anyone during his relentless mission to free William from his prison. 

But Markus’ evil mindset is rooted in pain. Yes, he’s delusional for believing he can control William, but William is his brother. On top of that, his father turned his back (“You are unwelcome in my presence!”) on him. A solid performance from Tony Curran, complete with cold stares, and Curran brings the believability for a violent and obsessive maniac. 

As bad as Markus is, you could say William is far worse. They did a good job of playing up the fact that William can’t control himself, the mindless and extremely dangerous werewolf, with an insatiable hunger for destruction. William himself, and anyone who’s been bitten by William, is incapable of reverting back to their human body. A good little caveat that adds another strong layer to William’s character. During the opening and towards the end, you’ll see why a bite from William has disastrous consequences. 

Derek Jacobi’s performance is mainly centered Alexander Corvinus’ prestigious aura and his strong presence. Jacobi confidently plays the wise and heavily flawed forefather. Yeah, it’s a selfish choice to allow William and Markus to wreak havoc, but the all-powerful forefather is conflicted, because he doesn’t want to murder his own sons. 

Steven Mackintosh’s Tanis is a real hoot. The disgraced historian, living a life of luxury and debauchery in exile, with lavish decor, women, and Lycan bodyguards? The jokes write themselves. Mackintosh is good for a few laughs, as the jumpy and shameless opportunist, who’s determined to survive by any means necessary, even if that includes trading UV ammunition designed to specifically kill vampires with Lucian. 

Selene gets a big power-up to fight Markus, drinking a dying Alexander Corvinus’ blood, still containing the last drops of his “legacy.” Nasty double back to back deaths for William and Markus. First, Michael rips William’s head off, and Selene finishes off Markus, with one hard blow, knocking Markus straight into spinning helicopter blades, ending Markus’ plans to start a new hybrid race. Cutting off half of Viktor’s head, and chopping Markus into pieces (with the big assist from the helicopter blades)? Selene always definitively finishes the job.

Michael’s miraculous recovery is my only gripe for the big finale. I understand the irony they were going for. Remember, in the previous film, Selene saved Michael from Viktor, when Viktor was close to murdering him. In Evolution, Selene was struggling against William and William’s group of infected werewolves, but Michael springs into action to save her. Still, the timing of Michael’s arrival was a little bit too convenient for me. 

Still, it’s a feel-good ending, packed with more than enough thrills. The simultaneous fights between, Markus, Selene, William, and Michael, Markus’ reaction to William’s death, and that enormous moment of relief between Selene and Michael, when they realize the madness is over for now. And of course there’s the cool moment, when Selene is finally able to safely stand in the sunlight after so many years. 

Director Len Wiseman gets carried away with the slow motion shots, and I’ve always wished they would’ve done more with Michael in this one. They made a big deal about Michael being a hybrid in the original, but in Evolution he’s more of an afterthought, or he’s just Selene’s trusty sidekick. But you also have to remember, we’re dealing with TWO hybrids in the sequel, because Singe’s blood, the blood of a Lycan, revived Markus.

Underworld: Evolution is a good and entertaining sequel. The dark and snowy atmosphere adds a nice aesthetic throughout the movie, a perfect fit for an Underworld film. Lots of fast-paced and hard-hitting action sequences (the fight between Markus, Selene, and Michael on the road, while Selene is driving the truck is my personal favorite), a handful of gnarly deaths, tons of bloody and gruesome violence, and there’s a refreshing spark for introducing new characters, including Andreas Tanis, Markus, William, and Alexander Corvinus. Evolution’s stylish gunplay, easily the best in the entire series, is terrific. Another strong final showdown to end the movie, and they delivered a satisfying conclusion (an emotional Selene standing in the sunlight is a great visual). 

The sequel picks up right after the conclusion of the events in the original. It’s an immediate and smooth transition, and there’s a highlight reel during the early stages, recapping all of the big events from Underworld (2003). The highlight package and the numerous flashbacks covers everything, so you don’t necessarily need to watch the first film to know what’s going on. 

A big upgrade in the villains department, featuring the terrible duo of Markus and William, two seemingly unstoppable forces. Markus is the only vampire throughout the movie, who has the ability to use a man-bat form, and the hulking white wolf form is exclusively for William. The forms for the first-ever vampire and the first-ever werewolf should feel special, and Markus and William should be the only ones, who are capable of using those forms. 

Underworld nails the rich lore for Markus, William, Alexander Corvinus, and the fine details in the sequel. I loved the snowy opening, starting off in 1202 A.D., with Viktor in full control during his reign, and you get to see a little bit more of Amelia. Viktor was NOT the original vampire. That title belongs to Markus. And there’s another bizarre twist, because a dying Viktor accepted Markus’ bite for immortality in exchange for Viktor’s army to stop and capture William!

There’s a lot of noticeable changes for the main characters, and Evolution ties up loose ends from the previous film. Now we know the exact reason why Viktor killed Selene’s family, and why he decided to spare and turn Selene. And Kraven got what he deserved for his treachery. 

It’s revealed Alexander Corvinus (using the alias Lorenz Macaro), in effort to contain the war between vampires and Lycans, leads and uses a top secret team/clean up crew to remove dead bodies. Corvinus’ team erases any and all forms of evidence, so you could point directly to him as the reason why humans don’t know about the existence of vampires and Lycans.

Selene is still a scrappy and confident ass-kicker, but they also put a lot of effort into humanizing her here. I had a lot of trouble buying into Selene and Michael’s relationship in the original. In Evolution, there’s a more concentrated approach to flesh out the bond between Michael and Selene. 

Michael was basically a puppy, who had to be protected by Selene, and led around by the hand from place to place in the original Underworld. Michael is more confident and fierce in Evolution, but he’s also struggling to accept his new life as a hybrid on the run. Michael almost goes into his full transformation during the scene at the tavern, and he’s about to attack one of the cops. But he sees his reflection in the mirror, realizes he’s becoming a monster, and snaps out of it. 

Enhanced powers for Selene, and Michael finds his footing as a hybrid. Michael and Selene will have bigger problems (Selene is now on the hook for killing TWO vampire elders), and more seemingly insurmountable challenges to deal with going forward. Two films in, and there’s still a good amount of momentum for another Underworld sequel. The follow-up sequel is a crucial film in any series. After Evolution, it’s clear there’s still a lot of gas in the tank for Selene’s new adventures.

Rating- 7/10

Underworld: Evolution (2006)(Minor Spoilers)

**This review contains MINOR spoilers**

The Story- Selene (Kate Beckinsale) searches for answers with Michael (Scott Speedman), after Viktor’s death. Meanwhile, Markus Corvinus (Tony Curran), a vampire elder, and the first-ever vampire, awakens from his hibernation, assisted by Singe’s (Erwin Leder) blood. A determined and enraged Markus pursues Selene and Michael with plans to free his brother, William (Brian Steele), the first-ever and most powerful Lycan, from his centuries-old prison.

Andreas Tanis (Steven Mackintosh), a vampire and a historian, reluctantly helps Selene. Tanis warns Selene about the severity of William’s possible rampage, and Selene holds half of the key to William’s prison. Eventually, Markus corners Selene and Michael, but Alexander Corvinus (Derek Jacobi), the forefather of all vampires and Lycans, and Markus and William’s father, makes one last desperate attempt to tip the scales in Selene’s favor……

My Thoughts- Viktor was a liar, a false idol, and a ruthless leader, so who could possibly be worse? Enter Markus. Markus is completely nuts, more vicious, and he’s willing to kill anyone during his relentless mission to free William from his prison. 

But Markus’ evil mindset is rooted in pain. Yes, he’s delusional for believing he can control William, but William is his brother. On top of that, his father turned his back (“You are unwelcome in my presence!”) on him. A solid performance from Tony Curran, complete with cold stares, and Curran brings the believability for a violent and obsessive maniac. 

As bad as Markus is, you could say William is far worse. They did a good job of playing up the fact that William can’t control himself, the mindless and extremely dangerous Lycan, with an insatiable hunger for destruction. William himself, and anyone who’s been bitten by William, is incapable of reverting back to their human body. A good little caveat that adds another strong layer to William’s character. During the opening and towards the end, you’ll see why a bite from William has disastrous consequences. 

Derek Jacobi’s performance is mainly centered Alexander Corvinus’ prestigious aura and his strong presence. Jacobi confidently plays the wise and heavily flawed forefather. Yeah, it’s a selfish choice to allow William and Markus to wreak havoc, but the all-powerful forefather is conflicted, because he doesn’t want to murder his own sons. 

Steven Mackintosh’s Tanis is a real hoot. The disgraced historian, living a life of luxury and debauchery in exile, with lavish decor, women, and Lycan bodyguards? The jokes write themselves. Mackintosh is good for a few laughs, as the jumpy and shameless opportunist, who’s determined to survive by any means necessary, even if that includes trading UV ammunition designed to specifically kill vampires with Lucian. 

Director Len Wiseman gets carried away with the slow motion shots, and I’ve always wished they would’ve done more with Michael in this one. They made a big deal about Michael being a hybrid in the original, but in Evolution he’s more of an afterthought, or he’s just Selene’s trusty sidekick. But you also have to remember, we’re dealing with TWO hybrids in the sequel, because Singe’s blood, the blood of a Lycan, revived Markus.

Underworld: Evolution is a good and entertaining sequel. The dark and snowy atmosphere adds a nice aesthetic throughout the movie, a perfect fit for an Underworld film. Lots of fast-paced and hard-hitting action sequences (the fight between Markus, Selene, and Michael on the road, while Selene is driving the truck is my personal favorite), a handful of gnarly deaths, tons of bloody and gruesome violence, and there’s a refreshing spark for introducing new characters, including Andreas Tanis, Markus, William, and Alexander Corvinus. Evolution’s stylish gunplay, easily the best in the entire series, is terrific. Another strong final showdown to end the movie, and they delivered a satisfying conclusion. 

The sequel picks up right after the conclusion of the events in the original. It’s an immediate and smooth transition, and there’s a highlight reel during the early stages, recapping all of the big events from Underworld (2003). The highlight package and the numerous flashbacks covers everything, so you don’t necessarily need to watch the first film to know what’s going on. 

A big upgrade in the villains department, featuring the terrible duo of Markus and William, two seemingly unstoppable forces. Markus is the only vampire throughout the movie, who has the ability to use a man-bat form, and the hulking white wolf form is exclusively for William. The forms for the first-ever vampire and the first-ever Lycan should feel special, and Markus and William should be the only ones, who are capable of using those forms. 

Underworld nails the rich lore for Markus, William, Alexander Corvinus, and the fine details in the sequel. I loved the snowy opening, starting off in 1202 A.D., with Viktor in full control during his reign, and you get to see a little bit more of Amelia. Viktor was NOT the original vampire. That title belongs to Markus. And there’s another bizarre twist, because a dying Viktor accepted Markus’ bite for immortality in exchange for Viktor’s army to stop and capture William!

There’s a lot of noticeable changes for the main characters, and Evolution ties up loose ends from the previous film. Now we know the exact reason why Viktor killed Selene’s family, and why he decided to spare and turn Selene. And Kraven got what he deserved for his treachery. 

It’s revealed Alexander Corvinus (using the alias Lorenz Macaro), in effort to contain the war between vampires and Lycans, leads and uses a top secret team/clean up crew to remove dead bodies. Corvinus’ team erases any and all forms of evidence, so you could point directly to him as the reason why humans don’t know about the existence of vampires and Lycans.

Selene is still a scrappy and confident ass-kicker, but they also put a lot of effort into humanizing her here. I had a lot of trouble buying into Selene and Michael’s relationship in the original. In Evolution, there’s a more concentrated approach to flesh out the bond between Michael and Selene. 

Michael was basically a puppy, who had to be protected by Selene, and led around by the hand from place to place in the original Underworld. Michael is more confident and fierce in Evolution, but he’s also struggling to accept his new life as a hybrid on the run. Michael almost goes into his full transformation during the scene at the tavern, and he’s about to attack one of the cops. But he sees his reflection in the mirror, realizes he’s becoming a monster, and snaps out of it. 

Enhanced powers for Selene, and Michael finds his footing as a hybrid. Michael and Selene will have bigger problems, and more seemingly insurmountable challenges to deal with going forward. Two films in, and there’s still a good amount of momentum for another Underworld sequel. The follow-up sequel is a crucial film in any series. After Evolution, it’s clear there’s still a lot of gas in the tank for Selene’s new adventures.

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