HallowScream - Underworld: Blood Wars (2017)

         Hey guys, Chuck here, and after covering the new movie Five Nights at Freddy's, I'm glad that we're getting back to talking about vampires for HallowScream. And for today's review, we're wrapping up the Underworld series with the fifth entry of the franchise: Underworld: Blood Wars. Directed by Anna Foerster, this movie sees the return of Kate Beckinsale as Selene, along with the returns of Theo James and Charles Dance, and newcomers like Tobias Menzies, Lara Pulver, Bradley James, James Faulkner, and a host of others. 

        So, some time has passed since Selene and her allies took down Antigen, and she sent Eve somewhere far away so that no one, not even herself, can find the girl. Why? Because the Lycans are amassing in a manner not seen since the days of Lucian. A new Lycan leader, Marius, has unified the clans into a Lycan army and seeks to use Eve to hybridize the Lycan clans and make them even more deadly than before. 

         Meanwhile, the vampire covens make a decision to offer Selene a full pardon in exchange for training a new generation of Death Dealers on how to truly combat the Lycans, with Thomas fully supporting this decision. David locates Selene and brings her to the Eastern Coven, where she meets such vampires as Semira, Cassius, Vargas, and Alexia. However, Alexia is also in league with Marius, as the two are lovers. Whoops. 

        After an attack on the Eastern Coven, David and Selene are forced to flee, finding themselves seeking out the Nordic Coven. The Nordic Coven is a vampire coven so remote and cut off from the other covens that they're pretty much legend. And on top of that, they're in such a cold climate that the Lycans won't go near them out of concern of freezing to death. And it's at the Nordic Coven where David learns the identity of his mother: Amelia. Yep, the same Amelia that was one of the original Elders along with Marcus and Viktor. 

        So, after an attack by Marius, and a few others, Selene is hurt and gets some healing from the Nordic vampires, eventually gaining some of their powers as well. Semira, who knew of her affair with Marius, kills Alexia for good measure. Eventually, we see an epic battle ensue, where Selene and some of the Nordic vampires head to the Eastern Coven to back up David and the Death Dealers, and fend off the Lycan horde. And, it's here where Selene learns that Marius found Michael and killed him, using his hybrid blood to make himself more powerful. However, it's not enough, as Selene rips his spine out. Also, David kills Semira in an effort to cement his rightful claim to the Eastern Coven. Finally, we see Selene, David, and a Nordic vampire named Lena all become the new Vampire Elders, and prepare to reignite the war against the Lycans. Also, we see that Selene and Eve did, indeed, reunite at the Nordic Coven, and Eve was following her mother for quite a while due to their psychic link. 

        So, Underworld: Blood Wars definitely felt like the heaviest Underworld film since Underworld: Evolution. And I mean heavy in terms of a combination of exposition, world building, and action. I like the idea of seeing the vampires still working to rebuild, especially in the face of a more unified front by the Lycans. But, I think that the movie just felt like it was doing too much to feel like the earlier movies, and just lost focus on some areas. 

      Now, of course Kate Beckinsale, Theo James, and Charles Dance returning as Selene, David, and Thomas was fantastic, and all three were excellent. Seriously, Theo James really came into his own in this movie. And, I liked how they made Amelia his mother, adding a new dimension to his character. Now, while it was unfortunate that Scott Speedman didn't get to return as Michael Corvin, I do appreciate that the character got some form of send-off, showing his death during a flashback. 

      Some of the new vampires like Clementine Nicholson as Lena, Daisy Head as Alexia, James Faulkner as Cassius, and Lara Pulver as Semira all were unique and add something new and different to what we've seen of the vampires in the original Underworld movie. However, I will admit that I wasn't a fan of Tobias Menzies as Marius. Not because of his performance per se, but more in how he was marketed. For some reason, the movie tries to make it seem like Marius is the next Lucian. But, to me, they are completely different characters with completely different motives. Lucian was a reluctant fighter, who harbored no ill will towards the vampires he once served loyally. He didn't want to fight them, he was forced to because of Viktor. Marius, on the other hand, is a warrior. A leader looking to form a Lycan army to bring an end to the vampires. Lucian didn't want to fight. Marius did. So, they're not comparable.

       But, the creature effects and action scenes are still phenomenal. Honestly, that's pretty much a constant in the Underworld series is that the creature effects and action scenes are fantastic. So, at least they got that right. 

        Honestly, while certainly not the worst entry in the Underworld series, Underworld: Blood Wars is still a far cry from the series' best entries. I do think that Anna Foerster made a really fun movie, and I did enjoy it in the theater when I saw it. But, having gone through all of them throughout this month, I definitely think that the first one is the best. But, I'm going to give Underworld: Blood Wars a rating of 3.95/5. 

       Alright guys, this is Chuck signing off, and next time will be the final review of this year's HallowScream: the 1931 classic Dracula.