This film, set several centuries before the original two, tells us the story of Lucian; the first lycan who can take human form. He doesn't start off as a leader of a new race of powerful immortals; instead he and this new type lycan as kept as slaves by the vampires to protect them from the older type of lycan. Not everybody sees them as animals though; Sonja, the daughter of Victor the Vampire King, has fallen in love with Lucian. Lucian may be a slave but he is favoured by Victor
that is until he breaks the rules and leaves the vampire stronghold and removes his restraining collar
something Victor won't forgive even though Lucian did it to save Sonja. With Sonja's help he manages to escape with the other lycan slaves but Victor becomes aware of his daughter's treachery
if Lucian is to save her he will have to return to the vampire stronghold and ultimately face Victor in battle.
At first I was a bit unsure about this film because it doesn't feature Selene, the series protagonist, and the fact that we know that certain characters must survive as they feature in films set later. Thankfully it was still gripping and impressively fills in much of the series' mythology. It was interesting to see a lycan as the main character and Michael Sheen did a fine job as Lucian. He is ably supported by Rhona Mitra who is impressive as doomed love interest Sonja and Bill Nighy who makes a welcome return as Victor. As anybody who has watched the previous films will expect there is plenty of impressive and rather bloody action but not so much that it gets in the way of the story. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to anybody who enjoyed the previous two films but it isn't essential to have seen them to enjoy this.
At first I was a bit unsure about this film because it doesn't feature Selene, the series protagonist, and the fact that we know that certain characters must survive as they feature in films set later. Thankfully it was still gripping and impressively fills in much of the series' mythology. It was interesting to see a lycan as the main character and Michael Sheen did a fine job as Lucian. He is ably supported by Rhona Mitra who is impressive as doomed love interest Sonja and Bill Nighy who makes a welcome return as Victor. As anybody who has watched the previous films will expect there is plenty of impressive and rather bloody action but not so much that it gets in the way of the story. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to anybody who enjoyed the previous two films but it isn't essential to have seen them to enjoy this.