Today’s quick review: Underworld: Rise of the Lycans. After decades of war between vampires and werewolves, the birth of Lucian (Michael Sheen), a werewolf able to take human form, presents Viktor (Bill Nighy), the vampire patriarch, with an opportunity: a new race of immortals, the Lycans, to use as slaves. But as Lucian matures, he captures the heart of Viktor’s daughter Sonja (Rhona Mitra) and threatens to lead his Lycan brethren to freedom.
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans is a fantasy action movie and the third entry in the Underworld series. Rise of the Lycans is a prequel that shows the origins of the centuries-long war between vampires and Lycans. The film sees the return of Michael Sheen as Lucian, Bill Nighy as Viktor, and several other supporting cast members in their younger incarnations. As is typical for the series, Rise of the Lycans delivers a nice blend of plot and action.
Rise of the Lycans makes a few tweaks to the Underworld formula. Set centuries in the past, the prequel swaps guns and silver bullets for swords and silver arrows. The action has more of a fantasy vibe to it, with greater emphasis on werewolves and group battles instead of the customary gunplay and vampire acrobatics. The result is action that’s less extravagant but more consistent, doled out evenly throughout the movie.
Rise of the Lycans also switches up the balance between story and action, letting the story take center stage this time. The story tells of the forbidden romance between Lucian and Sonja, as well as Lucian’s quest for freedom. The plot has few real surprises, but its clean execution and well-motivated characters make it work just fine. The story is far from high drama, but it’s well-developed for an action movie and fits well with the rest of the series.
Fans of the Underworld series will enjoy Underworld: Rise of the Lycans. Its fantasy setting and lack of Selene make it a departure from the first two films, but those who are invested in the series’ story will appreciate its contributions to the mythos. Casual viewers will want to start with Underworld to avoid spoilers. Steer clear if you’re expecting a full-blown fantasy epic or a movie taht does much with vampire lore.
6.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 a well-conceived story and solid action.