"Underworld: Awakening"- An interesting but middling installment in the cult fan-favorite franchise. Good fun, but shoddily written.

Rating: 6/10 (17 January 2017)

"Underworld: Awakening", the fourth chapter in the long-running cult action franchise, has been met with a relatively poor reception amongst fans of the series. And while I cannot endorse the plethora of highly negative reviews, I do have to comment that I can't help but understand the frustration. Because beneath the flashy visuals, outstanding action and another good turn from series star Kate Beckinsale... the film is just a very strange little footnote that doesn't quite fit in as well as it ought have.
The concept is actually pretty inspired and genuinely fascinating, taking a hard left turn for the series that should have injected fresh blood into the narrative. After all, Selene's story and indeed the story of the "Underworld" saga seemed well-defined and generally complete by the end of the second installment, "Evolution." We needed something dramatic to happen in order to justify its continuation. And I do think that in better hands, the new concepts and ideas crafted in "Awakening" would have been an interesting fit for the franchise. But it just doesn't quite come together. Mainly because it's such a jarringly different film and the script is highly problematic.
Quite simply... it just isn't the "Underworld" we remember so fondly from the previous three films. But I do think it has some value, even if it is a middling and mediocre revamp for the series.
Shortly after the fall of Markus, mankind stumbles onto the existence of the Vampire and Lycan tribes, resulting in panic and hatred from the general public. It soon becomes priority number one for the governments of the world to eradicate the non-human entities that stalk the streets come nightfall. Both species are hunted down by specialized task-forces, brought to the brink of extinction. Selene (Beckinsale) is captured and placed in suspended animation, and it appears her beloved Michael is killed in an attack. She awakens twelve years later in a high-tech research facility owned by a corporation called "Antigen." Escaping, she soon enough discovers that while frozen, she evidently gave birth to a young Hybrid known as Eve (India Eisley), and together, mother and daughter will be forced into a fight for survival... and eventually a struggle for vengeance, as Selene seeks retribution for the cruel actions that tore her life apart.
Directed by the duo of Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein from a script co-written by series creator Len Wiseman, if nothing else the movie is definitely visually exciting and endlessly stylish. It's certainly never a dull film, and it moves along with great speed and an urgent sense of pacing. Mårlind and Stein have a very interesting visual sensibility, and the film is consistently sleek and very modern, giving it an interesting sense of identity in comparison to the more stark and Gothic look of the other films. Their work in the action department is also a ton of fun, and the plethora of gun-battles and ferocious fight scenes are definitely a blast and a half to behold.
The cast is fairly good for the most part. Series star Beckinsale is wonderful as always, and the film gives her some good material to work with. Selene is at her lowest in this story, and Beckinsale gives the character a great sense of pathos. While he might not quite be an adequate replacement for Scott Speedman's Michael, Theo James is game for some action as a new vampire sidekick in David. Stephen Rea brings some class as an evil research scientist who runs the corporation responsible for Selene's capture. And I really enjoyed the small supporting role by Michael Ealy as a police officer who becomes an unlikely ally for Selene's cause. Unfortunately, I found India Eisley underwhelming as Eve, and I thought she was probably the weakest link. I just didn't buy her in the role- especially when she goes full-on Hybrid during a few key action set pieces early on, and she doesn't get nearly enough presence in the story.
Unfortunately, as has been the case with the series as a whole, the writing is quite wonky, and this is probably the most poorly-written film of the entire saga. The concept is actually very good and affords a lot of interesting developments for the world established in the series, but most of the new ideas at play are simply glossed over far too quickly to be effective. The set-up of the film- the vampires and Lycans being hunted to near extinction- should have been a much greater focus, but it's really only addressed in the film's montage-style opening credits sequence. Key characters like Michael are written off in the first act with barely a mention later on, which felt like a betrayal after his importance to the story and to Selene. (And that's not spoiling anything... it happens in the first five minutes.) And the film just moves too quickly for its own good. I also can't help but feel that the new tone and style established in the narrative conflicts a bit too much with what came before- it stops feeling like an "Underworld" movie within the first fifteen minutes, instead becoming a more standard and trendy revenge-thriller, which I found quite jarring.
Nevertheless, great action, good performances and an interesting idea mostly salvage the film, and it's still a good bit of fun. If you're completely in love with the series, there's a good chance you'll come out hating "Underworld: Awakening" for being such a mediocre follow- up. But if you're like me and enjoy the films while being able to admit that they're not high art and have their share of flaws, you'll probably be able to forgive its more obvious faults and enjoy it for what it is... non-stop carnage starring a character we know and love.
I give it a middle of the road 6 out of 10.