The ongoing conflict between vampires and Lycans (werewolves) is still raging. But is 1500 years and 5 films too long?
The vampire covens have been waging war with the Lycans for well over a millennium. However, by the time of this instalment in the Underworld series, the Lycans are massing for what is stated to be a final attack to wipe out the last of the remaining vampire strongholds. Kate Beckinsale reprises her role as Selene, the former elite warrior of the vampire covens, who is beset by enemies on all sides, trying to protect her daughter from both factions, as she is deemed to be the key to either side finally winning the war.
Beckinsale once again does an ample job of portraying Selene at her gun-toting, combative best. But now, her dialogue is overtaken by montages and flashbacks, shoe-horned into the narrative to bring the audience in line with the current story, i.e. her daughter and her past, but none of it feels emotive. The mothers’ fierce protective anger is more tired than anything else. Supporting and reprising roles from the previous film (Underworld: Awakening) are Charles Dance and Theo James as father and son vampiric duo Thomas and David, who both do a passable job. Tobias Menzies fills the role of the Lycan leader, Marius, who due to a lack of backstories not confined to himself, comes across as nothing more than the archetypal ‘bad guy’ with very little obvious motivation, and a penchant for misogyny. Indeed, we see him strike and attack women far more than anything/anyone else. Lara Pulver takes the role of Semira, another vampire, who admirably manages to use what little, convoluted dialogue she has to pass off a convincingly manipulative and sinister role.
Overall, the acting appears thin, with very little time dedicated to any story or plot, the whole film feels like a ‘part 2’ to the previous instalment, but without any of its own substance. Even as a fan of the series, the film is confusing and disjointed. The action scenes are gory and well choreographed when they appear, although the cinematography used for them allows for very little focus on the actual movement due to angles and camera movement obscuring most of it.
The atmosphere of the film is at least consistent with its predecessors. The vampires in modernised castles fit with modern weaponry and touches of Gothic fashion to match the architecture, whereas the Lycans have remained the downtrodden anarchic group in hoodies, torn clothes and mismatched apparatus despite their newfound technological prowess. The soundtrack remains well scored throughout with a constant dark, brooding and menacing tone throughout alluding to the battles and discoveries that will feature throughout.
As it stands, this final, fast-paced chapter in the long-running series seemed ready to carry the series over its finish mark, only to fall at multiple hurdles, making for a confusing and disappointing finish to the cycle. The disc will, I’m sure, sit well in the box sets of several fans of the series, but I doubt it will make it out into the players half as frequently.
Author: Steve, Southgate store
