Underworld : Awakening - The Eternal Enmity of Vampires and Lycans

🦇 EXCLUSIVE: SELENE GALLERY See Kate Beckinsale as the ultimate vampire warrior VIEW GALLERY

Underworld: Awakening was released on January 20, 2012 and is the fourth installment of the Underworld film. This 88-minute film stars Kate Beckinsale, Stephen Rea, Michael Ealy, and Theo James.

Underworld: Awakening (2012) tells of the enmity between blood-sucking vampires and lycan werewolves. The film begins 12 years later, after the story in Underworld: Evolution.

Human governments around the world have committed genocide against vampires and lycans, 90% of the vampire race was exterminated. Selene is released from cryogenic suspension and escapes from the medical company Antigen.

The company is trying to create an antidote to the virus that creates vampires and lycans. Selene has strange visions, and believes they are related to her lover, the vampire-lycan hybrid Michael Corvin.

The vision takes him to a building where he meets David, a fellow vampire. While talking to David, they come across a young girl named Eve (Subject 2). Eve is a hybrid and daughter of Selene with Michael. Wounded by the lycans, David takes them both to his coven.

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David's father, Thomas, does not welcome Selene and Eve. Instead he tells that Michael died twelve years ago and Selene was the cause of the destruction of the vampire race.

After being given vampire blood, Eve recovered very quickly. Jacob Lane, Director of Antigen, is revealed to be a lycan with his son, Quint.

The antidote that the corporation has been working on for years is to make the lycans immune to its lethal effects and to increase their physical abilities.

Eve's hybrid Eve genetic code is needed to achieve this, so Lane sends Quint and other lycans to the vampire coven to reclaim her.

Meanwhile, David tries to muster up the vampire's resistance to fight back, while his father orders everyone to evacuate and hide.

Unexpectedly, lycans arrived in large numbers and many vampires were slaughtered.

⚡ SELENE VS SUPER LYCAN The epic final battle with Quint VIEW GALLERY

Selene meets a giant "super lycan" (Quint), her body is transformed in such a way by injection using Eve's blood.

Selene faints, Eve is handed over to the lycans by Thomas in exchange for their departure, and David is seriously injured during the battle.

Selene decides to save Eve, but first revives David using his immortal blood, which was once given to him by Alexander Corvinus.

Able to survive in the sun, Selene enlists the help of Detective Sebastian, a human trying to investigate Antigen and he agrees to help save Eve. Selene destroys Antigen's base using explosives and silver gas.

This made Dr. Lane moves Eve Eve out of the building to perform surgery and create more antidotes for the virus.

Selene finds Michael cryogenically frozen in the laboratory, then shoots his cell to free Michael. Dr. Lane is intercepted by Sebastian and Selene, but then Quint arrives in super lycan form. Eve awakens and is free, while Dr. Lane injected himself with the same super lycan formula as Quint.

6. Kate Beckinsale: The Face of Underworld

Kate Beckinsale's portrayal of Selene has become iconic in action cinema. For Underworld: Awakening, Beckinsale returned after skipping the third installment (Rise of the Lycans). She performed many of her own stunts, training extensively in martial arts and weapons handling. Her commitment to the role—including wearing tight leather costumes and enduring physically demanding fight scenes—helped make Selene one of the most recognizable female action heroes of the 2000s and 2010s.

7. The Evolution of Selene's Character

Over four films, Selene evolves from a loyal Death Dealer blindly serving the vampire elders to a mother willing to sacrifice everything for her daughter. In Awakening, she discovers she has a hybrid child, Eve, which adds a new dimension to her character. No longer just fighting for vengeance or survival, she now fights for family. This maternal instinct makes her more relatable while never diminishing her lethality.

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8. The Hybrid Daughter: Eve

Eve (played by India Eisley) represents the next evolution in the Underworld universe. As the daughter of Selene (vampire) and Michael (vampire-lycan hybrid), she possesses powers beyond either race. Her blood becomes the key to creating super lycans, making her the most hunted being on Earth. Eve's introduction opened new storytelling possibilities, though the planned sequel focusing on her was never produced.

9. Underworld's Unique Mythology

The Underworld films created a rich mythology where vampires and lycans share a common origin through Alexander Corvinus, the first immortal. Vampires are depicted as aristocratic, organized, and technologically advanced, while lycans are brutal, pack-oriented, and often oppressed. This class struggle adds depth to what could have been simple monster movies, elevating the franchise above typical horror-action fare.

10. Critical Reception and Box Office

Underworld: Awakening received mixed reviews from critics, with many praising the action sequences and Beckinsale's performance while criticizing the thin plot. However, audiences disagreed—the film grossed over $160 million worldwide against a $70 million budget, making it the highest-grossing film in the franchise. The 3D release capitalized on the action, giving fans the visceral experience they wanted.

11. The Legacy of Selene

Selene stands alongside Ripley (Alien), Sarah Connor (Terminator), and Leeloo (Fifth Element) as one of cinema's great female action heroes. Her enduring popularity led to a fifth film, Underworld: Blood Wars (2016), and continues to inspire cosplay, fan art, and discussions about women in action cinema. Kate Beckinsale's portrayal proved that female-led action franchises could succeed and sustain over multiple installments.

12. Conclusion: Why Selene Matters

More than a decade after her first appearance, Selene remains a touchstone for vampire action. Underworld: Awakening brought her into the modern era, introducing new threats while honoring what fans loved. With her leather outfit, twin pistols, and unshakeable determination, Selene represents a specific moment in action cinema when female heroes could be both glamorous and deadly, without apology.

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✨ Also Read: Other Heroines We Love

• Nine-Tailed Fox: Asian Mythology
• Saya: Blood: The Last Vampire
• Bi Yao: Jade Dynasty
• Sri Asih: Indonesia's First Female Superhero

Underworld: Awakening (2012) | Director: Måns Mårlind, Björn Stein | Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Stephen Rea, Michael Ealy, Theo James | Runtime: 88 min