The movie Underworld starts out with a gun-shoot out between two rival gangs. One one side are the Lycans, werewolf creatures who are allergic to silver, and one bite will turn you into one of them. The Death Dealers, vampires who fight Lycans, can also turn people into their kind: allergic to sunlight, super-human strength... your ordinary everyday vampires.
They sold the film as being a Romeo and Juliet with werewolves and vampires. Interesting, right? Well if it were tastefully done then that would be so. The romance of the movie consists of a kiss between main characters Selene (Kate Beckinsale) and Michael (Scott Speedman). That is, unless you count the many advances from Craven, a vampire left in charge of their coven. As a romantic movie this would get an F. Good thing it has the horror angle, right?
The basic premise is that there is a war between vampires and werewolves (supposedly the werewolves started it), and the movie deals with the end of this war. The main characters are Selene, a vampire warrior sent to kill werewolves, and Michael, a human with the right type of blood to unlock what the Lycans need to win (or at least stop) the war. Selene tries to uncover the truth of the war and of the mysterious disappearance of the Lycans’ leader a century earlier.
After she finds what she believes to be the truth, she wakes up one of the ruling triumvirate of vampires to help her. Victor, the vamp she woke just a century early of schedule, seems to be up in the nick of time as the Lycans are completing their weapon. The weapon is a hybrid between vampires and werewolves, with the strengths but none of the weaknesses. A special blood from the descendant of the first immortal, Michael, is needed to unlock the secrets of the creatures’ blood. The movie has several twists and tuns but none compare to the very last one.
What this movie lacks in the romance part, it makes up for in the action part. Non-stop action from beginning to end and a twist that leaves you theorizing at the end. Not to mention the hotties – several good looking actors stroll across screen in fangs and fur. If you enjoy werewolves, vampires, horror or action, you’ll love this movie. Awesome stunts and fight scenes will dazzle you while gunshots will have you plugging your ears. I give this movie four out of five stars.
Movie: Underworld
Running Time: 2 hours 1 minute
MPAA Rating: R for violence/gore and some language
Directed by: Len Wiseman
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Micheal Sheen, Bill Nighy, Shane Brolly
Charlotte Night is a vampire fetish girl who is a regular at the Den of Shadows and loves local bands. She can be reached at Kahler (at) cox (dot) net.
Back to 