A look at Underworld 3 with Rhona Mitra

If You Can't Wait, Read Underworld: Blood Enemy

Oct 12, 2008

Though most moviegoers loathe prequels, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans may prove to be a rare treat, especially if it's anything like the book that's been out for years

In Underworld, vampire fans got to see butt-kicking leather and latex-clad hottie Kate Beckinsale even the score between vampires and lycans (werewolves). In Underworld: Evolution, Beckinsale and vampire/werewolf hybrid Scott Speedman take on the first and most powerful of each race.

Now, in Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, audiences will get to see the origins of the werewolves' ware against the vampires. Skeptics of prequels can be at ease; many Underworld fans have already read a prequel in book form that was published in 2004, two years before the release of the first film's sequel.

Another great relief is that while the second film was a bit disappointing to some fans, this franchise has yet to be handed over to complete strangers (as happens often with multiple sequels). The story was still crafted by Len Wiseman and Danny McBride, the writers of the first Underworld, and McBride, who penned the screenplay for Underworld: Evolution, is the author of this third installment's script.

According to IMDB and from the looks of the leaked Comic-Con trailer, the plot is a simple one, telling the story (which was briefly summarized in the first film) of a werewolf slave named Lucian falling in love with the daughter of the reigning aristocratic vampire, resulting in a secret love affair, a very angry vampire father, and a rebellion that would start the war that would span centuries (and the first two films).

Though not identical, the story is very similar to that of "Underworld: Blood Enemy," a book published in 2004 written by Greg Cox, the author of the novel adaptation of the first film.

Fans can be happy with the choice of new director Patrick Tatopoulos. Tatopoulos is a creature effects specialist, and not only designed the creatures for both Underworld films, but also served as production designer for the first sequel. Though some are hesitant about a special effects worker serving as a director, Rhona Mitra, the actress who will play Sonja (the aforementioned vampire daughter) states in an interview that his inclusion helped her decide to do the film, since she knew it would still have the same look and feel, something that fans need for the film to be successful.

This is perhaps the best part of this sequel. Fans were sad to see actor Bill Nighy's character die at the end of the first film, and so the vampire lord Viktor was brought back in a flashback in the sequel. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans sees Nighy in fangs once more, and fans couldn't be happier. Also returning are Michael Sheen, who played Lucien in the first film (and also died in the first film), and fan favorite Kevin Grevioux, the gravely-voiced lycan powerhouse.

Fans were also happy to see that Mitra, who saw some poor reviews for her previous film Doomsday, would not be taking over for Beckinsale, but playing a completely new character. When originally approached to do the film, Mitra says she flat-out refused, not wanting to anger fans by trying to replace the previous films' star.

While fans may be upset at the absence of Kate Beckinsale, fans of the Underworld storyline should enjoy this film, which aims to take viewers back to the very things that made the first film popular: vampires fighting werewolves in large, bloody battles. And hot chicks.

The copyright of the article A look at Underworld 3 with Rhona Mitra in Horror Films is owned by Robert Becka. Permission to republish A look at Underworld 3 with Rhona Mitra in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.