It is a war between two races of immortals, the Vampires and the Lycan, that takes place unbeknownst to the human race; but in recent centuries, a truce has arisen between the two races, as a result of the death of Lucian, the leader of the Lycan. Selene is a death dealer of the Vampire clan, a professional killer tasked with eliminating any Lycan exhibiting subversive behavior. One night, Selene and two other death dealers notice a suspicious movement of Lycan in the subway station and intervene, resulting in a massacre that also involves humans. The Lycan's target was actually a human, Michael Corvin, the last descendant of the Corvinus family, the only being who contains within him the blood of both races. In reality, the leader of the Lycan is not dead and wants to implement an apocalyptic plan that sees Michael as the protagonist: it will be Selene's task to prevent all this from happening.
It is impossible to summarize in a few lines the complicated plot of "Underworld", a fantasy horror film directed in 2003 by Len Wiseman; indeed, the subplots, the twists, the plot twists are so numerous that they push the viewer to embark on the viewing with the awareness that they are not facing a simple post-"Blade" vampire action film, but something more complex and infinitely more epic. "Underworld" manages, in its 130 minutes of duration, to never bore the viewer, managing to build an original and engaging plot, also giving space to an interesting subplot with unexpected socio-anthropological values. The Vampires, depicted as fascinating 19th-century aristocrats, represent the dominant class, with their own internal hierarchy (teeming with plots and falsehoods) and supported, in addition to an evident organizational superiority, also by an intrinsic cultural superiority. The Lycan are rough and given to violence, representing the subjugated proletariat but ready to revolt, just as the animal hidden within them is ready to come out on full moon nights. Already the way the two races are presented to us is emblematic and lightning-fast in their class delineation:
the Vampires appear gathered in a mansion, immersed in decadent luxury among parties and champagne; the Lycan, on the other hand, are stationed in the city's underground galleries, busy betting and cheering during a fight between werewolves, who bite and scratch each other, until their leader arrives to restore order,
Of course, the screenwriters (Kevin Grevioux, Danny McBride, and Len Wiseman himself) also thought about the romantic aspect, sewing a double love story: one in the present between Selene and Michael Corvin, she a vampire and he first human, then about to become a Lycan; and one in the past involving both races equally, as if to underscore the strength of love that goes beyond every obstacle. But this horror-themed revision of "Romeo and Juliet" certainly does not occupy the most relevant aspect of the film that, being a fantasy-action-horror,
gives ample space to bloody clashes between monsters, all magnificently choreographed. The special effects are not top-notch (it is still a mid-budget film), but still above average; the photography is one of the film's strong points: we are shown an underground world perpetually lit by dark - opaque tones that often shift to metallic blue. The look of the characters is particularly well-chosen (perhaps the right word is cool), especially that of the protagonist Selene, a stunning Kate Beckinsale in a sexy latex suit that will surely remain in the collective erotic imagination of male viewers.
In conclusion, "Underworld" is a successful pastiche of genres that brings together two icons of fantasy cinema like the vampire and the werewolf without ever falling into excess. Carefully crafted from every point of view and engaging. Deserving of at least one viewing.
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