Horror-action franchises like Underworld are often flashes in the pan. They leave as suddenly as they arrive, like a bat in the night, as it were. The vampires-versus-werewolves tale has become something of a forgotten franchise, despite the fact that the most recent entry came out as recently as 2016.
Horror movies in general do not sell as wildly as strict action or superhero movies do. For example, the first Underworld film nearly earned $100 million, which was fantastic given its budget. However, the average Marvel movie over the past several years has seemed to early close to or upwards of $1 billion.
The franchise was originally set up for great success. It came out years before the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) or DC Extended Universe (DCEU) were in existence, and the superhero phenomena had yet to really take flight at the theater. Additionally, the franchise had a formidable lead actress in Kate Beckinsale. Underworld also came out five years before Twilight. Vampire fatigue would not set in for a number of years, much to Underworld’s advantage. However, old franchises are being revisited recently. After all, The Matrix Resurrections is in theaters at this very moment after an 18-year franchise hiatus. Does Underworld deserve to be revisited in kind?
Years Since a Great Vampire Property
When was the last time a great vampire tale was told on screen? Anyone who thinks the answer is Twilight is adorable but sorely delusional. While it would be incorrect to label Underworld as ‘great,’ it is fairly unique and hit a sweet spot for viewers when the first movie was released.
Taking place in Central/Eastern Europe and set in the modern-day, Underworld follows a vampiric dynasty in its quest to rid the world of Lycans, or werewolves. The vampires have superior technology but cannot match the Lycans for strength. The franchise blended horror elements with action fairly seamlessly. This was Underworld’s charm and has been missing from vampire tales in recent years.
Acting Chops
Kate Beckinsale was perfectly cast as the vampire Seline in the Underworld franchise. She is fairly tall, very attractive, and athletically built, as one would imagine a vampire to be. Beckinsale was believable as both a werewolf assassin and a vampire in the role.
However, many of the ancillary roles provide middling acting, at best. This was especially true as the franchise matured. It is hard to take a vampire-versus-werewolves story seriously to begin with, let alone when the vampire and werewolf actors either take their roles too seriously or not seriously enough.
Captivating, Eerie Music
Part of what makes a movie great or even worthwhile is its music selection. While movies are a visual medium, a great movie with a bad soundtrack does not live up to its potential.
Underworld’s soundtrack was and remains excellent. With multiple songs featuring Maynard James Keenan (Tool, A Perfect Circle, Puscifer) and a song by rock royalty David Bowie, Underworld’s soundtrack is captivating, eerie, and moody. The songs also perfectly match the scenes they are featured in, not unlike a great comic whose art matches its writing prowess.
A Middling Plot
The plot to Underworld was relatively novel for its time, and came years before Twilight would also pit Vampires against Werewolves. Underworld features intrigue, mystery, betrayal, horror, and action elements in its plot.
However, it was never going to be an Oscar-worthy film. Horror films rarely garner the attention of the academy as it were, but Underworld is a series that proved to be wildly inconsistent as it aged. It went back and forward in time seemingly just for the sake of doing so, as opposed to having a present-day story that matured and blossomed. The fact that the 2016 entry, Underworld: Blood Wars was the worst of the films does not bode well for the franchise's future potential.
Consistently Good Cinematography
Cinematography can make or break a film. It is almost as essential a part of the art form of making a movie as penciling is to a comic book. Underworld’s cinematography was stellar throughout the franchise, helping to set the mood and tone of the story.
There is a particularly striking scene in the first Underworld film where Selene does not so much leap from a ledge as she does step off of it into the night sky. She gracefully lets gravity do its work and makes a quintessential ‘superhero landing’ on the urban concrete. The way the camerawork follows Selene on her journey down was inventive for its time and crisply done. This opening sequence helped set the visual tone for the film and therefore the franchise.
Given the previously discussed categories, the question remains: does Underworld deserve new life? It is a series with great acting at the top but middling acting beneath the surface. It also features great music and cinematography but an inconsistent plot. However, vampire fatigue seems to have come and gone. The only mainstream vampire movies on the horizon is Marvel’s Blade and Sony's Morbius. However, Underworld hits different notes in a vastly different storyline where the audience is meant to root for the vampires as opposed to wishing for their demise.
Underworld probably deserves one last chance under the moonlight to redeem itself before a stake is put in the franchise’s heart.