Thomas (Charles Dance, Game of Thrones, And Then There Were None) and his son, David (Theo James, the Divergent series, Golden Boy), managed to escape and David seeks out Selene, while Thomas goes to the Eastern coven to seek asylum for her, certain that the Eastern coven can only survive with Selene's help. Thomas is surprised to find an ally in Semira (Lara Pulver, True Blood), however things are not quite as they appear and Semira is actually power-hungry and desperate for a spot on the Vampire Council - and potentially more. Her ever-present lackey and lover, Varga (Bradley James, Damien, iZombie), is always ready and willing to do her wicked bidding, as is Alexia (Daisy Head, The Syndicate), although Alexia has her own agenda.
When she is once again betrayed, Selene is forced to flee to the Northern coven with David, to seek asylum with the Nordic Vampires, who are a peaceful group that have greatly evolved from the wicked and evil covens Selene has known. It is here that she and David meet Vidar (Peter Andersson) and his daughter, Lena (Clementine Nicholson) and theyr not only learn of an explosive secret about David's past that could change everything, but also that the Nordic coven regularly explores a Sacred Realm which grants them abilities other Vampires lack. Naturally, Selene can't find peace for long, and before you know it, the Lycan horde is upon them in battle. Soon, David will be forced to face his past at the Eastern coven, and it is there that the final showdown will take place.
Underworld: Blood Wars is chock-full of great action scenes and gorgeous scenery, so much so that you had better pay attention to the wording on the back of the case so that you have your 4K TV, 4K player, and also a high-speed HDMI 2.0A cable. If you have a lesser cable, you could experience massive amounts of screen tearing, and the movie will be frustrating and nearly unwatchable. There's a lot of data flying around on the screen, so make sure your set-up is ready. If so, you'll be treated to some of the most stunning scenes yet in an Underworld film, as the area around the Nordic coven, which stands above a frozen lake, is absolutely breathtaking. It's also a great place for an epic fight scene - just sayin'.
There's also a nice selection of special features, including featurettes on the character of Selene and how she has evolved over the course of the series; one on the old and new characters of the series; one on the very different Lycan character of Marius; one on the special effects practicals and CG used in the film; and finally, the Underworld: Blood Wars graphic novel.
If you've been watching the Underworld series to date, you probably don't need much of a recommendation, but Underworld: Blood Wars is a great addition to the series. We learn more history about some of the characters, get some closure on some others, and get a glimpse of what the next installment might hold. If you have the 4K setup, by all means, shell out the extra few bucks for the 4K version. It is incredible looking and, besides, they throw in the Blu-ray as well, so you have two copies of the movie in case you have a portable player that you take on the go. This is the perfect popcorn action flick, whether you are Team Vampire or Team Lycan (but you'll be Team Vampire for this one).
