The first time I screened the previews for this film, I was almost certain its producers were setting themselves up for disaster. As a huge fan of the Underworld series, the thought of a prequel without Kate Beckinsale or original screenwriter Len Wiseman at its helm didn’t sit right with me. However, after all my apprehension and doubt, I found myself drawn to a film which boasted vampire versus werewolf in a medieval setting.

Surprisingly, Underworld Rise of the Lycans was one of those rarities which combined all the proper elements for an exciting and well paced feature film. Even without Beckinsale and Wiseman’s involvement, Underworld RL prevailed.

The one thing that stood out for me was its storyline. Fans of the franchise had a brief background history regarding the war between Lycan and Vampire, but seeing it drawn out on the silver screen was definitely a worthwhile undertaking. The fact that Underworld RL was story driven rather than effects driven made the film a hundred times more interesting and I honestly can’t recall a time I was more intrigued with a fantasy film since the epic trilogy The Lord of the Rings.

The setting of the film was also a nice bonus. Yes it was still dreary and dark, but it felt much more natural and appropriate in its medieval setting rather than on a subway station in the middle of some urban city. Arrows and swords replaced submachine guns and shotguns while castles and forests replaced side alleys and sewers.

Finally there was the question about the cast. Without Beckinsale, who would be the star of the show? I was so glad they brought back Michael Sheen and Bill Nighy. Sheen’s portrayal of Lucian, the first of the Lycan race was on point and I honestly don’t think anyone else would have been able to pull it off the way he did. In the film, Lucian was portrayed more as a hero than a villain (unlike in the first two installments) and I thought that was an excellent touch. His chemistry with actress Rhona Mitra was evident throughout the entire film, and their “forbidden” romance tied in perfectly with its storyline. Nighy was also necessary ingredient for Underworld RL’s success and his appearance as the infamous Viktor was definitely a huge boost for the feature.

What I appreciated most about Underworld RL was that it answered quite a few questions and provided some nice insight into the world of the Lycans prior to their rebellion against their vampire masters. The film never dragged and its ninety or so odd minutes goes by in a flash. If your a Underworld fan like myself, feel free to indulge yourself with a little fantasy and gore. It is absolutely worth the price of admission.