Horror Classic! - 10 (classic)

Rating: 10/10 (14 February 2005)

Ah yes, the sons of the Corbinus clan, one bitten by bat, one by wolf, one to walk the lonely coil of mortality it's a ridiculous legend. Nothing more.
UNDERWORLD was a huge surprise for me. I had supposed that it would follow the paw prints of American Werewolf in Paris and would disappear into the forests of cinema shame, but not in the slightest. This movie was my introduction to a new kind of horror movie, one suited for the post-apocalyptic vigilante in all of us. No doubt it was influenced by movies like Matrix and Vertigo and will likewise influence future horror productions in the vain of Van Helsing, Blade 2, ad infinitum.
Concept, concept, concept is the name of the game when you dabble with blood, and dabble it does. UNDERWORLD is a modern day story about the genetic war between werewolves and vampires. It doesn't get cooler than this. To the story add mixed blood lines, lots of bullets, and the slightest dash of history, and I believe you me have an instant classic on your bloodstained hands.
Let's imagine, if you had to shoot a werewolf-changing scene, how would you do it?
Suffice it to say, all of the monster scenes in UNDERWORLD are masterfully and meticulously done so as not to offend anyone. If you haven't seen the movie yet, you can stop reading this piddly review and head to the video store this afternoon before dusk to see what I mean.
My last comment about UNDERWORLD will be a big hail to the UK, whose actors appear in cunning disguise throughout the movie like an underground model UN. Sure, there is a German guy who dies and bleeds all over the place midway through the film, but we never know whether he's a werewolf, a vampire, or what. If we want to pursue that controversial issue we have no choice but to buy a ticket to the sequel, or prequel, and see what happens when the full moon emerges.
JY