HallowScream - Underworld (2003)

        Hey guys, Chuck here, and it's officially time. Time for the spooky, scary, and unusual. It's time for HallowScream. But, this year we're doing a very special HallowScream, which is completely dedicated to vampire movies. And to kick things off, we're starting with the 2003 vampire action film Underworld. Directed by Len Wiseman, and from a story crafted by Wiseman, Kevin Grievoux, and Danny F. McBride, Underworld tells a story based on the classic feud between vampires and werewolves. The movie stars Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Bill Nighy, Michael Sheen, Shane Brolly, Sophia Myles, Erwin Leder, Zita Görög, and Kevin Grievoux. 

       So, the movie tells us of a century spanning war between vampires and Lycans, which are an advanced breed of werewolves capable or retaining their human forms, unlike the werewolves of the past. Fighting on the front lines against the Lycans are trained vampires called Death Dealers. Our main protagonist is one of these Death Dealers, a vampire named Selene. Selene witnesses two Lycans, including Raze, searching for a human who is believed to be the last mortal descendant of Alexander Corvinus. Also, she picks up a new form of bullet created by the Lycans: a bullet with ultraviolet liquid. However, the vampires are getting ready for an upcoming ceremony called the awakening, wherein Amelia, one of the three Vampire Elders, would awaken Markus from his slumber and reenter her own slumber, with Markus leading the covens. 

       Now, the Lycans are led by Lucian, who was supposedly killed by a vampire named Kraven. But, Lucian survived, and is now hunting for Alexander Corvinus' descendant. Enter Michael Corvin, who works as a nurse at a local hospital. Upon finding him, Lucian bites Michael, but Selene takes him to the coven for answers. Unfortunately, his bite is spotted by a vampire named Erika. Michael eventually gets away, and Selene, whom Kraven refuses to listen to, performs an awakening on Viktor, the third Vampire Elder, and showing him what she needs him to see. Selene then meets up with Michael, and she explains how vampires and Lycans each emit viruses with their bites, which can either turn a bite victim into either a vampire or a Lycan. Unfortunately, no one has survived a bite from both species, and any attempt at such would guarantee death. Viktor, however, is upset with Selene, as she woke him from slumber too early, and must be punished for her actions. Luckily, fellow Death Dealer Kahn gives her a new form of ammunition carrying silver nitrate, making death a guarantee for any Lycan shot with such a bullet. 

        Kraven, it turns out, is a traitor, who has his men wait as the Lycans murder Amelia and her group. But, Selene arrives with Lycan scientist Singe, who reveals to Viktor the Lycans' plan: use the blood of the last human descendant of Alexander Corvinus, the first true immortal, to merge the vampire and Lycan bloodlines. The story of Alexander Corvinus is that, in the early fifth century, his body mutated a virus that ravaged his village, making him immortal in the process. Some time later, and Alexander fathered three sons: Markus, who was bitten by a bat and became the first vampire, William, who was bitten by a wolf and became the first werewolf, and a son who carried the dormant version of the Corvinus strain in his DNA, and passed it through the centuries, all the way to Michael. 

          Singe also reveals that Kraven is in cahoots with Lucian, having staged the death of the latter to convince Viktor of the deed. Single is killed by Viktor, who promises Selene retribution. Meanwhile, at the Lycan den, Lucian reveals his story to Michael: Lucian had fallen in love with Viktor's daughter Sonja, whom he impregnated, but she was killed on her father's orders, with Lucian being forced to watch. So, in fact, Viktor started the war, and eventually lied about it to the vampires. Viktor, Selene, and the Death Dealers arrive, action ensues, and many Lycans are killed, but Kraven escapes. Selene bites Michael, making him the first Vampire-Lycan hybrid, and Selene kills Viktor. Selene and Michael go on the run, and we see Markus start to awaken back at the vampire mansion. 

       Underworld takes the base concept of vampires vs. werewolves and makes arguably one of the most badass action movies of the early 2000's out of it. The action in the movie is almost second to none, and I would challenge anyone who loves this kind of action flick to say they don't like this movie. I also liked how they explain that vampires and Lycans are the result of different mutations of a similar virus, the Corvinus strain, which adds a more grounded sense to the idea and makes them far less surreal and supernatural. 

         And, the overall performances were tons of fun. Kate Beckinsale is a fantastic lead as Selene, and her fight scenes are just awesome. Scott Speedman was just passable as Michael, but he spends this movie learning of how this world of vampires and Lycans works, so I give it a pass. But, the three best performances in the movie, in my opinion, were Bill Nighy as Viktor, Michael Sheen as Lucian, and Erwin Leder as Singe. 

        I also really loved the dark lighting in this movie, especially all of the different shades of blue in the lighting. I think that the blue lighting really gives the movie that sense of the supernatural that you want from an action movie about vampires, and it is very evocative of another popular franchise at the time, The Matrix. And that also plays into the wardrobe for the Death Dealers and the Lycans, with a lot of long coats, black leather, and so forth. 

         All in all, Underworld is a frickin awesome movie. Now, in spite of the character name of Selena being drawn from a character in Marvel Comics, the movie itself is NOT based on a comic book. It looks like it should be based on a graphic novel or something, but it's a completely original story from top to bottom. So, I'm giving Underworld a rating of 5/5. This is Chuck signing off, and HallowScream is just getting started.