Halloween Warm-up: Underworld - Evolution (2006)

Delicious Kate Beckinsale is back in her skin tight leathers as Selene the vampire, dealing death to her fellow neck suckers and other creatures of the night, in the spectacular sequel to 2003's Underworld.

Picking up the story almost from the moment the first film finishes, Underworld: Evolution is basically a plot-lite monster chase movie interspersed with effects-heavy fight sequences that eventually degenerate into a kind of supernatural James Bond with OTT set pieces and wacky gadgets.

Of particular note, along with the climactic punch-up (complete with helicopter crashing through the ceiling), is the opening scene, set in the 13th Century, of vampire knights tracking down the first werewolf (William) and fighting off a village of his recent converts.

Throughout the movie great atmospheric use is made of the story's Eastern Euopean setting (as in the original and Blade 2), resisting the easy option of relocating it to the United States.

Several of the characters from the first film make cameos of varying lengths, and the action is certainly ramped up a gear - not so much walking in slow motion and Goth vampires with attitude.

While Kate holds her own in the acting stakes and Steven Mackintosh enjoys his role as a lustful vampire exile, Derek Jacobi phones in his performance as the enigmatic Corvinus (presumably he was doing this as a favour or just wanted some pocket money).

Scott Speedman mopes his way through his part as the vampire/werewolf hybrid Michael, but it's slinky Selene and the action set-pieces that will stick in the memory.

Looking back I can't believe how much I disliked the original when I saw it at the cinema - sure it's more World of Darkness than Buffy The Vampire Slayer - but it's just a load of harmless nonsense and, having re-evaluated it in light of a cheap DVD purchase, I've decided it's actually very entertaining for what it is.

Underworld: Evolution doesn't need any such re-evaluation.

Sure it's trash, but superb trash.

Although the main characters seem to get more powerful at the end of each film, I still believe the Underworld saga deserves a few more chapters ... and how about a Blade/Underworld crossover? Now that would kick ass!