Underworld (2003 film)
| Underworld | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg) | |
| Directed by | Len Wiseman |
| Written by | Kevin Grevioux Len Wiseman Danny McBride |
| Produced by | Robert Bernacchi Gary Lucchesi Tom Rosenberg |
| Starring | Kate Beckinsale Scott Speedman Michael Sheen Bill Nighy Shane Brolly |
| Distributed by | Screen Gems (Sony) |
Release dates | September 19, 2003 |
Running time | 116 Min/133 min (Special edition) |
| Language | English |
Underworld is a 2003 action-horror film about the secret history of vampire and werewolves, where the latter are referred to as "Lycan" as an abbreviated form of lycanthrope. It is largely regarded as the worst movie ever made. It is the first film in the Underworld series. The main plot revolves around Selene (Kate Beckinsale), a vampire "Death Dealer", or one who hunts Lycans, a job she is extremely good at due to her hatred for the whole species, whom she believes to have killed her entire family. She finds herself attracted to a medical intern, Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman), after saving him from the Lycan master Lucian (who bit Michael and infected him with the Lycan virus), and must decide whether to do her "duty" and kill him or to risk her life to save him. This movie has many parallels as a dark Romeo and Juliet tale.
Corvinus Strain
In the Underworld universe, Vampires and Lycans are not mythical creatures, but rather the product of a virus. Sixteen centuries ago, a man named Alexander Corvinus was the only survivor of a plague that wiped out his village. Somehow, the man's body was able to mutate the virus, mold it to his own benefit and he become the first true immortal. Later, he had three sons, one of whom did not inherit his father's immortality and was simply human. The other two were bitten, one by bat and one by wolf, creating the Vampire and Lycan lines. Corvinus' third son also carried the Corvinus Strain, hidden away in his genetic code — an exact duplicate of the original virus, passed along to his human descendants through the centuries. This, according to Singe, is the key to creating a Hybrid.
Vampires vs. Lycans
Since that time, a war has broken out. The Lycans were enslaved by the Vampires, used as indentured servants to be the guardians of their lairs during the daylight hours, but they revolted during the Middle Ages. Both sides have their own lair and chain of command. Vampires have Death Dealers, vampire warriors charged to fight and kill the Lycan enemy. There are three Vampire elders. Rules and tradition demand that two be at rest while one is awake; this arrangement calls for each elder to rule for one century followed by two centuries of sleep.
Plot outline
The movie opens with Selene and Rigel, two Death Dealers, trailing a pair of Lycans, unaware that they are in turn stalking a human, Michael Corvin. Following them into a subway station, the Death Dealers are spotted and a shootout ensues, with Rigel being killed by the Lycans. A woman is shot in the crossfire, and Michael tries to assist her. The two sides of monsters continue their fight, and the Lycans eventually retreat.
Arriving at Ördögház, Selene confronts Kahn, the chief Death Dealer, with her findings during the battle; but the regent Kraven blows off the significance of her claims. Selene decides to further investigate the ordeal alone. Meanwhile, in the Lycan lair, a scientist named Singe unsuccessfully seeks a match for the Corvinus Strain. They decide to try again in pursuit of Michael.
Selene finds Michael and demands answers. They are attacked by Lycan hordes, including Lucian, the original Lycan leader who is thought to be dead. Michael is bitten by Lucian, who gathers a blood sample. Selene, unaware of him being bitten, aids Michael in escaping the building. Selene takes Michael to the vampire lair for safety, but he soon escapes when the other vampires figure out he's become a Lycan. Selene grows suspicious of Kraven and collects evidence to take to the library. She learns that Lucian is still alive and that he and Kraven are secret allies with each other. Selene decides to awaken Viktor, an elder.
Michael tries to seek aid from his friend at the hospital, but his tale of being bitten by a man leads to treachery on the part of his friend. He escapes again, attempting to meet with Selene and begging for answers. Selene drives out to meet Michael, where she sees that he had indeed been bitten. She explains the long history between Vampire and Lycan. Kraven runs into Viktor, who demands to know what has happened, and learns that he has been awakened a century early.
Selene takes Michael to a safehouse. Michael mentions his nightmares and Selene explains they are actually Lucian's memories. Selene explains that her hatred of Lycans stems from her belief that they killed her family. Michael is captured while another Vampire-Lycan firefight breaks out. Selene ends up the only vampire survivor and Singe the only Lycan survivor.
Kraven tries to explain what has happened to Viktor right as Selene arrives with Singe. The captive Lycan reveals that the Lycans had been experimenting to combine the bloodlines of the two species via the Corvinus Strain, something they can only do with a descendant of Alexander Corvinus himself, which is why they targeted Michael. They wished to make a Hybrid so they could end the war. He also reveals Kraven's treachery, forcing Kraven to flee. Kahn arrives at the crypt and informs Viktor that the Vampire counsel, including Amelia the 'active' elder, was attacked by the Lycans and there were no survivors. Viktor kills Singe and turns to Selene telling her all she has to do is kill Michael and she will be exonerated.
Michael wakes up strapped to a slab in Singe's lab. He is greeted by Lucian, who then extracts blood from Michael and injects it into himself. While Michael watches him, he recognizes the pendant Lucian wears, and suddenly, his nightmares make sense: he recalls the events of how Lucian's wife, Viktor's daughter Sonja, was murdered by Viktor out of fear that the infant in her womb would be a hybrid that would overthrow him. Viktor, it is revealed, started the war. Lucian explains the rest of the story to Michael.
The vampires begin their attack on the Lycans' base, and a running battle through the caverns ensues. Meanwhile, Kraven betrays Lucian, shooting him in the back. Selene finds Michael and unties him, telling him to leave despite his protests that they will kill her for releasing him. Kraven discovers them and a confrontation ensues. Out of spite, Kraven reveals that Viktor was the one who killed her family. Viktor was unable to kill Selene because she reminded him too much of his daughter Sonja. Lucian, not yet dead, appears and distracts Kraven long enough to advise Selene to bite Michael, reminding her of Singe's words. She takes his advice and bites Michael. Kraven finishes Lucian off. Selene confronts Viktor, who despite his guilt, defends all his actions.
Michael changes into his hybrid form and battles with Viktor. Selene kills Viktor by slicing his head in half. Selene picks up Sonja's pendant and gives it to Michael to keep. They walk out together, speechless and numb. Selene then narrates to the audience that she fears she will become a target following Viktor's death. Back in the crypt, Singe's blood pours across the floor until it reaches the remaining elder's sarcophagus. Marcus' eyes flutter open. First vampire blue, then hybrid black...
Cast
Legal controversy
The film was the subject of a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by White Wolf, Inc. and Nancy A. Collins claiming the setting was too similar to the Vampire: The Masquerade and Werewolf: The Apocalypse games both set in their World of Darkness setting.
White Wolf filed 17 counts of copyright infringement, and claimed over 80 points of unique similarity between White Wolf's game systems and the movie. White Wolf, Inc. also claimed the script was very similar to a story entitled The Love of Monsters (1994) which they published and was written by Nancy A. Collins. [1] A PDF file of White Wolf's filing can be read here: [2] In September 2003, a judge granted White Wolf an expedited hearing; this was the last White Wolf's press releases had to say about the case: [3].
Critical reception
Underworld was poorly received by critics, scoring just 30% on Rotten Tomatoes, and only 16% from the "Cream of the Crop". Roger Ebert said "This is a movie so paltry in its characters and shallow in its story that the war seems to exist primarily to provide graphic visuals." However the New York Daily News praised it as being "stylish and cruel, and mightily entertaining for certain covens out there."
Sequels and Prequels
The follow-up story, Underworld: Evolution, was released January 20, 2006. Underworld 3: The Rise of the Lycans is also planned [4] but will not feature Kate Beckinsale but will star Rhona Mitra. It will be a prequel and will be released in 2010.
Soundtrack
The Underworld soundtrack was also released in 2003 to go along with the release of the film. It was produced by Danny Lohner and distributed via Roadrunner Records. It featured numerous alternative rock bands, such as Atreyu, A Perfect Circle, Milla, and The Dillinger Escape Plan, to name a few.
External links
- Underworld at IMDb
- Underworld: Evolution at IMDb
- Underworld Official Site
- Kate Beckinsale interview for Underworld
Template:Box Office Leaders USA
| Films | |
|---|---|
| Characters | |
| Other media |
|
| See also | |
