Kate Beckinsale returns as Selene in her fourth installment of the Underworld series, this time as a mother hellbent on rescuing her daughter, Eve (India Eisley). Unfortunately, it seems to cling, bound by static, to its previous storylines without really breaking any new ground. In fact, one might say that Ethan Hawke did this one better in Daybreakers, but Beckinsale’s return and the addition of Michael Ealy may be enough to lure you into the world of the vampires and the lycans.
After Evolution, Selene is imprisoned by the humans who are trying to eradicate the lycans and the vampires. But she’s freed by Eve, and finds herself on the run with Dr. Jacob Lane (Stephen Rea) and his son, Quint (Kris Holden-Ried), hot in pursuit. Of course, things aren’t always what they seem, and the lycans are actually manipulating things to win the war against the vampires. Thankfully, Selene isn’t on her own, because human Detective Sebastian (Ealy) has his own reasons for fighting the system, and joins the fray.
In the end, this one is a rock’n'roll music video with special effects that turn some characters into werewolves and allow for spectacular battles. It didn’t necessarily receive a hero’s welcome from the press, but it took in more than its fair share of the money at the boxoffice. Obviously, the ideas here, and Beckinsale, are enough of a draw that you may consider this one, too. And if you’re going to, you should check out the high def-version on the Blu-ray package.
There, you can also check out directors Marlind & Stein, catch a look at the blooper reel, and the “Heavy Prey” music video by Lacey Sturm. Yes, there are five behind-the-scenes featurettes, but you can also open up the “picture-in-picture” feature on the Blu-ray that gives you some insight as you go. And like Blade, you have your own comic book connection: J. Michael Stracyznski is a co-writer!
The film is mostly entertaining fluff, but there’s the element that runs throughout with family: Selene shows no fear whatsoever when it comes to fighting for her family. She’s going to rescue Eve or die trying, and that theme can’t be denied. “No greater love has a man than this, that he lay his life down for his friends,” Jesus said. Family is included there, and it’s this one takeaway that rises above the vampire-on-lycan violence that your eyes will focus on. And there’s the final battle of course… with a rather explosive ending!
