The more I watch the more it gains in merrit

Rating: 9/10 (2 July 2004)

Contains a very small spoiler.
Underworld is obvious and leaning on several recognizable sources, yes. But the story is sound, the pace is good and although I had difficulty with the melodrama of both the Victor and kraven characters the rest of the cast were very fitting. The special effects are convincing, the theatre is only so much overdone as to fit in with the goth setting and yes it is a flick you can watch a second time. Especially Kate and Scott are very sleek. This is much more a drama or a love story than it is a horror flick. If you have to compare it to something, compare it to X-Men. I am a big Buffy fan, so if you imagine going out to your regular dance hall, this flick is more like going to your first goth party compared to that: little conversation, lots of show, much darker, some obvious shock effects, no humor (in the acting), bits of gore and loads of sex appeal. But it has a some parallels as well: a very high soap level, a female lead character and a "comfy" setting, even the bits of flesh lying around after a grenade explosion are stylish. The most blatant rip off is the moment where Michael pins Victor to a wall (wolverine in x-men comics), but I don't care, Underworld is truly delicious in its obviousness. I do not tire from watching it. To be honest, I do not understand its low rating. I believe that you are meant to see through the obviousness of the movie and just get into it, something which would be impossible to do with, for example, Van Helsing. But Underworld takes itself seriously at the right levels and is damned sexy.