Review of Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009) by Filipeneto — 11 Jul 2020

This was the third film in the "Underworld" franchise, and it works as a prequel to everyone else. However, it was the second in the franchise that I saw, right after the first and leaving the second film to see in third place. Honestly, it seemed more logical that way. In this film, we go back centuries to the High Middle Ages, to follow the events that were at the origin of the eternal war between vampires and lycans.

The film takes place somewhere in Eastern Europe where vampires are the dominant class, even having control over humans, who pay to be protected from bloodthirsty werewolves. The film follows the birth of Lucian, the first werewolf capable of controlling himself and assuming human form at his will. The first Lycan (now I can see what the difference between a lycan and a werewolf will be). He lives the entire life as a slave of the vampires ruled by Viktor, but falls in love with his daughter, Sonja. Seeing this as a betrayal, fearing the crossing of the species and the loosing of control of the enslaved Lycans, Viktor kills his own daughter leading Lucian and their companions to the revolt against the vampires.

The plot is nothing new, since much of it was told during the first film. That's why I told everything here, because I didn't consider it a spoiler. It may not seem like it, but the fact that we know almost everything that is going to happen takes away a lot of impact to the film. There is no surprise effect or exciting twist. On the other hand, the film lacks any historical verisimilitude: the sets, costumes, weapons, armours and props are so imaginative that they cannot be dated to any precise historical period, and it is the sum of the whole that allows us to realize the film takes place in the Middle Ages. In fact, some armour and weapons even seem to have been taken from a prop storage from "The Lord of the Rings". Its a film without the sex appeal the first had, but with almost twice the brutality, violent deaths and testosterone. It works, but it's not really good.

The cast has many well-known names. By the positive side, Michael Sheen stands out in a more dramatic and mature performance of the character he sketched in the first film. Still very good, Bill Nighy returns to his aristocratic and sadistic character, with his unique voice and diction. I believe the actor got, with these films, one of the works that will mark his career. Rhona Mitra looked good, being expressive, dramatic, romantic and intense. She managed to give credibility to her character's romance and scenes with Sheen are good, although their chemistry is not remarkable. The remaining cast deserves no mention.

Technically, the film is very similar to what has been seen before. The cinematography and environment is dark and gloomy, the sets, props and costumes in the medieval style are not very credible but visually impressive and the film overflows with style and charm, without however having so much substance. The action scenes are many and the deaths are happening regularly, some more crude than the others, with fake blood everywhere and without we caring too much about what we are seeing. The only death that could really affect us - Sonja - is a death already awaited by those who have seen previous films and already know the story.