UNDERWORLD EVOLUTION
US, 2006, 106 minutes, Colour.
Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Tony Curran, Derek Jacobi, Bill Nighy, Steven Mackintosh.
Directed by Len Wiseman.
At the end of this episode in the battle between vampires and lycans (wolf-creatures), the warrior-heroine Serena, instead of rejoicing that enemies have been destroyed and there is a possibility of peace, ominously suggests that there are dark times ahead. A signal that there will be a further film in the series.
The first Underworld was a surprising hit. Not that it was easy to follow the dark history of the emergence in the 13th century Central Europe of the conflict between the two races who could live only in the darkness of an underworld, not visible to ordinary mortals. (The present episode has an introductory explanation of the origins, a reminder of who the main characters were, the nature of their betrayals and their enmities and cruelty, as well as frequent flashback glimpses of scenes from the first film – for which I was thankful, enabling me to follow this one better.)
A prologue set in 1202 takes us back to the vampires conquering the lycans, both descended from twin brothers who were bitten by bat and wolf respectively. Betrayed by their ally (Bill Nighy who was seen to do all this in the first film), the wolf brother is condemned to eternal imprisonment. The other wants to develop a more powerful creature (who is vampiric but who flies with huge wings that can pinion the enemy – which is demonstrated many times). Derek Jacobi turns up as their father.
In the meantime, Serena, played by Kate Beckinsale in a black leather outfit and the hybrid Michael, the rather underwhelming Scott Speedman, are on a mission to save the vampire race from the mad machinating twin.
Part of the intrigue of the Underworld films is that the characters are also immersed in the contemporary world of scientific experimentation – as well as a helicopter climax.
This re-imagining of the horror genres has its exciting moments but also has its very gory moments which gain it a more restrictive rating.
1. Continuing immediately after the first episode?
2. The popularity of the series, continuing for more than a decade?
3. The atmosphere, the recreation of the Middle Ages, dark, castles, tombs, prisons? Humans, vampires, Lycans?
4. The contrast with the 21st-century world, cities and buildings, underground? Modern machines and helicopters? The musical score?
5. The characters able to move between each world?
6. Costumes, decor, light and darkness, locations?
7. The history, 1202, the Elders, the search for the Lycans, vampires, the destroyed village? William Corvinus? In prison?
8. The characters from the first film: Selene as the vampire, Michael as the Lycan, their natures, Michael and the human component? Their heritage? Not as alien as traditional vampires or werewolves, the concern about humans and having stores of blood?
9. Markus, his sleep, Kraven to kill him, the fight, Kraven’s death? Lorenz and his group of cleaners, searching out the vampires?
10. The importance of the pendant, its origins, the two halves?
11. Markus, his pursuit of Selene and Michael, their hiding in the warehouse, their love, the sexual encounter, the two parts of the pendant? Their wanting answers?
12. The history, Alexander Corvinus, the bites, the heritage, immortals and mortals, William, the Lycan animals, their development? Viktor, the bat and the bite, the tradition of the vampires? The brothers, their intrigues and deceptions?
13. Selene, her father, William’s prison, the pendant as the key? Markus and his killing her father? The death of Markus? Selene’s blood – and her drinking the blood and being reinvigorated?
14. Michael, seeming death, his revival? Markus and the bite, the cleaners and their being turned into Lycans? William and ambitions, Alexander? Markus and Viktor at their
deaths? Selene and the drinking of the blood, renewed, the role of the helicopter in the deaths of the brothers?
15. Selene, strength, and her able to being able to withstand sunlight? The readiness for the next episode?
