Synopsis:
Underworld: Blood Wars is the fifth sequence in the series and develops the character of Selene (Kate Beckinsale), a Death Dealer vampire and once again involved in the war between Vampires and Lycans. The hybrid daughter, Eve, whom Selene tries to keep away from both factions, is also being chased by both factions. While the vampiric factions are crumbling, the lycans have risen seventh under the leadership of Marius (Tobias Menzies) whose ambition to have Eve, the hybrid blood, is to make them an absolutely invincible Clan.
Selene is summoned again by the vampires hoping to assist a transformed Selene in the upbringing of a new generation of Death Dealers in their war with the Lycans. She, however, is able to do so through the assistance of David (Theo James), one of her vampire friends and Thomas (Charles Dance), whose son is a vampire. Therefore, Selene goes into a quest that exposes her hidden history and the history of her family. Rid of the Nordic Coven, which gave her new powers and permitted new allies, Selene has never been this powerful. She is then prepared for the final battle against Marius who conceals equally significant plots.
Selene steps forward to fight in the decisive conflict by ensuring that the war will be over and the existence of the entire race of the vampires will be secured as well, for the very lives of both the vampires and the Lycans are at stake.
Awards & Wins:
Underworld: Blood Wars did not receive significant awards or nominations but was noted for continuing the franchise’s tradition of stylish action and Gothic visuals. It found its strongest reception among longtime fans of the series.
Cast & Crew:
- Director: Anna Foerster
- Main Cast:
- Kate Beckinsale as Selene – The legendary vampire warrior fighting to end the centuries-long war.
- Theo James as David – Selene’s ally, who learns about his true lineage.
- Tobias Menzies as Marius – The ruthless leader of the Lycans, seeking ultimate power through hybrid blood.
- Lara Pulver as Semira – A vampire elder with her own treacherous ambitions.
- Charles Dance as Thomas – David’s father, a vampire elder who seeks to save the vampire race.
- Daisy Head as Alexia – A vampire who works as a spy for the Lycans.
- Screenplay: Cory Goodman
- Cinematography: Karl Walter Lindenlaub
- Music: Michael Wandmacher
IMDb Ratings:
- IMDb Score: 5.7/10
- The film received largely negative reviews from critics, who felt the franchise had become formulaic, relying on the same themes and action beats as its predecessors. Fans of the series, however, appreciated the return of Kate Beckinsale’s Selene and the continuation of the franchise’s lore, though some noted that the storyline had become overly convoluted.
Personal Insights:
Underworld: Blood Wars seeks new energy into the long-running story by presenting new places, new characters, and new dynamics. Even if the supporters are used to the central themes of the movie like the war between the group of vampires against the Lycan and Selene’s past—it seeks new horizons and attempts to do just that, by attempting to explore the world of vampires further and their different covens around the globe. The introduction of the Nordic Coven and their icy cave, is perhaps the most attractive parts of the franchise, which is mostly dark and obsessed with Gothic culture.
Selene’s character as performed by Kate Beckinsale is also a satisfying aspect of the film. At first, she was simply an efficient Death Dealer, but her changes made her a person who was tormented and was seeking atonement and a reason to live. In Blood Wars, Selene receives spiritual empowerment and other abilities to assist her in fighting, but this time, it is not about the physical journey, but rather an emotional one, understanding the impact of her actions and wanting to save her child.
The introduction of Marius as the new Lycan leader provides a new face as an antagonist, but this time Tobias Menzies succeeds in an evil portrayal. Nevertheless, his persona is neither rounded nor textured like the other antagonists, which makes the story conflict a bit apparent and less convenient. Furthermore, the film also deals with David’s family history and his perspective of becoming a leader in the vampire circles, though it is worth saying that this evolution of the character has been rather rushed.
Blood Wars is coherent with the already established Gothic ambience intrinsic to the series, featuring elaborate vampire houses, gothic forests and massive battles. The choreography of the combat is still stylish, as Selene’s powers have been augmented, this leads to some really good fight scenes. However, the story more often than not suffers from information overload where there are a lot of side stories, as a result, some characters are not satisfactorily developed.
In general, Underworld: Blood Wars provides the shootouts and visual effects that everyone appreciates, yet it does not have the same level of story detail and characterisation that previously made such sequels interesting. In particular for the fans of the series, the film enables us to satisfy the evolution of the character Selene and suggests that other such stories can be told in the future. In more professional or advanced film criticism, or for average or non-fans of the glittering sight, this will be like impenetrable due to the overuse of franchise elements, and having no newness may make it somewhat disappointing.