Underworld: Awakening Review

With a runtime of only 88 minutes, the fourth installment in the Underworld franchise, Underworld: Awakening, packs a punch with action, its fair share of gore, and werewolves on steroids. Seriously. The numerous action sequences were balanced out well with character dialogue and plot build up. The film doesn't linger on plot revelations, but rather addresses them and transitions forward.

The film opens with a brief recap of the past three films and then fast forwards twelve years to vampire Selene's imprisonment and escape from a laboratory. Selene awakes to a world where werewolves and vampires are exposed to humans and humans seek to exterminate both species. Kate Beckinsale returns in the role of the vicious, leather-clad vampire warrior Selene. Known as a "death dealer", Selene dishes out a hearty dose as she escapes from the laboratory in search of her lover, Michael Corvin, and with an odd connection to a pure blood hybrid, Eve, whom she sets out to protect. The battle between vampires and lycans continues as lycans hunt Eve and vampires reject her for fear of imminent lycan danger.


Scott Speedman didn't make a return to this film, and his character, Michael Corvin, had minimal screentime, so the future of his character, remains a mystery. English actor Theo James took up the mantel of hunky male lead who is a vampire with a fighting spirit determined to protect his coven. While not only excelling in the position of "eye candy" Michael Ealy plays a tough as nails, but intelligent human cop who believes there's more than meets the eye to the presence of vampires and werewolves. Up and coming actress India Eisley plays the role of Eve, the pure blood hybrid, and does a wonderful job of portraying a young girl never before exposed to the world outside of a laboratory. This is highlighted when she refers to her own name as "Subject 2". She also plays a fierce force to be reckoned with as she fights to protect herself and Selene.

Underworld: Awakening is definitely a movie I would watch again and recommend to lovers of the Underworld franchise, or just any fans of vampires, werewolves and supernatural fight scenes that will leave your head spinning. I look forward to seeing the next sequel and what the future holds for the main characters.



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