Underworld : Rise of the Lycans

Review by Anthony Morris

If there is one thing the Underworld series didn't really need, it is a prequel.

Vampires hate werewolves - sorry, uh, "Lycans".

Lycans hate vampires.

There is a sexy female vampire who ends up getting it on with a Lycan at some point and the special effects guys can take it from there. 

So the big surprise here is that, for a story that really contains no surprises whatsoever - it is a prequel, remember - this is actually passably entertaining. 

That notion comes largely down to two factors : a decent, workmanlike story and some decent slices of acting ham. 

But first, the story...

It's a long time ago in some country where the sun almost never comes out but the local vampire overlords lead by Viktor (Bill Nighy) still feel the need to have a bunch of trusty Lycan guards handy to protect them during the day from, well, presumably the wild, untamed Lycans that are eating everyone who wanders through the nearby forest. 

Head of the trustee Lycans is Lucian (Michael Sheen), who also happens to be secretly getting it on with Viktor's daughter, and the stage is set for a whole lot of predictable yet still reasonably engaging developments once this secret gets out.

It is still Underworld fan fiction, but with Nighy doing a first class Nosferatu impersonation (when he isn't busy hamming it up) and Sheen being surprisingly earnest and likeable as the head of the bare chested sweaty Lycan brigade.

Together they manage to get it over the line into "watchable" turf. Not very far over the line though.

In fact, unless you are after a massive pose-off between the goth kids and the sweaty metal-loving bikers, you will probably spend a lot of time marvelling at the massive plot holes scattered throughout Underworld : Rise of the Lycans.

Seriously, what good are Lycan guards who aren't allowed to turn into wolves?

They really should have called this one "Underworld: Who Let the Dogs Out".

3 out of 5

Underworld : Rise of the Lycans
Australian release: 22nd January, 2009
Official Site: Underworld : Rise of the Lycans
Cast: Bill Nighy, Michael Sheen, Rhona Mitra, Shane Brolly, Kevin Grevioux, Steven Mackintosh
Director: Patrick Tatopoulos