Directed by:
Patrick TatopoulosCinematography:
Ross EmeryComposer:
Paul HaslingerCast:
Rhona Mitra, Steven Mackintosh, Bill Nighy, Michael Sheen, Shane Brolly, Tania Nolan, Kevin Grevioux, Elizabeth Hawthorne, Craig Parker, Peter Tait (more)VOD (4)
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The third outing for the Underworld fantasy franchise. The film tells the story of the origins of the centuries-old blood feud between the aristocratic vampires known as Death Dealers and their onetime slaves, the Lycans. In the Dark Ages, young Lycan Lucian (Michael Sheen) emerges as a powerful leader who rallies the werewolves to rise up against Viktor (Bill Nighy), the cruel vampire king who has enslaved them. Lucian is joined by his secret lover, Sonja (Rhona Mitra), in his battle against the Death Dealer army and his struggle for Lycan freedom. (Entertainment in Video)
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Reviews (8)
Wiseman may be a tragedian who steals from where he can, but against Tatopoulos he is a virtuoso. Or I’ll film lightning, raindrops, sword swings, someone’s face, and a splash of blood on the wall, cram it all into a single second, and repeat it several times in a row... and now I have an action scene! As an added bonus, it will have a demented plot that wouldn't even succeed as a non-committal B-movie, bored actors (Nighy’s demonicness and Rhona's sex appeal nowhere to be found), the absence of a single moment worth remembering, or at least one to help you snap out of stereotypical lethargy. And this is the result. This is the most moronic thing with dudes in leather rags holding swords since Pathfinder, and it puts its two predecessors to shame, though we could actually say that it’s not really even possible anymore.
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As a prequel, it's not completely bad. Rhona Mitra was a safe bet and the rest of the cast is more or less consistently good. What didn't work as well in the third vampire adventure was the atmosphere and overall visual execution. After all, darkness and booming music work better in a modern city at night, where it's much more appealing and attractive, rather than in a medieval castle surrounded by walls and catapults. The special effects weren't particularly impressive either, but from the first moments, it was clear that they were cutting corners wherever possible. There are a few original scenes (with the wooden spears) and the final quarter of the film surprised me with its unexpected twists, which fit well into the story. If there's a fourth one, I wonder what it will be about. It feels like a closed trilogy that barely meets the standards of quality.
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I welcomed the idea of making a prequel to the first and second Underworld with open arms, as it was good to go back to the origins of the conflict between vampires and Lycans. I also welcomed the return of Bill Nighy, whose performance as Victor, one of the oldest vampires, was simply spot on. I was a little uneasy about the casting of Rhona Mitra in the lead role, as I don't really like her, but on the other hand I have to admit that the casting team managed to choose an actress who is very similar to Kate Beckinsale, which was the point – they really do look almost like sisters or cousins. The film doesn't lack for action, a few good scares and in this case a numerous horde of properly bloodthirsty werewolves. There was a jarring scene here and there – for example, the sex on top of the castle or Lucian's speech to the other Lycans in the cells – but that's kind of part of the franchise. All in all, a decent sequel (or rather prequel) to the first two parts, with a really good atmosphere thanks to the setting in ancient times.
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Rise of the Lycans is actually a prequel to the previous two installments, so if you had seen the original Underworld you knew how things would turn out. Even without it, the plot was clearly predictable. I get that vampires aren't allowed to go out in the sun, but still, I don't think the darkness needed to be so impenetrable, and it certainly didn't need to rain. If it had at least snowed, it might have brightened it up a bit. I was only going to give it two stars, if it hadn’t been for Bill Nighy and Rhona Mitra.
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This is bad. It’s lost its mojo. I quite liked the previous two installments (the first more than the second), but I didn't like this one. Boring. And the dubbing?! Why did she call him “darling"? And why was he wearing the same coat he had been wearing several centuries before? And what was the black guy doing there? And why....? Never mind. A weak installment, a bad script, and overall a big disappointment.
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