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"UNDERWORLD"
 (2003) (Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman) (R)

Alcohol/
Drugs		 Blood/Gore Disrespectful/
Bad Attitude		 Frightening/
Tense Scenes		 Guns/
Weapons
Minor Extreme Extreme *Moderate Extreme
Imitative
Behavior		 Jump
Scenes		 Music
(Scary/Tense)		 Music
(Inappropriate)		 Profanity
Mild Minor Extreme None Heavy
Sex/
Nudity		 Smoking Tense Family
Scenes		 Topics To
Talk About		 Violence
Minor Minor Mild Mild Extreme

QUICK TAKE:
Horror: A werewolf-hunting vampire uncovers a conspiracy and unleashes even more violence as she tries to figure out what her mortal enemies want with a human.
PLOT:
Selene (KATE BECKINSALE) is a vampire known as a death dealer. Her mission is to find Lycans, better known as werewolves, and kill them, since the two groups of monsters have been battling for centuries.

While proficient at her job, she's concerned that the Lycans can change from human to werewolf form at will, and that a group of them has some sort of peculiar interest in Michael Corvin (SCOTT SPEEDMAN), a human medical intern who's unaware of how his world is about to be turned upside down.

She reports this to her vampire leader, Kraven (SHANE BROLLY), who thinks she takes the warrior business too seriously. The two have never gotten along, especially since her mentor, the revered vampire leader Viktor (BILL NIGHY), went in a pre-ordained, centuries-long hibernation of sorts. And no one seems to believe her theory that the great Lycan leader, Lucian (MICHAEL SHEEN), is still alive.

Her reputation with her kind is further strained due to her interest in Michael who manages to save her after an attack by Lucian. After breaking all of the rules and resurrecting Viktor far too soon, Selene then sets out - with the aid of vampire technical advisor Kahn (ROBBIE GEE) - to figure out what the Lycans are up to and why Kraven doesn't want to heed her warnings.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
If they're into vampire or werewolf horror flicks, or are fans of someone in the cast, they just might.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R
For strong violence/gore and some language.
CAST AS ROLE MODELS:
  • KATE BECKINSALE plays a vampire death dealer whose mission is to seek out and kill werewolves. When she uncovers what appears to be a conspiracy, she endangers her own life as she tries to figure out what's going on.
  • SCOTT SPEEDMAN plays a human medical intern who finds himself caught in a nightmarish world of vampires, werewolves and the battle they've been waging for centuries. He uses some strong profanity.
  • MICHAEL SHEEN plays the Lycan leader who's set out to mix the monster breeds and create an even stronger being.
  • SHANE BROLLY plays Selene's leader who wants her as his queen but doesn't like her and her meddlesome ways.
  • BILL NIGHY plays the legendary and all-powerful vampire leader who Selene resurrects long before it's time.
  • ROBBIE GEE plays the vampire's technical advisor and weapons expert.
    • CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

    HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

    Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
    Then read OUR TAKE of this film.


    (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).

    OUR WORD TO PARENTS:
    The following is a quick look at the content found in this R-rated horror film. Profanity consists of at least 3 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also present. Violence consists of many bloody attacks and killings with various forms of weaponry as well as by vampire and werewolf related means. Other fighting, wounding and a great deal of bloodletting also occur.

    Some of those scenes and other moments and sights might be unsettling, suspenseful or scary to some viewers, particularly younger ones and those with low tolerance levels for such material. Varying degrees of bad attitudes are present, while several characters drink and others smoke.

    Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.

    For those concerned with bright flashes of light on the screen, various instances of that occur in several scenes.

    ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE
  • Miscellaneous characters drink.
  • Vampires drink red wine in several scenes (although it could be blood).
    • BLOOD/GORE
  • A character's wounds are bloody and gory, with supernatural light emanating from them. Another victim in a gun battle has blood on them, a character removes a bullet from their body (with blood in the wound and on their hand) and we see blood on a wall.
  • We see two werewolves battling each other in a contest for gambling purposes and both have bloody slices on them (as werewolves and then back again as human-looking Lycans).
  • We see large throwing stars that are embedded in a large Lycan's chest (with bloody results). A person then forcibly yanks them out (we hear the sound of that and see the pain it inflicts on the Lycan). He then yanks the last one out himself.
  • A dead character is bloody.
  • We see a syringe going into some skin, with blood then filling it and then some blood on the person.
  • A bullet is graphically removed from a wound (with bloody results).
  • Vampires drink red wine in several scenes (although it could be blood).
  • Lucian bites Michael with bloody results (on him and Michael).
  • Bullets graphically pop out of bloody wounds on Lucian's body.
  • Lucian jams a large blade down through a car roof, slicing Selene on the arm/shoulder, wounding her (we see blood down her jacket).
  • We see some of Michael's blood in a vial (from Lucian's mouth).
  • We see Michael's bloody shoulder/neck wound.
  • We see the shriveled corpse of Viktor. We later see him partially that way, after he's been awakened and begins to rejuvenate.
  • Selene bites her own wrist to draw blood (we see blood on her mouth) that then pours down into a chamber holding Viktor's shriveled corpse. After it goes into him, we see an interior view of his body as it comes back to life (including his heart and other gooey organs).
  • We see brief flashback images of prior violence and bloodshed.
  • Lycans attack vampires on a train (some seen from a distance) with machine gun fire. We see blood on the victims and some of it splatters as well.
  • We see more quick flashback images of bloody scenes.
  • Various dead vampires are bloody.
  • Michael gets a bloody nose as he starts to turn into a werewolf.
  • We see an interior view of a person's chest cavity as they start to turn into a werewolf (gooey inside with ribs expanding, etc.).
  • Selene inflicts pain (by pressing down into a bloody shoulder wound) on a captured character to get him to talk.
  • Viktor strikes a guy across the face, resulting in blood on it and a great deal of blood spilling out around him.
  • We see a needle going into an arm and drawing out some blood.
  • We see a flashback of sunlight striking a bound young woman who then writhes in pain as her skin turns black and she dies.
  • A character injects himself with another character's blood.
  • A vampire shoots a Lycan with a bullet laced with silver nitrate that we then see undulating under his skin.
  • Selene shoots another werewolf with bloody results.
  • We briefly see a werewolf mauling somebody with bloody results.
  • We see gross-looking veins in a character's head as he transforms into a monster.
  • A character throws a large knife that goes through another character's leg (and is stuck there with bloody results).
  • We see vampire teeth biting down into a neck with slightly bloody results.
  • Viktor has bloody scratches on his face.
  • Selene has some blood on her head as well as a sword she used to strike someone else.
  • Selene strikes a character on the head with a sword. We then see a bloody line form across that character's face before half of his head graphically slides off (with bloody/gory results).
  • Lots of blood flows down into a "hibernating" vampire's lair.
    • DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE
  • The Vampires and Lycans have a longstanding hate for one another and repeatedly kill members of the other group.
  • We learn that a vampire is conspiring with the enemy.
  • A vampire allows Lycans to murder some arriving vampire "dignitaries."
  • We hear that a vampire had his daughter killed for being romantically involved with a Lycan.
  • We hear that in the past, Lycans were slaves to the vampires.
    • FRIGHTENING SCENES
  • The sight of Lycans transforming into werewolves, and vampire's suddenly looking menacing with sharp teeth, etc. along with all such related material, might be unsettling, suspenseful or scary to some viewers, particularly younger ones and those with low tolerance levels for such material.
  • Scenes listed under "Violence" and "Blood/Gore" might also have the same effect.
  • Guard dogs chase Michael and he barely eludes them.
    • GUNS/WEAPONS
  • Handguns/Machine guns/Grenade/Various blades/Whips: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound or kill others and/or cause property damage. See "Violence" for details.
    • IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR
  • Phrases: "What the f*ck is going on?" "Are you f*cking kidding me?" "F*ck him," "Oh sh*t," "I'm not screwing around," "Shut up," "Pissed off" and "What the hell is going on?"
  • All of the stylishly fought fighting and gunplay may be enticing for some kids to imitate.
    • JUMP SCENES
  • A subway train suddenly passes by.
    • MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE)
  • An extreme amount of ominous and suspenseful music plays in the film.
    • MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE)
  • None.
    • PROFANITY
  • At least 3 "f" words, 3 "s" words, 2 hells, 1 S.O.B. and 1 use each of "Oh God," "Jesus" and "Jesus Christ."
    • SEX/NUDITY
  • Several vampires show some cleavage in several scenes.
  • There are various shots of Selene in a skintight, leather "cat suit."
    • SMOKING
  • Several characters smoke in several scenes.
    • TENSE FAMILY SCENES
  • Selene tells Michael that werewolves killed her entire family in the past (we hear flashback sounds of some screaming).
  • We hear that a vampire had his daughter killed for being romantically involved with a Lycan.
    • TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT
  • Vampires and werewolves.
  • We hear that in the past, Lycans were slaves to the vampires (other slave-related symbolism is present).
    • VIOLENCE
  • A gun battle (with machine guns and handguns) breaks out on a subway platform featuring Selene and others shooting at various Lycans. Various characters are hit and wounded or killed. People are pushed aside, creatures break through subway train glass or doors, and a Lycan changes into a werewolf and attacks a vampire. Selene then shoots a Lycan that writhes in pain and then repeatedly shoots and kills it (we don't see the latter impact). She then throws large throwing stars at a Lycan that impale him in the chest (he lives).
  • We see two werewolves battling each other in a contest for gambling purposes and both have bloody slices on them (as werewolves and then back again as Lycans).
  • We see that the Lycans have a man strung up by some chains (arms above his head).
  • Selene kicks open a door and then grabs and lifts Michael by the neck when he returns home, pinning him to the wall. She then shoots through the ceiling at various werewolves and then does so again out in the hallway where they scamper toward her on the walls and ceiling. She then fires many shots in a circle on the floor around her to escape to the floor below where she repeatedly shoots Lucian. He manages to bite Michael, however, before Selene drags Michael away.
  • Lucian chases (on foot) after Selene and Michael in a car she's driving. He then jumps on the roof and repeatedly jams a large blade down through it, eventually slicing Selene on the arm/shoulder, wounding her (we see blood down her jacket). She slams on the breaks, throwing Lucian to the road where she then tries to drive over him, but he flips up over the car and lands on his feet. Selene holds her gun on Michael who, freaked out over what's transpired, grabs the steering wheel, prompting the car to turn and then flip over. Selene hits her head on the window and is knocked out as the car then tumbles into and sinks below the surface of a body of water. Michael then fires her gun to break the window, drags her out and resuscitates her.
  • Kraven backhands Selene.
  • Lucian grabs Kraven by the throat.
  • We see brief flashback images of prior violence and bloodshed.
  • Selene punches Kraven, knocking him to the floor.
  • Lycans attack vampires on a train (some seen from a distance) with machine gun fire. We see blood on the victims and some of it splatters as well.
  • Selene shoots and presumably kills many characters.
  • Michael punches a Lycan cop who then struggles with and forces him into a car. He later kicks one cop out from the car and struggles with another.
  • Selene inflicts pain (by pressing down into a bloody shoulder wound) on a captured character to get him to talk. She then holds a gun to his head.
  • Viktor strikes a guy across the face, resulting in blood on it and a great deal of blood spilling out around him.
  • A guy strikes a bound and gagged Michael.
  • We see flashback images of a character whipping or flogging another character.
  • We see a flashback of sunlight striking a bound young woman who then writhes in pain as her skin turns black and she dies.
  • We hear that a vampire had his daughter killed for being romantically involved with a Lycan.
  • A grenade explodes and kills various characters. We then hear the sounds of machine gun fire.
  • A vampire shoots a Lycan with a bullet laced with silver nitrate that we then see undulating under his skin.
  • Many characters are shot and wounded or killed with machine gun and handgun fire.
  • A Lycan knocks a vampire back into some water. The vampire pulls out several whips that he uses to strike the Lycan who then turns into a werewolf and approaches the vampire. He bites the vampire (and presumably kills him) but we don't see the impact.
  • Selene shoots and presumably kills various werewolves as they chase after her.
  • More shootings occur.
  • Selene shoots another werewolf with bloody results.
  • We briefly see a werewolf mauling somebody with bloody results.
  • Viktor grabs a werewolf by the throat, apparently breaks his arm and then neck, and then stabs him with a sword (we don't see the final impact).
  • More gunfire ensues with many characters being hit.
  • Kraven shoots Michael several times (but the latter doesn't die).
  • A character throws a large knife that goes through another character's leg (and is stuck there with bloody results). That character then knocks the first backwards.
  • We see vampire teeth biting down into a neck with slightly bloody results.
  • A character repeatedly shoots another.
  • Viktor throws Selene aside.
  • Viktor picks up a transformed Michael and throws him through a stone wall.
  • Viktor and a transformed Michael battle each other (punching, hitting and knocking each other around).
  • Several characters riddle Michael with machine gun fire.
  • Selene hits many characters and breaks one's neck before Viktor knocks her aside.
  • Selene strikes a character on the head with a sword. We then see a bloody line form across that character's face before half of his head graphically slides off (with bloody/gory results).



    • Reviewed September 15, 2003 / Posted September 19, 2003

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