Juicy red...and tasty

Rating: 10/10 (19 September 2003)

This movie is, as we say in Puerto Rico, "brutal"! (pronounced brootaal) It's simply one of the best movies made regarding transylvanian characters. Like in the Matrix, a combination of themes and stuff previously experienced in other movies is successfully combined, but with the unique European style.
Most action movies from Europe tend to be very fast, not much development for characters and some slow motion; this is different. Like in Brotherhood of the Wolves, the inner feelings of the characters are more displayed and developed; their past an integral part of the story. The action is very stylish with exotic guns, exotic cars, high fashion in black, good special fx, and very detailed slo-mo takes; very, very nice.
What makes Underworld truly different from the others, is what made The Matrix different, a detailed structured story with good foundation and motivation. This is not let's kill everyone because they're bad, there is a very specific and logical reason for what's happening, and the story makes you interested on it. The movie is not that much Matrix, it's more Shakespeare meets Blade. The drama is deep, controversy and intrigue is everywhere, and the twists are surprising, as they should be. This could only come from Europe, I just wish they would use more expensive film or higher resolution cameras, most of the movie is kind of grainy and we're already accustomed to the sharpness and solidness that 21st century movies should go for; but that's a minor glitch.
As far as vampires and werewolves go, the movie is super. A deeper kind of creature story with attractive styling, but enough blood as to not let you forget...these are monsters of the night, they feed on humans.