Underworld: Blood Wars (2016)

 

**This review contains spoilers**

The Story- Selene (Kate Beckinsale), accompanied by David (Theo James), reluctantly accepts an invitation to the Eastern Coven from Alexia (Daisy Head). The legendary Death Dealer is hunted by Lycans and vampires. Marius (Tobias Menzies), the new leader of the Lycans, is obsessed with capturing Selene’s daughter, Eve for her pure hybrid blood. On the other side, the vampires “signed” Selene’s death warrant, seeking retribution for Viktor’s (Bill Nighy) death. 

At the Eastern Coven, a council member named Semira (Lara Pulver), supported by Thomas (Charles Dance), and Varga (Bradley James), the head trainer for the Death Dealers, asks for Selene’s help. Cassius (James Faulkner), the leader of the council for the Eastern Coven, doesn’t trust Selene, but he eventually accepts Thomas and Semira’s proposal for clemency, Selene agrees to train the Death Dealers to prepare for Marius’ impending invasion, but Semira has other plans.

Thomas urges Selene and David to go to the Nordic Coven in Var Dohr. Selene and David are welcomed by Lena (Clementine Nicholson), and Vidar (Peter Andersson), the elder of the Nordic Coven. Vidar reveals truths about David’s past, and the identity of his mother, and Selene learns about the Nordic Coven’s sacred ritual. 

A secret ally from the Eastern Coven helps Marius, as he prepares to launch his attack on the vampires. Meanwhile, dissension and power struggles threatens the vampire’s chances of survival. Can Selene save the Eastern Coven and defeat Marius?

My Thoughts- “Leave me alone!”

Three surprising words coming from Selene, when she’s cornered and restrained by a group of Lycans. We’re talking about the fierce and scrappy Death Dealer, who never backs down from a fight, but things are different in Blood Wars. Michael is still missing. Selene’s own daughter wants nothing to do with her. Eve is the sole reason why Marius wants to capture Selene, and Selene unfortunately finds out about the crippling effects from Nightshade poisoning. On top of that, the vampires won’t be satisfied until they have Selene’s head on a silver platter. Selene is justifiably burnt out on the war. She’s clearly depressed, and it’s safe to say Selene is way past her breaking point here.

Selene loses the fire that’s necessary to fight, and towards the end, she loses the will to live. Her daughter disappears, death, betrayal, and carrying the burden of being an outcast amongst her own people. Selene goes through a lot in Blood Wars, one big road block after another. Kate Beckinsale delivers another solid and resilient  performance, showing more emotions for a character, who’s understandably struggling and broken. 

Lara Pulver nails Semira. Before Semira reveals her plans for Selene, it’s obvious something is off about her. She’s phony, devious, and Semira is obsessed with power. Semira is also a sensual character, using seduction as a manipulation tactic, a strategy that comes with mixed results. She’s not conflicted about what she’s doing. Semira fiercely and coldly goes after what she wants, with an arrogant smile on her face, and Pulver is an excellent addition to the cast.

Marius is coming! Blood Wars puts a lot of effort into building up Marius’ mystique. He is the greatest threat to the vampire race’s existence, because “there’s never been a Marius.” That’s what they want you to believe, but there’s still something off about Marius. 

No complaints about Tobias Menzies’ performance, and I understand Marius is supposed to be a disciplined, ruthless, and focused tactician. He demands civility from his fellow Lycans, ruling with a strong iron fist, but going by Blood Wars’ standards, Marius is supposed to be the be-all and end-all for Lycan/werewolf villains and leaders. That’s how Marius is presented, but if we’re comparing Marius to Lycan/werewolf adversaries from the past, can we really say he’s more imposing or frightening than Lucian, Raze, William, Dr. Jacob Lane, or Quint? I can’t answer that question with a resounding yes, so that’s a big problem. 

Blood Wars hits the home stretch, and there’s a lot to talk about. David finds out Amelia is his mother. David has pure blood heritage, AND he’s the rightful heir to the Eastern Coven! A cool moment, when David comes to his senses and accepts his place in the vampire hierarchy, taking a special sword crafted by Thomas, infused with silver, and David charges into the battle at Var Dohr. 

Selene’s death after Marius (with some help from Alexia) kills her? Eh, I understand what they were going for. Selene hit rock bottom. She’s exhausted for a number of reasons, but I didn’t buy it for one second. 

When Lena explained the journey to The Sacred World (aka Valissa), while she performed the Nordic Coven’s ritual on someone else, you knew what was coming at some point. Lena performs the ritual on Selene, a resurrected Selene gets another big boost for her powers, she’ll make a “perfect timing” return during the big final battle to even the odds against the Lycans, and that’s exactly what happens. Visually, it’s a few tweaks for Selene’s look, with the white Nordic coat, and the blonde streaks in her hair. Selene’s new power-up also includes super speed! 

Sensible one on one pairings during the final battle at the Eastern Coven, because it’s Selene vs Marius and David vs Semira. David gets his revenge for Semira murdering Thomas. Kind of a funny moment, when David rams his sword through the back of Semira’s head, because Semira was basking in the glory of being able to stand in the sunlight, without burning to death, after stealing Selene’s blood.

Personally, I was hoping Selene would square off against Semira, because they’re both connected to Viktor for another big story. Semira wanted to break and kill Selene, and she nearly succeeded. Semira is still bitter and holding a grudge against Selene. In the past, Semira was Viktor’s regent, but when Selene arrived, Semira was tossed aside by Viktor in favor of Selene. She was sent to Var Dohr, where she, in her own words, was forced to live with a bunch of  “peace-loving cowards.”

But I guess you could say Selene vs Marius needed to happen. They teased the fight throughout the movie, the two strongest characters going up against each other. To add to that, it’s revealed that Marius bled Michael Corvin dry, killed him, and Marius continuously injected himself with Michael’s blood to increase his strength. So in the end, Selene had her own valid reasons for wanting revenge.

A good ending to the fight between Marius and Selene, when Selene bites herself to use her blood memories of Michael and Eve for the emotional kick that she needs to kill Marius. And there’s a good gory visual, when Selene rips out Marius’ spine. 

But there’s something I don’t understand about Marius using Michael’s blood. Marius is obsessed with finding Eve, because her hybrid blood could end the war….but he already had Michael’s blood, and Michael is a hybrid? Is Eve’s status as a “pure blood” hybrid the big difference? They never made an attempt to explain the details for tipping the scales in Marius’ favor, if pure hybrid blood is a game changer for his plans. And that’s how you close Michael Corvin’s chapter? Killing him off in blood memory flashbacks with a different actor? Come on man.

I didn’t understand the point behind the secret romance between Alexia and Marius, with Alexia being the traitor and Marius’ inside woman, because Alexia believes Semira is too power- hungry and dangerous. Well, Alexia is right about that. Semira is a slimy sociopath, but Marius really didn’t need her help. He manhandled Selene before Alexia stabbed Selene in the back with her sword, and Marius had a huge army of Lycans at his disposal. 

I kind of get the feeling they just wanted to shoehorn another forbidden love story between a vampire and a Lycan into the movie. But Alexia sneaking around with Marius falls short, if we’re comparing their relationship to Selene and Michael, or Lucian and Sonja. Marius and Alexia’s transactional romance feels forced, and there’s way too many moving parts in the story, so they didn’t have enough time to focus on Marius and Alexia’s shenanigans. 

Still, Blood Wars ends with a solid finale. A big full circle moment of redemption for Selene, when Selene, David, and Lena are all chosen as the new elders. And to close out the movie, Selene reunites with Eve (played by a stand-in) at Var Dohr. Imagine that, the pariah and the disgraced Death Dealer is now an elder. A surprising storybook ending that works on so many levels, because Selene deserved all of it. 

Also, if we’re talking about full circle moments, it’s hard to forget about Thomas fighting to the death against Semira and Varga. In Awakening, Thomas was disgusted by Selene. He willingly gave Eve to the Lycans as a gift. But Thomas, with David’s help, freed Selene, and he basically sacrificed himself, giving David a window to escape with an incapacitated Selene.

Underworld had a consistent streak for maintaining continuity, so what happened here? Going back to Underworld: Awakening, the existence of vampires and Lycans was exposed. The humans launched a purge or a cleansing, targeting both species. Vampires were living underground, and Lycans were supposedly on the brink of extinction. 

Selene tore through Antigen in Awakening. She killed A LOT  of Lycans, so why do the Lycans have a base of operations that’s located out in the open at a railway yard? Why are the vampires at the Eastern Coven living an unbothered life of luxury, complete with fancy parties? Yes, the Eastern Coven is supposed to be a fortress. I get it, but important plot points from Awakening are completely ignored, and there’s no dancing around it. 

Eve hates Selene now? Selene and Eve had a bad falling out. That’s obvious, but it’s a really weird shift after Eve and Selene had a strong bonding experience in Awakening, complete with both characters holding hands during the closing moments. 

The vampires want justice for Viktor’s death. Okay, but what about Markus? Selene murdered Markus in Evolution, but they never mentioned his name here. Selene killing TWO vampire elders is supposed to be a big deal, so essentially erasing Markus was kind of a weird choice. 

Five films in, and William still takes the top spot for the best wolf form/design for final boss werewolves. Marius transformation? He’s big, towering over Selene, and Marius retains some of his human features in his werewolf form. Yes, it’s another big change for the main villain, but this one didn’t do anything for me. It’s another form that heavily relies on special effects, and when you see the close-up shots, it just looks really bad.

A pair of women are apart of Marius’ clan. One woman clearly works on the armory and all the tech stuff, but she only has a few lines of forgettable dialogue. Maybe it’s just me, but I wish they would’ve done more with their characters. Make a bigger deal out of women joining the ranks of Lycans, because it’s almost to the point, where they’re just background extras, and it’s easy to forget about them (their characters also don’t have names), as the story progresses. 

The decision to go with two villains has its setbacks. Occasionally, Blood Wars feels like two movies in one. Marius and Semira’s stories could’ve stood on their own for two separate films, because there’s more than enough material for their characters. Both outcomes for the final battle at the Eastern Coven fixes some of the problems, but Blood Wars teeters on the edge for a story that’s too much of a jumbled mess. 

Switching to some positives for Blood Wars, I’ve always been a big fan of Var Dohr, and everything about the Nordic Coven. Underworld digs into its rich lore to introduce a vampire coven that’s noticeably different. The Eastern Coven is a lavish coven, full of egos, petty in-fighting, and everything is darker, including the decor and the wardrobes. 

The Nordic Coven? White is the color of choice. It’s not so much a representation of good vs evil, or light vs the darkness.  White fits perfectly with the Nordic Coven, because it’s a peaceful coven, where all the vampires work together as a unit. Vidar is a calmer and more enlightened leader, and you’ll see similar character traits in Lena. The Nordic Coven, isolated deep in a frigid location, works as a refreshing setting for Underworld. There’s something oddly cozy about Var Dohr and the Nordic Coven’s ancient and rustic style, a quiet castle forgotten by time, filled with vampires, who are ready to fight, when the situation calls for it. 

Blood Wars has its problems. A useless and unnecessary secret relationship between a vampire and a Lycan, the story has a fair amount of holes, and the conclusion for Michael Corvin is too weak and disappointing. 

There’s more absurdity in Blood Wars. One moment that’s hard to forget about happens during the final battle. Marius and David, eyes locked, are slowly walking towards each other, they’re shooting nonstop, and every bullet hits. It gets better, because they push the bullets out of themselves, with big growling roars. I know it’s not the reaction they were going for, but I couldn’t stop laughing. 

Blood Wars mostly redeems itself with a satisfying conclusion. Lara Pulver, James Faulkner, Clementine Nicholson, and Peter Andersson are all good additions to the cast. And Varga has a punchable face, so a big thumbs up for Bradley James’ performance, as Semira’s smarmy and pompous lackey. Blood Wars also introduces something new for the Death Dealers. The rookie Death Dealers have a hi-tech training facility, equipped with moving holograms of werewolves for target practice!

The fight scenes and the action sequences are hit-and-miss. Overall, Blood Wars lacks the previously established electric pulse, and the spark for fast-paced and stylish action scenes. Still, I can pick out a few good ones, including the one on one fights with Marius and Selene, and David vs Semira. The battle at Var Dohr is another good choice. It’s Lycans and their machine guns going up against the Nordic vampire’s shields, swords, and crossbows, a bizarre battle, but it works.

We’re inching towards ten years since Blood Wars was released. Is this it for Underworld? The final adventure for Selene? Blood Wars wasn’t set up, or presented as the grand finale for Underworld, but you won’t see any cliffhangers here, and they closed a lot of open loops. David establishes himself as a stronger and more confident character. The identity of David’s mother is revealed. Selene hits another higher level of power, and Selene gets the big reunion she was looking for, after surviving one tough hurdle after another. And Blood Wars ends with the selection of THREE new vampire elders!

Blood Wars is a flawed film. You could say it’s the weakest entry in the series, but Selene’s story finally comes full circle. She gets the big happy ending after enduring a hellish series of events, and there’s a sense of relief for Selene during the final moments of the movie. It’s a mostly complete ending, if Blood Wars is the final chapter in Selene’s journey. Blood Wars actually gives fans closure, even if things weren’t intended to go that way. In the end, if Blood Wars winds up being the last stop for Selene, you can safely say she was more than ready to finally ride off into the sunset. 

Rating- 5/10

Underworld: Blood Wars (2016)(Minor Spoilers)

 

**This post contains MINOR spoilers**

The Story- Selene (Kate Beckinsale), accompanied by David (Theo James), reluctantly accepts an invitation to the Eastern Coven from Alexia (Daisy Head). The legendary Death Dealer is hunted by Lycans and vampires. Marius (Tobias Menzies), the new leader of the Lycans, is obsessed with capturing Selene’s daughter, Eve for her pure hybrid blood. On the other side, the vampires “signed” Selene’s death warrant, seeking retribution for Viktor’s (Bill Nighy) death. 

At the Eastern Coven, a council member named Semira (Lara Pulver), supported by Thomas (Charles Dance), and Varga (Bradley James), the head trainer for the Death Dealers, asks for Selene’s help. Cassius (James Faulkner), the leader of the council for the Eastern Coven, doesn’t trust Selene, but he eventually accepts Thomas and Semira’s proposal for clemency, Selene agrees to train the Death Dealers to prepare for Marius’ impending invasion, but Semira has other plans.

Thomas urges Selene and David to go to the Nordic Coven in Var Dohr. Selene and David are welcomed by Lena (Clementine Nicholson), and Vidar (Peter Andersson), the elder of the Nordic Coven. Vidar reveals truths about David’s past, and the identity of his mother, and Selene learns about the Nordic Coven’s sacred ritual. 

A secret ally from the Eastern Coven helps Marius, as he prepares to launch his attack on the vampires. Meanwhile, dissension and power struggles threatens the vampire’s chances of survival. Can Selene save the Eastern Coven and defeat Marius?

My Thoughts- “Leave me alone!”

Three surprising words coming from Selene, when she’s cornered and restrained by a group of Lycans. We’re talking about the fierce and scrappy Death Dealer, who never backs down from a fight, but things are different in Blood Wars. Michael is still missing. Selene’s own daughter wants nothing to do with her. Eve is the sole reason why Marius wants to capture Selene, and Selene unfortunately finds out about the crippling effects from Nightshade poisoning. On top of that, the vampires won’t be satisfied until they have Selene’s head on a silver platter. Selene is justifiably burnt out on the war. She’s clearly depressed, and it’s safe to say Selene is way past her breaking point here.

Selene loses the fire that’s necessary to fight, and towards the end, she loses the will to live. Her daughter disappears, death, betrayal, and carrying the burden of being an outcast amongst her own people. Selene goes through a lot in Blood Wars, one big road block after another. Kate Beckinsale delivers another solid and resilient  performance, showing more emotions for a character, who’s understandably struggling and broken. 

Lara Pulver nails Semira. Before Semira reveals her plans for Selene, it’s obvious something is off about her. She’s phony, devious, and Semira is obsessed with power. Semira is also a sensual character, using seduction as a manipulation tactic, a strategy that comes with mixed results. She’s not conflicted about what she’s doing. Semira fiercely and coldly goes after what she wants, with an arrogant smile on her face, and Pulver is an excellent addition to the cast.

Marius is coming! Blood Wars puts a lot of effort into building up Marius’ mystique. He is the greatest threat to the vampire race’s existence, because “there’s never been a Marius.” That’s what they want you to believe, but there’s still something off about Marius. 

No complaints about Tobias Menzies’ performance, and I understand Marius is supposed to be a disciplined, ruthless, and focused tactician. He demands civility from his fellow Lycans, ruling with a strong iron fist, but going by Blood Wars’ standards, Marius is supposed to be the be-all and end-all for Lycan/werewolf villains and leaders. That’s how Marius is presented, but if we’re comparing Marius to Lycan/werewolf adversaries from the past, can we really say he’s more imposing or frightening than Lucian, Raze, William, Dr. Jacob Lane, or Quint? I can’t answer that question with a resounding yes, so that’s a big problem. 

Underworld had a consistent streak for maintaining continuity, so what happened here? Going back to Underworld: Awakening, the existence of vampires and Lycans was exposed. The humans launched a purge or a cleansing, targeting both species. Vampires were living underground, and Lycans were supposedly on the brink of extinction. 

Selene tore through Antigen in Awakening. She killed A LOT  of Lycans, so why do the Lycans have a base of operations that’s located out in the open at a railway yard? Why are the vampires at the Eastern Coven living an unbothered life of luxury, complete with fancy parties? Yes, the Eastern Coven is supposed to be a fortress. I get it, but important plot points from Awakening are completely ignored, and there’s no dancing around it. 

Eve hates Selene now? Selene and Eve had a bad falling out. That’s obvious, but it’s a really weird shift after Eve and Selene had a strong bonding experience in Awakening, complete with both characters holding hands during the closing moments. 

The vampires want justice for Viktor’s death. Okay, but what about Markus? Selene murdered Markus in Evolution, but they never mentioned his name here. Selene killing TWO vampire elders is supposed to be a big deal, so essentially erasing Markus was kind of a weird choice. 

Five films in, and William still takes the top spot for the best wolf form/design for final boss werewolves. Marius transformation? He’s big, towering over Selene, and Marius retains some of his human features in his werewolf form. Yes, it’s another big change for the main villain, but this one didn’t do anything for me. It’s another form that heavily relies on special effects, and when you see the close-up shots, it just looks really bad.

A pair of women are apart of Marius’ clan. One woman clearly works on the armory and all the tech stuff, but she only has a few lines of forgettable dialogue. Maybe it’s just me, but I wish they would’ve done more with their characters. Make a bigger deal out of women joining the ranks of Lycans, because it’s almost to the point, where they’re just background extras, and it’s easy to forget about them (their characters also don’t have names), as the story progresses. 

The decision to go with two villains has its setbacks. Occasionally, Blood Wars feels like two movies in one. Marius and Semira’s stories could’ve stood on their own for two separate films, because there’s more than enough material for their characters. Both outcomes for the final battle at the Eastern Coven fixes some of the problems, but Blood Wars teeters on the edge for a story that’s too much of a jumbled mess. 

Switching to some positives for Blood Wars, I’ve always been a big fan of Var Dohr, and everything about the Nordic Coven. Underworld digs into its rich lore to introduce a vampire coven that’s noticeably different. The Eastern Coven is a lavish coven, full of egos, petty in-fighting, and everything is darker, including the decor and the wardrobes. 

The Nordic Coven? White is the color of choice. It’s not so much a representation of good vs evil, or light vs the darkness.  White fits perfectly with the Nordic Coven, because it’s a peaceful coven, where all the vampires work together as a unit. Vidar is a calmer and more enlightened leader, and you’ll see similar character traits in Lena. The Nordic Coven, isolated deep in a frigid location, works as a refreshing setting for Underworld. There’s something oddly cozy about Var Dohr and the Nordic Coven’s ancient and rustic style, a quiet castle forgotten by time, filled with vampires, who are ready to fight, when the situation calls for it. 

Blood Wars has its problems. A useless and unnecessary secret relationship between a vampire and a Lycan, the story has a fair amount of holes, and the conclusion for Michael Corvin is too weak and disappointing. 

There’s more absurdity in Blood Wars. One moment that’s hard to forget about happens during the final battle. Marius and David, eyes locked, are slowly walking towards each other, they’re shooting nonstop, and every bullet hits. It gets better, because they push the bullets out of themselves, with big growling roars. I know it’s not the reaction they were going for, but I couldn’t stop laughing. 

Blood Wars mostly redeems itself with a satisfying conclusion. Lara Pulver, James Faulkner, Clementine Nicholson, and Peter Andersson are all good additions to the cast. And Varga has a punchable face, so a big thumbs up for Bradley James’ performance, as Semira’s smarmy and pompous lackey. Blood Wars also introduces something new for the Death Dealers. The rookie Death Dealers have a hi-tech training facility, equipped with moving holograms of werewolves for target practice!

The fight scenes and the action sequences are hit-and-miss. Overall, Blood Wars lacks the previously established electric pulse, and the spark for fast-paced and stylish action scenes. Still, I can pick out a few good ones, including the one on one fights with Marius and Selene, and David vs Semira. The battle at Var Dohr is another good choice. It’s Lycans and their machine guns going up against the Nordic vampire’s shields, swords, and crossbows, a bizarre battle, but it works.

We’re inching towards ten years since Blood Wars was released. Is this it for Underworld? The final adventure for Selene? Blood Wars wasn’t set up, or presented as the grand finale for Underworld, but you won’t see any cliffhangers here, and they closed a lot of open loops. David establishes himself as a stronger and more confident character. The identity of David’s mother is revealed. Selene hits another higher level of power, and Selene gets the big reunion she was looking for, after surviving one tough hurdle after another. And Blood Wars ends with the selection of THREE new vampire elders!

Blood Wars is a flawed film. You could say it’s the weakest entry in the series, but Selene’s story finally comes full circle. She gets the big happy ending after enduring a hellish series of events, and there’s a sense of relief for Selene during the final moments of the movie. It’s a mostly complete ending, if Blood Wars is the final chapter in Selene’s journey. Blood Wars actually gives fans closure, even if things weren’t intended to go that way. In the end, if Blood Wars winds up being the last stop for Selene, you can safely say she was more than ready to finally ride off into the sunset. 

Rating- 5/10

Underworld: Awakening (2012)

 

**This review contains spoilers**

The Story- Following the events of Underworld: Evolution, a purge carried out by humans threatens to exterminate all vampires and Lycans, after the existence of both species is exposed. With a limited number of options in front of them, Selene (Kate Beckinsale) rushes to escape with Michael Corvin, so they can go into hiding, but the duo is ambushed by soldiers at the docks. 

Twelve years later, Selene is awakened from her cryogenic chamber. Confused and angry, Selene’s quest for the truth leads her to Antigen, a sinister corporation focused on targeting and killing off vampires. Led by Dr. Jacob Lane (Stephen Rea), Antigen and Lane obsessively pursues Selene’s hybrid daughter, Eve (India Eisley).

David (Theo James), a vampire and the son of an elder, pushes back against his father, Thomas’ (Charles Dance) warnings about trusting Selene. David and Detective Sebastian (Michael Ealy) fight side by side with Selene during a dangerous rescue mission to save Eve. The battle plunges further into chaos, when Selene is forced to face off against Dr. Lane’s son, Quint (Kris Holden-Ried), who transforms into his Super-Lycan form…..

My Thoughts- Selene is back, and she is PISSED! Awakening starts off with a bang, as Selene pummels the purge soldiers. Fast forward twelve years later, and she immediately tears through everyone in her path, after she bursts out the cryo chamber. From past to present, Awakening instantly jumps into a hot start during Selene’s rampage, continuing Underworld’s streak for opening action sequences filled with chaos and bloody violence. 

Selene is dealing with a lot in Awakening. Michael, the only man Selene has ever loved, is MIA, she was frozen for twelve years, and Selene finds out she has a daughter. Heavy stuff! Selene and Eve have an unusual bonding experience. Selene comes off as being kind of selfish, when she first meets Eve. Selene is clearly more concerned about Michael’s whereabouts, and she’s treating Eve like an afterthought.

But Selene reaches a point, where she realizes she needs to be a mother for Eve. She has to protect her daughter, and there’s more of a continued push towards a vulnerable version of Selene here. The “my heart is not cold…..it’s broken” scene with Eve is a good example for Selene showing more emotions. And the scene, where Selene breaks down from the memories of the purge soldier’s surprise attack at the docks. 

Plus, Selene and Eve can see through each other’s eyes! Eve and Selene share synchronized brainwaves, if they’re close enough to each other, and seeing how things unfolded, it’s clear this is one ability, or superpower that’s exclusively shared between Selene, Eve, and Michael as a family. 

Eve is good addition to the cast. Yes, she has the rarity of being another hybrid character, but Eve is also a child. India Eisely delivers a solid performance, and they took the right approach to the hybrid side of Eve’s character. Eisely smoothly switches gears from the confused and scared little girl, who finds herself in an unprecedented and dangerous situation, to the fierce and powerful hybrid, who’s capable of flipping the switch to tap into her powers, when she’s backed into a corner.

Awakening is the first Underworld film, where Viktor doesn’t play a major role in the current storyline, or through flashbacks related to what’s going on in the movie. Charles Dance fills the role of the prudish and stubborn vampire elder. As the ruler of a coven and a leader, Thomas is determined to preserve what’s left of his coven. He’s the guy, who feels the need to condemn Selene for being the disgraced Death Dealer, who fell in love with a Lycan, and murdered two vampire elders. Because someone has to do it, right?

Theo James’ David is a fighter and a rebel. James’ performance works on two different levels. Yes, you could say David is defiant and reckless, but he also knows he’s fighting the good fight for all the right reasons. He’s not afraid to stand up to his father, and he’s firmly against the vampires turning their backs on Selene. 

I have mixed feelings on the villains. Dr. Jacob Lane? Eh, I wouldn’t necessarily say there’s anything wrong with Stephen Rea’s performance, but there’s no denying Lane is a boring and dull character. I get it. Lane is the obsessive and heartless mad scientist, who wants to create a master race of Lycans. He also doesn’t see Eve as a human being. To Lane, Eve is just a highly valuable test subject, or an asset, who needs to be dissected to further his research. Yeah, he’s a dick, but nothing truly stands out about him. You know he’s the bad guy, you know Selene has to stop him, but that’s about it.

Quint and his SUPER-LYCAN form? So I understand the need to introduce a mighty and powerful adversary for Selene. Remember, this is Selene with the Corvinus strain, after she drank Alexander Corvinus’ blood. She has enhanced powers, and Selene basically tears through the opposition in Awakening with ease, so she needs a real challenge. 

Quint having the ability to transform into his Super-Lycan form, complete with an immunity to silver and accelerated healing, almost solves the problem, but it’s a form that heavily relies on special effects. The difference in sizes between Selene and the Super-Lycan provides a few awe-inspiring visuals, but overall, it’s a form that just doesn’t look good at all. It’s too fake and goofy, especially the close-up shots of the Super-Lycan’s face, and it’s safe to say William’s hulking form as the first-ever werewolf in Awakening was far more intimidating.

Problems with the Super-Lycan form aside, Kris Holden-Ried plays a solid villiain. Good facial expressions, the way he carries himself, and it’s easy to believe Quint is a psycho, who won’t stop until his father’s mission is complete. To take things further, Quint would’ve been better off as the main villain here. I understand Dr. Lane’s role as the brains of the operation, but Holden-Reid was more than capable of holding his own in the leading role as the top villain. 

Selene and Eve’s mother/daughter story gets off to a rocky start, but Awakening also tells the tales of two different father/son relationships. David rebels against Thomas, because Thomas chooses to stay underground. Thomas is more concerned with survival, but David wants to fight back against the humans and the Lycans. He challenges his father to become the man, who used to get his hands dirty, while fighting the tough battles. 

Quint, like a brainwashed zombie, blindly follows his father’s marching orders. Dr. Lane is obviously a very bitter man. Quint’s mother made the decision to avoid turning into a Lycan, and Lane uses her choice as a manipulation tactic against Quint. It’s strange how Quint allows Lane to shoot him up with all kinds of injections, because as a Super-Lycan, he could easily kill him. But Quint is loyal to Lane, so he chooses to be another one of his father’s test subjects. 

Awakening maintains continuity from the previous films. Selene is still an outcast amongst the majority of vampires. Being a hybrid is still frowned upon, and Eve is referred to as a “blight of nature.” Of course, the big one is the world after Alexander Corvinus’ death. Remember, in Evolution, Corvinus led a secret team that was tasked with cleaning up the mess in an attempt to contain the war between vampires and Lycans. With Corvinus gone, the humans launched an ugly cleansing campaign against both species, because no one was around to sweep all the dirt under the rug. 

Selene defeats the Super-Lycan! Selene’s final battle with Quint was a good one. I never believed Selene was in any real danger, but there’s more than enough thrills and tight close calls during the David vs Goliath-esque struggle. Also, two big thumbs up for Selene outsmarting Quint. She couldn’t outmuscle the Super-Lycan, so Selene used Qunit’s size and accelerated healing abilities against him. 

Eve killing Dr. Lane was the right call. Dr. Lane froze Eve’s parents. He destroyed any chances of Eve having a real childhood, while forcing her to live the life of a lab rat, so Eve’s vengeance was justified. Also, I wasn’t fan of the character, but at least Dr. Lane’s werewolf form actually looks good. It’s a cross between Lane simply being an elderly man, and having the look of a wild feral beast. His entire body isn’t covered in hair, and Lane’s bloody and disfigured face (courtesy of a shotgun blast from David), was a nice touch.

The ending shows Selene, Eve, and David on the roof together, after Michael finally escapes his chamber. Antigen, the corporation run by and populated with Lycans, that secretly launched a mission to kill off all vampires, is no more. Going forward, it’s clear the objective is to search for and find Michael, so he can reunite with Selene and Eve as a family. A happy ending for Selene, as she swears to “reclaim” the world for the vampire race, while fighting against the humans and the Lycans. 

The Michael Corvin problem? Scott Speedman only appears in flashbacks from the first two films. A stand-in covers Michael’s brief appearances here, and it’s just not the same. Michael is a crucial character in Selene’s story. I know Michael needs to be here, and they tried to keep things short for his screen time, but it’s an obvious big change that’s impossible to ignore. 

Awakening could’ve benefited from a stronger lead villain, and I really wish they would’ve done more with the targeted “cleansing” of vampires and Lycans. Before the story shifts to focusing on protecting and rescuing Eve, Awakening made some good attempts at realism, with news footage from the purge, including dragging vampires out into the sunlight, and using silver nitrate gas against Lycans. 

Warning signs posted about reporting infected individuals, war in the streets, and burning buildings. You can see the chaos, and the drastic lifestyle changes for vampires and Lycans. Vampires were forced into hiding, while Lycans were pushed to the brink of extinction after a failed uprising. And certain groups of sick, starving, and diseased Lycans live underground like “rats.”

Four films in, and Awakening continues to deliver fast-paced and bloody action sequences. I’ll go as far saying Awakening is the shinning example for the highest levels of action that you’d expect from an Underworld film. It’s an adrenaline rush from start to finish, ending with the mother/daughter duo of Selene and Eve taking on the top two villains.

Underworld’s story adds more layers, and Selene’s character continues to evolve, because she’s a mother now. A handful of welcoming new additions to the cast, including India Eisley, Theo James, and Charles Dance. Michael Ealy brings a solid performance to the cast, as the steely-eyed detective with a heavy heart, because Detective Sebastian was directly affected by a vampire attack. 

Awakening also leans into a more absurd tone. You’ll see more than one of Selene’s signature superhero landings. Authentic teeth from vampires and Lycans are available for purchase, and Selene starts a rusty van with a knife! Selene throwing a poor Antigen scientist (Wes Bentley) out of a window, and calmly landing on the ground next to his mangled corpse on top of a car, also sticks out as a hilarious moment for me. 

And I can’t forget about a stoic Selene calmly walking through the courtyard at Antigen, while the security guards are shooting at her. The courtyard scene towards the end definitely plays into the trope that a lot of bad guys are just terrible at shooting guns, especially when there’s a wide open target in front of them.

Underworld: Awakening’s one hour and twenty-eight minutes runtime flys by. Another good mindless fun action/horror flick in the series, with a little more meat on the bones for emotional depth. I didn’t care too much for all the scenes with tons of CGI blood (Quint’s death is a big one for me), but Awakening still features some cool visuals. Selene storming Antigen’s headquarters, and blasting away at Lycans in the dark, while particles from the silver nitrate bombs are floating around in the air, is easily one of my favorites. 

But the Michael Corvin situation is a glaring issue. I said it before, but Michael is a big part of Selene’s story and her journey. The solution for this problem in Blood Wars? Well, it’s a disappointment, but I guess you could say it’s still a solution, that definitively slams the door shut on Michael’s future. 

Rating- 7/10

Underworld: Awakening (2012)(Minor Spoilers)

 

**This review contains MINOR spoilers**

The Story- Following the events of Underworld: Evolution, a purge carried out by humans threatens to exterminate all vampires and Lycans, after the existence of both species is exposed. With a limited number of options in front of them, Selene (Kate Beckinsale) rushes to escape with Michael Corvin, so they can go into hiding, but the duo is ambushed by soldiers at the docks. 

Twelve years later, Selene is awakened from her cryogenic chamber. Confused and angry, Selene’s quest for the truth leads her to Antigen, a sinister corporation focused on targeting and killing off vampires. Led by Dr. Jacob Lane (Stephen Rea), Antigen and Lane obsessively pursues Selene’s hybrid daughter, Eve (India Eisley).

David (Theo James), a vampire and the son of an elder, pushes back against his father, Thomas’ (Charles Dance) warnings about trusting Selene. David and Detective Sebastian (Michael Ealy) fight side by side with Selene during a dangerous rescue mission to save Eve. The battle plunges further into chaos, when Selene is forced to face off against Dr. Lane’s son, Quint (Kris Holden-Ried), who transforms into his Super-Lycan form……

My Thoughts- Selene is back, and she is PISSED! Awakening starts off with a bang, as Selene pummels the purge soldiers. Fast forward twelve years later, and she immediately tears through everyone in her path, after she bursts out the cryo chamber. From past to present, Awakening instantly jumps into a hot start during Selene’s rampage, continuing Underworld’s streak for opening action sequences filled with chaos and bloody violence. 

Selene is dealing with a lot in Awakening. Michael, the only man Selene has ever loved, is MIA, she was frozen for twelve years, and Selene finds out she has a daughter. Heavy stuff! Selene and Eve have an unusual bonding experience. Selene comes off as being kind of selfish, when she first meets Eve. Selene is clearly more concerned about Michael’s whereabouts, and she’s treating Eve like an afterthought.

But Selene reaches a point, where she realizes she needs to be a mother for Eve. She has to protect her daughter, and there’s more of a continued push towards a vulnerable version of Selene here. The “my heart is not cold…..it’s broken” scene with Eve is a good example for Selene showing more emotions. And the scene, where Selene breaks down from the memories of the purge soldier’s surprise attack at the docks. 

Plus, Selene and Eve can see through each other’s eyes! Eve and Selene share synchronized brainwaves, if they’re close enough to each other, and seeing how things unfolded, it’s clear this is one ability, or superpower that’s exclusively shared between Selene, Eve, and Michael as a family. 

Eve is good addition to the cast. Yes, she has the rarity of being another hybrid character, but Eve is also a child. India Eisely delivers a solid performance, and they took the right approach to the hybrid side of Eve’s character. Eisely smoothly switches gears from the confused and scared little girl, who finds herself in an unprecedented and dangerous situation, to the fierce and powerful hybrid, who’s capable of flipping the switch to tap into her powers, when she’s backed into a corner.

Awakening is the first Underworld film, where Viktor doesn’t play a major role in the current storyline, or through flashbacks related to what’s going on in the movie. Charles Dance fills the role of the prudish and stubborn vampire elder. As the ruler of a coven and a leader, Thomas is determined to preserve what’s left of his coven. He’s the guy, who feels the need to condemn Selene for being the disgraced Death Dealer, who fell in love with a Lycan, and murdered two vampire elders. Because someone has to do it, right?

Theo James’ David is a fighter and a rebel. James’ performance works on two different levels. Yes, you could say David is defiant and reckless, but he also knows he’s fighting the good fight for all the right reasons. He’s not afraid to stand up to his father, and he’s firmly against the vampires turning their backs on Selene. 

I have mixed feelings on the villains. Dr. Jacob Lane? Eh, I wouldn’t necessarily say there’s anything wrong with Stephen Rea’s performance, but there’s no denying Lane is a boring and dull character. I get it. Lane is the obsessive and heartless mad scientist, who wants to create a master race of Lycans. He also doesn’t see Eve as a human being. To Lane, Eve is just a highly valuable test subject, or an asset, who needs to be dissected to further his research. Yeah, he’s a dick, but nothing truly stands out about him. You know he’s the bad guy, you know Selene has to stop him, but that’s about it.

Quint and his SUPER-LYCAN form? So I understand the need to introduce a mighty and powerful adversary for Selene. Remember, this is Selene with the Corvinus strain, after she drank Alexander Corvinus’ blood. She has enhanced powers, and Selene basically tears through the opposition in Awakening with ease, so she needs a real challenge. 

Quint having the ability to transform into his Super-Lycan form, complete with an immunity to silver and accelerated healing, almost solves the problem, but it’s a form that heavily relies on special effects. The difference in sizes between Selene and the Super-Lycan provides a few awe-inspiring visuals, but overall, it’s a form that just doesn’t look good at all. It’s too fake and goofy, especially the close-up shots of the Super-Lycan’s face, and it’s safe to say William’s hulking form as the first-ever werewolf in Awakening was far more intimidating.

Problems with the Super-Lycan form aside, Kris Holden-Ried plays a solid villiain. Good facial expressions, the way he carries himself, and it’s easy to believe Quint is a psycho, who won’t stop until his father’s mission is complete. To take things further, Quint would’ve been better off as the main villain here. I understand Dr. Lane’s role as the brains of the operation, but Holden-Reid was more than capable of holding his own in the leading role as the top villain. 

Selene and Eve’s mother/daughter story gets off to a rocky start, but Awakening also tells the tales of two different father/son relationships. David rebels against Thomas, because Thomas chooses to stay underground. Thomas is more concerned with survival, but David wants to fight back against the humans and the Lycans. He challenges his father to become the man, who used to get his hands dirty, while fighting the tough battles. 

Quint, like a brainwashed zombie, blindly follows his father’s marching orders. Dr. Lane is obviously a very bitter man. Quint’s mother made the decision to avoid turning into a Lycan, and Lane uses her choice as a manipulation tactic against Quint. It’s strange how Quint allows Lane to shoot him up with all kinds of injections, because as a Super-Lycan, he could easily kill him. But Quint is loyal to Lane, so he chooses to be another one of his father’s test subjects.

Awakening maintains continuity from the previous films. Selene is still an outcast amongst the majority of vampires. Being a hybrid is still frowned upon, and Eve is referred to as a “blight of nature.” Of course, the big one is the world after Alexander Corvinus’ death. Remember, in Evolution, Corvinus led a secret team that was tasked with cleaning up the mess in an attempt to contain the war between vampires and Lycans. With Corvinus gone, the humans launched an ugly cleansing campaign against both species, because no one was around to sweep all the dirt under the rug. 

The Michael Corvin problem? Scott Speedman only appears in flashbacks from the first two films. A stand-in covers Michael’s brief appearances here, and it’s just not the same. Michael is a crucial character in Selene’s story. I know Michael needs to be here, and they tried to keep things short for his screen time, but it’s an obvious big change that’s impossible to ignore. 

Awakening could’ve benefited from a stronger lead villain, and I really wish they would’ve done more with the targeted “cleansing” of vampires and Lycans. Before the story shifts to focusing on protecting and rescuing Eve, Awakening made some good attempts at realism, with news footage from the purge, including dragging vampires out into the sunlight, and using silver nitrate gas against Lycans. 

Warning signs posted about reporting infected individuals, war in the streets, and burning buildings. You can see the chaos, and the drastic lifestyle changes for vampires and Lycans. Vampires were forced into hiding, while Lycans were pushed to the brink of extinction after a failed uprising. And certain groups of sick, starving, and diseased Lycans live underground like “rats.”

Four films in, and Awakening continues to deliver fast-paced and bloody action sequences. I’ll go as far saying Awakening is the shinning example for the highest levels of action that you’d expect from an Underworld film. It’s an adrenaline rush from start to finish, ending with the mother/daughter duo of Selene and Eve taking on the top two villains.

Underworld’s story adds more layers, and Selene’s character continues to evolve, because she’s a mother now. A handful of welcoming new additions to the cast, including India Eisley, Theo James, and Charles Dance. Michael Ealy brings a solid performance to the cast, as the steely-eyed detective with a heavy heart, because Detective Sebastian was directly affected by a vampire attack. 

Awakening also leans into a more absurd tone. You’ll see more than one of Selene’s signature superhero landings. Authentic teeth from vampires and Lycans are available for purchase, and Selene starts a rusty van with a knife! Selene throwing a poor Antigen scientist (Wes Bentley) out of a window, and calmly landing on the ground next to his mangled corpse on top of a car, also sticks out as a hilarious moment for me. 

And I can’t forget about a stoic Selene calmly walking through the courtyard at Antigen, while the security guards are shooting at her. The courtyard scene towards the end definitely plays into the trope that a lot of bad guys are just terrible at shooting guns, especially when there’s a wide open target in front of them.

Underworld: Awakening’s one hour and twenty-eight minutes runtime flys by. Another good mindless fun action/horror flick in the series, with a little more meat on the bones for emotional depth. I didn’t care too much for all the scenes with tons of CGI blood, but Awakening still features some cool visuals. Selene storming Antigen’s headquarters, and blasting away at Lycans in the dark, while particles from the silver nitrate bombs are floating around in the air, is easily one of my favorites. 

But the Michael Corvin situation is a glaring issue. I said it before, but Michael is a big part of Selene’s story and her journey. The solution for this problem in Blood Wars? Well, it’s a disappointment, but I guess you could say it’s still a solution, that definitively slams the door shut on Michael’s future. 

Rating- 7/10

Coming Attractions- The Monkey

 

Director- Osgood Perkins

Release Date- February 21, 2025

The morbid humor in the trailer is great, and I always have high expectations for a Stephen King adaptation. Osgood Perkins has become one of the go-to filmmakers for the horror genre over the years. Perkins usually goes with a dark and brooding style for his films, so it’s refreshing to see something that’s a bit quirky with a more upbeat tone.