Underworld: Evolution is the kind of sequel that makes you question why anyone thought this franchise needed a second film. It takes a premise about vampires and werewolves fighting over control of humanity and turns it into a bloated, nonsensical mess that cares more about spectacle than story. The film is a failure on almost every level, from its convoluted plot to its flat characters to its laughable action sequences. It is a movie that feels less like a continuation and more like a cruel joke told at the audience’s expense.
Trailer, via Lakeshore Entertainment.
A Plot That Refuses To Make Sense
The film picks up years after the events of the original Underworld, where Selene (Kate Beckinsale) killed Viktor, the vampire leader. Now she is on the run, hunted by her own kind who believe she betrayed them. She is also searching for answers about her past, which the film promises to reveal. Instead, it delivers a narrative that is so muddled it becomes impossible to follow.
The central mystery involves a group of humans who can see vampires and werewolves, and a prophecy that Selene might be the key to ending the war between the species. There is also a subplot involving a scientist named Kraven (Shane Brolly) who is trying to create a hybrid creature. None of this is explained clearly. Characters speak in vague terms about destiny and ancient forces, but the specifics are never made concrete.
The film introduces a new villain in the form of a vampire named Markus (Steven Berkoff). This revelation should be dramatic, but it is delivered with such poor pacing and exposition that it lands with a thud. By the end, the viewer is left wondering what exactly happened and why it mattered.
Selene And The Problem Of Beckinsale
Kate Beckinsale returns as Selene, and while she brings the same physicality and determination she had in the first film, the character has been neutered here. She is no longer the sharp, calculating hunter. She is a broken woman chasing shadows, and the script gives her little agency beyond reacting to events around her. Her motivations are vague, her actions inconsistent, and her arc feels like it was written without a clear direction.
Beckinsale is doing her best with a terrible role, but the material is so thin that even her efforts cannot salvage it. The film also introduces a new love interest for Selene in the form of Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman), a human who has been turned into a werewolf. Their relationship is supposed to be romantic, but it is never developed beyond a few stolen glances and a kiss. The chemistry simply isn’t there.
The supporting cast fares no better. Shane Brolly as Kraven is a one-note villain, and Steven Berkoff as Markus is wasted in a role that could have been interesting. The film is full of actors giving performances that range from adequate to embarrassing, but the blame ultimately rests with the script, which fails to give them anything worth playing.
Action That Feels Empty
The action scenes in Underworld: Evolution are meant to be the highlight. There are car chases, fights in abandoned buildings, and a climactic showdown in a frozen wasteland. On paper, these should work. In practice, they fall apart.
The fights are choreographed with a lot of quick cuts and slow-motion shots, but they lack weight. The vampires and werewolves are supposed to be deadly, but they move like they are dancing through a dream. There is no sense of danger, no tension, and no payoff. The film leans heavily on CGI effects, and they feel cheap and unfinished.
The worst offender is a scene where Selene fights a horde of werewolves in a ruined city. The camera swirls around her, cutting between her face and the creatures, but the fight itself is a jumble of motion that tells you nothing. It looks impressive in stills, but it fails to engage the viewer on any level.
A Visual Style That Overreaches
The film is visually striking, no doubt about it. The production design is dark and moody, with decaying cities, underground lairs, and icy landscapes. The lighting is often stark, creating a sense of dread that the story never quite earns. The costumes are elaborate, with vampires dressed in leather and silver and werewolves in feral rags.
But the style is a double-edged sword. The film spends so much time on its look that it forgets to build a foundation underneath it. The result is a movie that is beautiful to watch but hollow at its core. The visuals are used to mask the flaws, not enhance them.
The score by Danny Elfman is bombastic and atmospheric, but it too feels like a wallpaper. It swells during the big moments, but it does not add anything to the emotional weight of the scene. It is music designed to fill space, not to serve the story.
Where It Went Wrong
The problem with Underworld: Evolution is not that it tries to be ambitious. It is that it fails to deliver on any of its promises. The film sets up a mythology, but it never explains it. It introduces characters, but it never develops them. It builds toward a climax, but it never pays off.
The film is also guilty of padding. At 118 minutes, it runs long, and the runtime is filled with unnecessary filler. There are scenes of Selene wandering through empty streets, staring at the sky, that add nothing to the plot. The film is so bloated that it loses focus entirely.
The final act, which is supposed to resolve everything, is a disaster. The prophecy is explained in a way that contradicts earlier information, and the ending leaves the door open for a third film that never arrived. It is a frustrating conclusion to a frustrating movie.
| Element | Underworld: Evolution |
|---|---|
| Plot clarity | Muddled, confusing |
| Character development | Shallow, inconsistent |
| Action quality | Empty, poorly executed |
| Visual style | Dark, moody, overused |
| Overall impact | Negative |
The Verdict
Underworld: Evolution is a film that fails on nearly every level. It is a sequel that should have been a prequel, a spectacle that should have been a drama, and a story that should have been simple. The film is a mess of contradictions, and it is hard to recommend it to anyone.
It is a movie that wastes the talents of its cast, squanders its budget, and insults the intelligence of its audience. It is a film that should be forgotten, not remembered.
Underworld: Evolution is a failure. It is a film that deserves its low reputation and its low score.
Key Facts
– Runtime: 118 minutes
– Director: Len Wiseman
– Lead actress: Kate Beckinsale
– Score: 1.7 of 10
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