Underworld: Awakening

The fourth installment in the gloomy Underworld series—chronicling a never-ending hidden war between vampires and werewolves—picks up where the second, Evolution, left off (the third entry was a prequel). Svelte vampire warrior Selene (Kate Beckinsale) and her hybrid lover Michael (Scott Speedman) have triumphed over their foes, but as Awakening begins, the humans launch a purge to exterminate both blood-suckers and shape-shifters, and the couple are captured by storm troopers. Flash forward 12 years: cryogenically-imprisoned Selene escapes from a genetic lab and finds herself fighting to save Eve (India Eisley)—her daughter by Michael—from the clutches of a mad, power-hungry scientist (Stephen Rea). To be successful, Selene must mow through hordes of security men and defeat the doctor's prize specimen, a guy who morphs into a huge, Hulk-like werewolf. Selene is, of course, one kick-ass dame, and Beckinsale—dressed in the character's tight-fitting black leather outfit—plays her with the same stonily determined countenance. As for Speedman, he's only glimpsed at the beginning in footage from previous films, although the ending here sets the stage for yet another possible sequel. A silly, ultra-violent film in a tired franchise, this is not recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by producers Richard Wright and Gary Lucchesi, executive producer James McQuaide, and directors Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein, and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are five behind-the-scenes featurettes including “Selene Rises,” “Casting the Future,” “Resuming the Action,” “Building a Better Lycan,” and “Awakening a Franchise, Building a Brutal New World” (63 min.), a blooper reel (3 min.), the music video “Heavy Prey” by Lacey Sturm featuring Geno Lenardo, and a bonus UltraViolet copy of the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package on the Blu-ray version for this underwhelming franchise entry.] (F. Swietek)