IMDb > Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009)
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
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Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009) More at IMDbPro »

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Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009) -- An origins story centered on the centuries-old feud between the the race of aristocratic vampires known as Death Dealers, and their onetime slaves, the Lycans.
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009) -- Clip: We have to go
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009) -- Interview: Rhona Mitra "On the experience of making the film"
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009) -- A war between vampires and lycans in this prequel
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009) -- A war between vampires and lycans in this prequel

Overview

User Rating:
6.5/10   21,422 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?

Up 8% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

Patrick Tatopoulos

Writers (WGA):

Danny McBride (screenplay) and
Dirk Blackman (screenplay) ...
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Contact:

View company contact information for Underworld: Rise of the Lycans on IMDbPro.

Release Date:

23 January 2009 (USA) more

Plot:

An origins story centered on the centuries-old feud between the race of aristocratic vampires and their onetime slaves, the Lycans. full summary | full synopsis

Plot Keywords:

more

User Comments:

You know, I really enjoyed it. Michael Sheen is superb in a film where great performances normally don't happen. more (129 total)


Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Additional Details

Also Known As:

Underworld 3: Rise of the Lycans (USA) (working title)
Untitled Underworld Prequel (USA) (working title)
Inframundo 3 - La rebelión de los Lycans (Argentina) (Peru) [es]
Anjos da Noite - A Rebelião (Brazil) [pt]
Karanliklar ülkesi: Lycanlarin yükselisi (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Teispoolsus: Libahuntide mäss (Estonia) [et]
Underworld - Aufstand der Lykaner (Germany) [de]
Underworld - Bunt Lykanow (Poland) [pl]
Underworld - La rebelión de los Licántropos (Spain) [es]
Underworld - La ribellione dei Lycans (Italy) [it]
Underworld - Pobuna Likana (Croatia) [hr]
Underworld 3 - Le soulèvement des Lycans (France) [fr]
Underworld 3 - Vzpoura Lycanu (Czech Republic) [cs]
Underworld Begins (Japan: English title) [en]
Underworld: A Revolta (Portugal) [pt]
Underworld: I exegersi ton lykon (Greece) [el]
more

MPAA:

Rated R for bloody violence and some sexuality.

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA | New Zealand

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1 more

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Filming Locations:

Auckland, New Zealand more

Company:

Sketch Films more


Fun Stuff

Trivia:

WILHELM SCREAM: Heard when werewolves climb the wall and attack the vampire guards. more

Goofs:

Continuity: Several of the slaves that were bitten by one of Viktor's Lycans take part in the assault on the castle, although they were bitten at least 3 days before they do not change in the light of the full moon. In the original Underworld film it was stated the only the older Lycans could change at will and resist the influence of the moon. more

Quotes:

Lucian: I have no wish to remove one shackle from around your necks, only to replace them with one of my own. You'll have a choice: you can run and hide, or you can stay and fight. Any man who fights with me shall have his freedom and, if he wishes it; immortality. more

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: (#8.19)" (2009) more

Soundtrack:

Steal My Romance more


FAQ

Why aren't Elders Marcus and Amelia returning?
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
Is "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" based on a book?
more
118 out of 146 people found the following comment useful.
You know, I really enjoyed it. Michael Sheen is superb in a film where great performances normally don't happen., 23 January 2009
8/10
Author: Bug_Catcher_Spy from United States

Very rarely do prequels match up with their predecessors. As I'm not the biggest Underworld fan, I can honestly say that I wasn't expecting much. However, I should've expected more, as the latest, yet earliest installment is easily my favorite in the series. It ain't art, but it's the shining example of why we go to the movies: to escape into a world of mythology, fantasy, and crazy vampire/werewolf action.

For the first time in the series, the filmmakers have decided to leave out the rock that probably was the reason the films have been successful: Kate Beckinsale. I'm guessing this was a production risk/choice, but it seems to have paid off. Selene's absence from the story is necessary to tell the story of how the Lycans rose to power, how Viktor was driven insane (though we pretty much already know how), and, as off topic as it may be, how simply awesome Michael Sheen is.

Very rarely do the actors make an action movie good. Most action movies rely on explosions and (surprise!) action to enhance the quality and generally feature run of the mill copycat characters. Sheen's Lucian and Bill Nighy's Viktor will always stand out in the realm of action/fantasy characters to me, and it's easy to see why. Sheen's turn as Lucian is fierce, determined, and one of my favorite performances in an action movie I've seen in years. Despite playing a (mostly) villainous role in the first film, Lucian is the hero of this film, and it totally gives you a new spin on things. Sheen's brave and dedicated performance really makes the character work, while Bill Nighy is once again effectively creepy as Viktor. Rhona Mitra's presence as Sonja is welcome, though she doesn't carry the same charisma that Beckinsale does, making her an ill advised choice to be Selene's replacement (as she so obviously is).

The action in Underworld, though obviously restrained by a lower budget, is once again great. There's some nice dueling, the obvious gore and blood galore, and a nice Lord of the Rings style battle at the end. What it comes down to is that Underworld does nothing new, but does everything right in maintaining a steady river of entertainment. I was never bored, and I don't think you will be either.

The film does answer a lot of questions and provides some nice insight to the Lycans (which were my favorite parts about the first two films), though it suffers from the same fate as most prequels do...even a casual viewer of this series knows which characters will live, which will die, and how it will end. The film isn't really about the resolution, but rather the journey to the end. In fact, it's made in such a way that you can certainly watch the trilogy in chronological order.

When it comes down to it, I liked 'Lycans' a lot. It's a worthy installment in the series, and certainly not a disappointment to me. It's got good action, a wonderful lead performance from Michael Sheen, and should satisfy fans of the series and fans of mythological stories altogether.

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Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Wait, Vampires can have babies? firemyst00
Where is William? champ01-1
OK, so I'm SO pro Lycan on this! chippiey2k
T-800(Terminator) against vampires/lycans Rumble82
How is viktor so weak in this movie!!?? darknezzz-1
vampire movies study nazgulantong
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