“Underworld: “Rise of the Lycans” (2012) is an exciting immersion into the history of the old blood grudge that has become the hallmark of the series. As a prequel, it gives a different turn to itself, as it focuses on the Dark Ages, and as a result, reveals the ruthless origins of the rivalry between vampires and Lycans. Lucian is a young lycan and the main character of the plot, who becomes a charismatic king, overcoming the despot vampire king Viktor. The movie imbues the gritty, historical look, placing the viewers in the dark, medieval realm where power, defiance, and smoldering love swirl around each other. The narrative has the themes of slavery, resistance, and desire for freedom, which makes the series more humanized and expanded.
The most touching was the emotional depth in Lucian’s character: courage, vulnerability, and tragic love story with his loved one and Viktor’s daughter, Sonja. Their romance gives the tale a poignant overtone, transforming the simple war story to become a saga of loyalty, sacrifice, forbidden passion. The action scenes are guttural and bloodied, evoking the beastly brutality of the rebellion, while the production design beautifully sketches a noir world of pressure and revolt. It is grim but also hopeful tone of the film highlights the tenacity in the fight against tyranny.
While it boasts of compelling characters with a rich backstory, it does occasionally stumble on its pacing and dialogues as some scenes play out a little too slow or predictably. However, ‘Rise of the Lycans’ does a great job at establishing an expansion to the mythology, giving a formidable look into the birth of the eternal battle. I ended up inspired by Lucian’s battle for justice and wondering where does hatred and oppression come from – a reminder that even in the worst of times, the quest for freedom and love can instigate rebellion and change.
