Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
Having escaped years of imprisonment, vampire warrioress Selene finds herself in a changed world where humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans and are conducting an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species. Now Selene must battle the humans and a frightening new breed of super Lycans to ensure the death dealers' survival.
Underworld: Awakening is a largely by-the-numbers continuation of the franchise, introducing a daughter subplot and a human-vs-immortals angle that adds little genuine freshness. The plot is thin and functional at best, moving Selene from action set-piece to action set-piece without much narrative weight. Acting is serviceable but unremarkable, with Kate Beckinsale doing her stoic warrior routine competently but without much depth. Cinematography maintains the franchise's signature blue-tinted gothic aesthetic with decent production value, earning a slight edge for visual consistency. The ending resolves little and feels like a setup for the next installment rather than a satisfying conclusion. Overall a formulaic sequel that delivers basic genre thrills for fans but brings nothing distinctive to the table.