Bill Nighy:  Viktor
Michael Sheen:  Lucian
Rhona Mitra:  Sonja
Kevin Grevioux:  Raze
Steven Mackintosh:  Andreas Tanis

Release Date: January 23rd, 2008
Studio: Screen Gems
Genre: Horror/Suspense
Rated: R      1 hr 33 mins

CAST:

If you paid attention to Underworld and Underworld Evolution, the story of Underworld: Rise of the Lycans has already been told.  You know, a war between the werewolves (Lycans) and vampires that was caused by the evil vampire elder Viktor.  While this prequel seems rather unnecessary, it’s not.  In a really weird way, it’s the best of the Underworld franchise.  And that’s not because Kate Beckinsale is absent and her husband/director handed the reigns onto the first two films’ creature designer.

Taking place in the Dark Ages, the vampires have enslaved the Lycans.  But while the Lycans are working for the vampires, a full-blooded, totally primal werewolf race is stalking the countryside and reeking havoc.  (The aspect of this story was told in Underworld Evolution - Vampire elder Michael’s brother William is the first werewolf and unlike the Lycans, there is no humanity left.)  Viktor is in charge and his daughter Sonja is tasked with expanding the empire, defending the vampire’s territories and trying to stop these uber-werewolves.  Unbeknownst to Viktor, his daughter is in love with the head werewolf slave, Lucian. Back stabbing occurs, secrets reveal and one hell of a battle eventually ensues.

What makes Underworld: Rise of the Lycans better is that the story is better.  There is plenty of gnawing and slobbering as well as vampires in medieval bondage gear all drenched in that Underworld blue.  So fear not.  It’s just that the acting and violence is much better.  Gone are the excessive gun fights, ninja skills and techo-metal soundtrack.  Instead we have sword fights, crossbows and a lot of werewolves.
 
Veteran actor Bill Nighy must have a blast playing Viktor. Although he was dispatched in the first film and reduced to a flashback in the second, his character was the most fun.  Here he chews up the screen with pure class and a touch of camp. Michael Sheen (Frost/Nixon) is back as Lucian. While a rather seldom seen character in the first, here he also chews up the screen with not only fangs, but believable acting. Surprisingly, Doomsday’s Rhona Mitra is ten-times sexier than Beckinsale. Her chain mail is still skin tight but her character is sultry and leaves a lot more to the imagination.  Sonja is a Deathdealer that has an undying and much forbidden love for Lucian.  Sheen and Mitra’s affair is steamy.  Not because of the gratuitous sex scene, but because usually in a horror-action film, you don’t get believable relationships. And you cannot forget Steven Mackintosh as the opportunist Andreas Tanis.  Introduced in the second film as a minor character, here he proves to be vital to this film and the two previous films story.  Just like Nighy, Sheen and Mitra, he nails his performance.

Director Patrick Tatopoulos helms this tale with resolve.  Gone is the goofy video game, gun-blasting Matrix-styled nonsense. While there is some slow motion on some of the fights, the violence takes a back seat for most of the film.  The film really focuses on the story, the character development, conflict and the great CGI-Carpathian landscape.  It works, and when the werewolf versus vampire grudge match begins, it all becomes more rewarding.

The first two films are guilty pleasures - they are good, but not great.  It’s a horror-action opera of violence and sex.  Underworld: Rise of the Lycans is a horror film that stays true to the roots of the franchises canon and the legend of the creatures on which they are based.  And bringing back the British actors that brought credibility to the first film is a welcome return.  If you don’t like action films or horror films or the previous Underworld films, stay away.  But if you liked the first two, be prepared for something a bit more special.  Let’s hope the 4^th film keeps the story away from the post-Matrix style and stays in the Dark Ages.

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans

January 29, 2009

Reviewer: Rottenbucher

DIRECTOR:

Patrick Tatopoulos

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