Directed by: Len Wiseman
Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Bill Nighy, Michael Sheen, Shane Brolly, Erwin Leder, Robbie Gee, Kevin Grevioux
Classification: MA 15+
Running time: 121 mins

For centuries two races have waged a bloody yet secret war deep within human society, the sophisticated Vampires and the savage Lycans (werewolves). Enter Selene (Kate Beckinsale from Serendipity and Pearl Harbour), a vampire warrior that uncovers a Lycan plot to kidnap a human. Dr Michael Corvin. She allies herself with him and goes against the Vampire boss Kraven’s (Shane Brolly) warnings to stay away from him. Selene’s instincts and subsequent attraction to Michael ensures that the Lycan scheme shall be revealed.

Underworld is a welcome addition to the many Vampire films out there, the difference is that this movie rewrites their history like never seen before. The inclusion of Lycans and giving them a history as slaves to Vampires centuries ago has finally given a decent past to werewolves where traditionally they were nothing more than a bestial legend with no personality that devour villagers and cattle, always either an evolved wolf like creature or bitten human enslaved by the moonlight. No more!

Both races have a rich, well documented history in the film and live by the ideals forged by the forefathers of vampires and Lycans centuries ago. Persecuted by the Vampires for years until a revolt by Lucian (Michael Sheen), the Lycans were all but slaughtered. Centuries later Selene suspects that a vengeful werewolf army has been building secretly and are poised to strike, somehow connected is the human Michael and the Lycan interest in him. As her mistrust in Kraven grows and clues of a betrayal arise, Selene has little choice but to awaken Viktor (Bill Nighy) the Vampire overlord. He is awakened a century before he is due and he is very pissed off. Needless to say shit hits the fan.

The acting in Underworld is very naturalistic and the cast do well to keep the mood very macabre. The cinematography is awesome, set in a gothic city (thanks to Tony Pierce-Roberts ala Howards End fame. The actual location is in Budapest) as you would expect from the genre and the directing complements the setting and fuses action sequences quite well within the storyline without making you feel like you’re watching an action film. Having said that though, you are waiting for the inevitable spectacular showdown at the end but are given more than a taste along the way with several altercations between the species along the way.

The transformation scenes and effects are awesome. Rather than being CGI, the werewolves have gone back to animatronics and costume/make up effects. The brainchild of Patrick Tatopoulos (responsible for the latest Godzilla and involved with StarGate and Independence Day creatures) mean that you can expect the Lycans to have a very real feel about them.

The things I loved about this movie are the fact that a whole new universe is created with an intricate and complex history (don’t be alarmed if you cant follow at times, all is eventually revealed), the way that science is used to support the traditional myth almost grounds the legends, the almost Shakespearian Romeo and Juliet like love story intertwined within and finally a convincing female lead with an internal conflict with the absence of corny action lines to evoke empathy. You get to feel for the characters in the end and their struggles. What species are you behind?

Rating: Loved it!