A Film that basically exists to bring 2 Actors back into the Series.
This is Underworld- Rise of the Lycans, the 2009 Prequel to the first 2 Films. This is...necessary?
In the first Film, we are told about what happened to create the Lycan Revolt and see Michael Sheen.
Now we got an entire Film about the thing we already know happened and one that causes mild retcons.
They had to go back and recolor Sonja's hair from the first Film.
Kind of like how Lucas went back and replaced the ugly looking Palpatine in the first Film.
This is a full-on Flashback Film- with Selene narrating at the beginning and end- and elaborates on the whole Lycan situation.
It is also worth noting the Kate Beckinsale was married to Michael Sheen before she met Len Wiseman during the first Film's production...and went on to marry him instead.
So maybe a Film that has Sheen back and not Beckinsale was also easier.
Regardless of whether it should, this Prequel exists, so let's blue...I mean, read on...
Long, long ago, we get the return of Viktor (Bill Nighy).
He has to deal with the threat of wild Werewolves- that never become human again- and decides to raise Lucian, the first Lycan.
He can and does become human.
 |
| This Film is about 30% just him making faces. |
He uses Lucian to make a whole bunch of Lycans and then enslaves them with silver collars.
What a nice guy.
He's also not getting along well with his daughter Sonja (who is now brunette as intended).
She is impulsive, strong-minded and, well, him, but nicer.
As it turns out, she's also having an affair with Lucian, shown in a Scene that feels like a rehash of the chopped up one with Selene and Michael.
Well, except for this silly shot.
Lucian takes his collar off to save Sonja from some Werewolves, which does not make Viktor happy.
He gets his first of two on-screen whippings- a non-
Roots record, right?- and is imprisoned.
While there, he forms an alliance with the Human Slaves- kept there for food and to make more Lycans- and the other Lycan prisoners.
Amongst the group is Kevin Grevioux, since he was one of the Writers of the first Film (and the general lore).
He escapes, but then comes back when Viktor arrests Sonja.
During this, we also see the conniving of Tannis, the only person from Evolution to be in this one.
He gets put in place for his appearance there.
The rescue itself...goes poorly.
Viktor sentences his daughter to death and makes Lucian watch.
His first attempt to escape fails, but he soon summons the Werewolves (the 2nd time we see them charge the Castle here) and a battle ensues.
He thinks he's killed- but obviously didn't- Viktor, who flees with the other Vampires into the 1st Film.
We also get wrap-up via new Selene narration and a repeat of an Underworld Scene.
She is told that Viktor spared her for resemblance to his Daughter, because, sure, why not?
The End.
A decent, if somewhat unnecessary Film.
Have I made that point yet?
In all seriousness, there are many good things here.
Nighy as Viktor is pretty one-note, but enjoyable. He's just the evilest erudite until they brought in Charles Dance for the 4th Film.
Rhona Mitra as Sonja is pretty good too, really pulling off the look and having a presence.
As you may or may not know, she lost the Selene role to Beckinsale, so this is a good 'Silver Medal.'
The Werewolf VFX, as always, are nice. They apparently used some of the leftover Suits from Dog Soldiers for this one, since they needed more on-screen at once than ever before.
The biggest issue here is visibility.
Since this is mostly about Vampires, it is almost always nighttime. Throw in the continued abuse of the Blue Chroma Key feature and this Film is hard to make out for many, MANY Scenes.
While a bit redundant, I had some fun with this. It's not great, but I won't lose my head over it.
 |
| Yes, this is a re-used prop from Evolution. |
Next up, I wrap up my look at Underworld by going back to the original. I also have the Unrated + Extended Cut, so there's hopefully more to love. Stay tuned...