Underworld: Blood Wars

This review may contain spoilers!

Well at least it's better than Underworld: Awakening. I would give Underworld: Blood Wars a 6/10.

This film brought the series back on tone after the events of the fourth film, we're plunged deep into the conflict between vampires and lycans (the humans are left in the background where they belong). What is really intriguing about this instalment of Underworld is how the politics of the vampire covens is put under a spotlight and we see the power games that go on amongst the vampire leaders. As the film moves along there are several interesting twists and turns that further your intrigue, sudden character deaths or clever revelations. The score for the film sounds great, it has that Gothic intensity I've always enjoyed about the first few films. The fight sequences also look great, in particular the special effects that happen within them such as lycan transformations or vampires combusting.

Kate Beckinsale, who played Selene, has been a very consistent protagonist for these films; her role has a detached air when first you see her but this always conceals a deeper fierce passion that sets her role apart. Theo James, who played David, really suited having a lot more to do in this film; his bravado and compassion towards others has set him up to be a great Elder character. Charles Dance, who played Thomas, suits this transition from a cowardly to a calculating role; Dance brings forth a gentler quality ot his role that strengthens his chemistry with James and makes Dance's death all the more tragic. James Faulkner, who played Cassius, has the stern authoritative manner of a vampire lord that we've come to recognise in these films; he really made for a great rival for Pulver's character.

However the best performance came from Lara Pulver, who played Semira. Pulver brings forth an engaging antagonist that rivals that of Nighy's Viktor from previous films. She has a calm and diplomatic tone when first we meet her, she's clearly willing to conceal layer upon layer of herself to achieve her end goal. Once Selene comes into her role's possession Pulver brings forth a brutal and vicious temper. This is a role who is happy to cull as many of her fellow vampires as it takes to gain more power. A fascinating performance and role.

This film is burdened down by what has always been a problem for these films, a constant onslaught of exposition. We're constantly being introduced to new characters or settings or customs that we haven't seen before, the problem with this is that it's a lot to process all at once and the film is still charging ahead trying to tell you about many other aspects of the world. After a point the sudden twists become a bit tiresome or poorly set up, a loyal henchman betrays his master with no build up or indication, a new vampire character is barely introduced before her affair with a lycan becomes a major plot point, the revelation that David is Amelia's son feels like it could have been better devised and Selene's resurrection barely made sense. The pacing of the film moved very quick and then excessively slow, there was indecision about whether to present this as a simple action romp or a calculated Gothic fantasy. The cinematography showed promise but had some weak moments of framing and action scenes felt dizzy as opposed to epic; the editing was snappy and often shots didn't match up with one another as well as they could have.

Tobias Menzies, who played Marius, made for an antagonist with very little depth to him; his motives for fighting the vampires and killing Michael were never really explored. Bradley James, who played Varga, was such a pointlessly flippant role; his sudden betrayal of Semira wasn't clever so much as it was lazy writing. Daisy Head, who played Alexia, had very little screen presence; her sudden relationship with Menzies felt very bland and lacked chemistry. Clementine Nicholson, who played Lena, felt a bit over the top even by Underworld standards; her Northern Monk role didn't really gel with the tone of the rest of the series. Oliver Stark, who played Gregor, was another minor role who didn't stand out very well; to be fair it's not surprising the henchman to Menzies was forgettable. Peter Andersson, who played Vidar, felt so out of place it was ridiculous; his zen monk got a bit cringeworthy at times.