Vampire Films Research: Underworld

 Underworld (2003) 

Genre: Action, Fantasy, Thriller

Plot: Selene, a beautiful vampire warrior, is entrenched in a war between the vampire and werewolf races. Although she is aligned with the vampires, she falls in love with Michael, a werewolf who longs for the war to end.

First two minutes of the Film:

00:57 seconds into the film we hear a voice over monologue. By doing this the audience is being given information or background to the story/plot.

"The war had all but ground to a halt in the blink of an eye. Lucian, the most feared and ruthless leader ever to rule the Lycan clan, had finally been killed. The Lycan horde scattered to the wind in a single evening of flame and retribution. Victory, it seemed, was in our grasp, the very birthright of the vampires. Nearly six centuries had passed since that night, yet the ancient feud proved unwilling to follow Lucian to the grave. Though Lycans were fewer in number, the war itself had become more perilous, for the moon no longer held her sway. Older, more powerful Lycans, were now able to change at will. The weapons had evolved, but our orders remained the same..." 

In is the opening monologue the audience is able to establish that there is an 'ancient feud' between 'Lycans' (which they later find out are werewolves) and Vampires although it's uncertain how it's started. The audience is able to establish that this war has been 'nearly six centuries' long and  is described as 'perilous' showing the true danger this feud is bringing. 

As this monologue is in the point of view from the female vampire shown in the opening, the audience side with the vampires and not the lycans as 'Lucian' who was 'the most feared and ruthless leader ever to rule the Lycan clan' was killed by vampires. By using adjective like 'most feared' and 'ruthless' gives the audience a negative representation of the lycans before they are even introduced to them and also labelling them as dangerous and villainous.

The audience find out that despite 'Lycans' being 'fewer in number' they have become 'more powerful' and are  able to change at will. As the vampires are trying to kill 'Lycans' means that these factors will make it harder from the vampires to kill them however the audience find out that these vampires have orders (which haven't changed over time) showing that they must have a leader. 

The mise-en-scene of the opening sets a very ominous tone due the the rain, thunder, lightning and the dark lighting in the scene. The female character (who we are introduced to) attire is also black which adds to this ominous feeling. As she is crouching on the top of an old looking building it contrasts to the modern day setting however highlights the 'ancient feud' between 'lycan' and vampire. The old looking build shows the longevity of this war to its present day in modern society and how the 'ancient' past is still carrying on to the present.