Underworld

 

 

Date Of Release: 19^th September 2003

Director: Len Wiseman

Producer: Tom Rosenberg, Gary Lucchesi, Richard Wright

Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy, Shane Brolly, Erwin Leder

Running Time: 121 minutes (133 for the extended cut)

Distributor: Screen Gems

 

 

Review

This film came out when I was 16 and I was heavily into vampires back then. I loved this film then and I still love it now 9 years on. The vampire film had been done to death. What else could they possibly do with the genre? Then this film came out. The story is about the on-going secret battle between the vampires and the lycans (werewolves). It is a story of wrong doing, betrayal and a battle of survival.

When the film came out there were mixed feelings, mainly negative ones. Some liked it and some didn’t. Those who didn’t like it felt it was just another vampire story, and essentially, that is what it is, but it has a bit more than that. The film is very fast paced and has a consistent plot. The atmosphere of the film is very dark and modern, a lot of dark black and blue hues used. Even the clothing everyone wears is predominantly black (to make them appear more “gothic” maybe?). The vampires themselves don’t look like your stereotypical vampires. They don’t all have pale skin and protruding fangs, they actually look slightly normal, apart from the elders but that’s to be expected I suppose. Some of them have bright blue eyes but that’s as far as it goes. The Lycans transformation is also pretty cool. Again, they aren’t your stereotypical wolf. When they are not transformed they are pretty normal.

 

 

 

The best scene would have to be the one where the guy who is a mix breed of both, transforms. I like how they managed to put the 2 species together. All of the fight scenes really hold their own too, with the actors doing most of their own stunts. The only thing that I would have really liked to see would be more back story to the characters (although, films 2 and 3 do this finally). This film has a slight teen angst to it and I think that is why I, and others, loved it so much. Some may find it a bit flimsy but essentially it is a very good film in the vampire series.

 

Rating: 8/10 – Under the world and far away….all the vampires come to prey!! (on those that haven’t bought this anyway….)