Underworld: Blood Wars marks the fifth entry in this series. I haven’t been a fan and I can’t say I’ve seen all of them, but I can say that this is my first review of 2017 and it’s already a sure-fire contender for my 10 worst list.
Kate Beckinsale once again returns as Selene, the half-human, half-vampire now discovering that her kind are nearing extinction by their rivals, the Lycans. Their hope of surviving rests in the hands of Selene’s estranged daughter Eve who holds the power in her blood instead of her hands.
There’s a lot of vampire mumbo-jumbo going on in this film about alliances being made and broken particularly centering around Selene’s ally in the fight (Theo James of Divergent fame). He’s now a part of two underwhelming franchises and neither do anything to help stretch his acting ability.
Beckinsale does look good in her leather-clad outfit when going into battle and that’s about the nicest thing I can say about her performance and the rest of the film. If you enjoying watching vampires and werewolves in some elaborately choreographed fight sequences again and again, this may be right up your alley. Personally, I was bored silly to the point where I thought I was going to break out in hives.
Another drawback is that the plot is so full of incomprehensible and inexplicable motivations by a lot of the characters that by the time the movie reaches its climax, we end up stop caring altogether and just wish the thing was over.
I saw the movie in a moderately packed crowd. Why was I there? I was there to review and get reimbursed at the same time. Why were they there? Anybody’s guess. If the late Ed Wood were still around, he would’ve found more than a few things to admire about this good-looking clunker.
Grade: D
(Rated R for strong bloody violence and some sexuality.)
