Underworld: Rise of the Vampire (2025) – A Cinematic Resurrection of Blood and Vengeance
There’s a certain haunting quality to the Underworld franchise that has kept it alive through multiple films, spanning decades of immortal battles between vampires and Lycans. Underworld: Rise of the Vampire (2025), the latest addition to the saga, might be the most ambitious chapter yet. It emerges from the shadows with a sense of purpose and dread, a gothic rebirth of a universe forged in blood, vengeance, and endless night. But is it more than just a continuation of an established legacy, or does it introduce something new to the franchise that elevates it into something greater than the sum of its parts?
The Return of the Queen
Kate Beckinsale reprises her role as Selene, the fierce and stoic vampire death dealer who has become synonymous with the Underworld series. The film opens with the solemn re-emergence of Selene from exile, summoned by whispers of an ancient prophecy that threatens to obliterate the fragile peace between vampires and Lycans. As much as the film is a vehicle for action, it is also a meditation on Selene’s past — and more crucially, her bloodline.
Beckinsale’s return as the film’s central figure anchors the story with the same gravitas she has brought to the character in previous installments. Yet, there’s something deeper in her performance this time: a vulnerability beneath her hardened exterior. As the prophecy binds her fate to the fate of her enemies, Selene finds herself in a battle not just for survival, but for her own humanity.
The Prophecy and the Coming Storm
The central conflict in Underworld: Rise of the Vampire is centered on an ancient prophecy that reawakens the war between vampires and Lycans. This is no ordinary prophecy; it speaks of a sovereign force so powerful that it could end the eternal war not with victory, but with extinction. As alliances crumble and trust becomes a weapon, the prophecy forces Selene into a web of conspiracy that threatens to rewrite the very laws of life and death.
What the film excels at is its ability to intertwine personal stakes with cosmic ones. The prophecy isn’t just about survival — it’s a revelation that Selene’s blood is the key to unlocking something far more dangerous and final. As the narrative unfolds, we’re led through dark, ruined cathedrals and desolate catacombs, each location evoking a sense of ancient weight and history. The war itself seems almost trivial in comparison to the greater existential threat looming over the world of vampires and Lycans.
New Allies, New Enemies
Joining Selene on this perilous journey is David (played by Theo James), the last heir of a noble vampire lineage, and a brilliant geneticist (played by Anya Taylor-Joy) who believes she holds the key to liberating vampires from immortality. Both characters are integral to the narrative, but it’s their conflicting motives that add layers of tension to the story. Can David be trusted? Is the geneticist’s promise of a life beyond immortality truly a gift or a curse?
The performances here are solid, but it’s the dynamic between the characters that truly drives the plot. As alliances fracture and new threats emerge, we are reminded of the inherent danger in trusting anyone when survival is on the line. In this world, even the ones you love are not immune to betrayal.
A Cinematic Visual Feast
Visually, Underworld: Rise of the Vampire continues the series’ tradition of lush, gothic aesthetics. The film is steeped in moody lighting, sharp contrasts of light and shadow, and stunning set design that evokes the rich history of the vampire world. The cathedrals are monumental, the catacombs cavernous, and the action scenes, as expected, are as brutal and kinetic as ever.
However, it’s not all about style. The choreography and execution of the action set pieces are exemplary, with an intensity that mirrors the rising stakes. The violence is not gratuitous, but rather, it serves to underscore the bleakness of the world these characters inhabit. In this universe, violence is both a necessity and a curse.
Final Thoughts
Underworld: Rise of the Vampire is a dark, thrilling entry in a franchise that has long balanced the supernatural with the human condition. The film’s exploration of legacy, fate, and sacrifice adds emotional depth to what could have been a straightforward action movie. While it doesn’t completely reinvent the wheel, it gives the Underworld series the emotional and narrative weight it so desperately needed. The prophecy may be dire, and the stakes higher than ever, but in the end, only one will rule the shadows — and it is up to Selene to decide which side of the darkness she will stand on.
