Underworld: Rise of the Lycans

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans has built a real following in Australia on Netflix and Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel, and in the US on Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel among viewers who want their sci-fi to think as hard as it looks. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch it for Rhona Mitra — the performance elevates material that could easily tip into self-seriousness. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Netflix.

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The world-building is meticulous, but it is the characters who carry Underworld: Rise of the Lycans through its more ambitious moments. A prequel to the first two Underworld films, this fantasy explains the origins of the feud between the Vampires and the Lycans. Aided by his secret love, Sonja, courageous Lucian leads the Lycans in battle against brutal Vampire king Viktor. Determined to break the king's enslavement of his people, Lucian faces off against the Death Dealer army in a bid for Lycan independence. The human element stays intact thanks to Rhona Mitra and Bill Nighy, who anchor every scene. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans came out in 2009. What separates Underworld: Rise of the Lycans from lesser genre entertainment is a willingness to let the concept cost the characters something. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

For late-night viewing or a proper weekend binge, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans fits the bill. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Rhona Mitra anchors it with a performance that makes the more abstract moments feel personal. If you have been burned by ambitious sci-fi before, this is the exception.