Underworld: Blood Wars : Review

Selene (Kate Beckinsale) the vampire death dealer continues her fight to end the eternal war, long fought between the Lycans and Vampires who betrayed her.

Underworld: Blood Wars, the latest installment in the much loved franchise, is a shorter tale. Devoid of love story, intrigue and the threat of betrayal that hung over Selene in the previous installments. The film starts with a recap of the story thus far, bringing one up to speed with the important events that have taken place, and thereby avoiding the necessity to have seen all the other films. Although seeing at least the first two in the franchise would be of benefit to any viewer.

This current incarnation soon gets to the point of the story, skipping any form of character development in exchange for a much shorter film, and a plot that is very straight forward. There are no twists to speak of, although a sudden addition of some new powers does seem all too convenient at one point. The whole story feels like a bit of a let down, with the potential of the series either running dry, or the filmmakers just not having their hearts set on another lengthy shoot, this is possibly the weakest of the Underworld films.

With her only allies in the vampire house being that of David (theo James – Divergent) and his father Thomas (Charles Dance – The Imitation Game, Ghostbusters), the film purports to ask the question of whether Selene can, or will, make the ultimate sacrifice for her kind.

A story that is very straight forward, a production that feels rushed and that only exists to have ‘just one more’ in the series, Underworld: Blood Wars is sadly lacking. It could have rounded off a fun franchise, loved by millions and gone out in style, but instead should have let things be with the previous installment.

Underworld: Blood Wars opens 2 December 2016, in South African cinemas, in 2D and 3D, a full month before its release in the USA.

Published in
Categorised as Review

By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb