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Plot Summary

Underworld: Blood Wars (2017) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 91 min · English
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Directed by
Anna Foerster
Starring
Theo James, Charles Dance, Tobias Menzies, Kate Beckinsale, James Faulkner, Bradley James
Budget
$35M

In the latest chapter of the Underworld series, Selene finds herself facing an unprecedented threat as both vampires and werewolves unite against her. Accompanied by David and her brother Thomas, she undertakes a dangerous mission to resolve the ancient conflict between their species. Selene must fight to protect those she cares for and to bring an end to the seemingly endless war, risking everything in the process.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle
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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Underworld: Blood Wars: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Underworld: Blood Wars (2017) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

As the final factions of vampire covens stand on the brink of annihilation due to the relentless Lycans, a desperate battle for survival unfolds over Selene. The vampires are out for vengeance after the death of Viktor, while the Lycans, led by Marius, plan to exploit Selene's link to Eve, whose blood is believed to hold the secret to creating a powerful army of hybrids. In this tense environment, Semira, a member of the Eastern Coven council, urges Thomas to advocate for Selene at their assembly. With determination, they manage to secure a pardon for her, contingent upon her compliance.

With Selene back in action alongside David, she begins to train a new generation of Death Dealers for the impending conflict. However, deceit and betrayal loom as Semira and Varga hatch a treacherous plot against her. They poison Selene, murder the trainees, and cleverly frame her for the atrocious acts. Captivated in Semira's scheme, Selene becomes a target, as Semira seeks to drain her blood to inherit her powers. Undeterred, Thomas and David embark on a perilous rescue mission to save her, though the attempt results in Thomas's tragic demise.

Seeking sanctuary, Selene finds refuge with the Nordic Coven but is pursued by Alexia, a vampire sent from the Eastern Coven by Semira. At the Nordic stronghold of Var Dohr, Elder Vidar discloses a long-concealed secret: David is the son of Grand Elder Amelia and Thomas's true love, hidden away due to Viktor’s possessiveness. This revelation grants David his rightful claim as the Eastern Coven's heir.

When the Lycans, under Marius, lead a siege on Var Dohr in search of Selene, she unites with the Nordic vampires, led by Lena, Vidar's daughter. In the fray, Alexia fatally wounds Selene, but Marius soon realizes that Eve's whereabouts are still a mystery, compelling him to retreat. As battle rages, Selene surrenders herself to the icy depths of a lake, resigning to her fate.

Meanwhile, at the Eastern Coven, Semira indulges in the blood she has taken from Selene, only to learn from Alexia's return that the Nordic Coven has been attacked. Filled with rage, Semira sends Alexia away and isolates herself in her prison cell. David makes his return to the Eastern Coven, asserting his right to leadership and denouncing Semira's treachery. Even Varga, once her ally, abandons her, aligning himself with David and leaving Semira trapped in her dark prison.

As Marius's brutal assault on the coven unfolds, their defenses weaken, and the castle begins to crumble under the pressure. With daylight penetrating the stronghold, many vampires are lost, while others are rendered defenseless. In the midst of this turmoil, David fights fiercely to protect the young warriors, earning admiration for his bravery, though he ultimately finds himself locked in combat with Marius.

Just when despair appears insurmountable, Selene dramatically returns from the shadows, transformed by her resurrection through the Nordic Coven. Adorned in a coat over her classic Death Dealer uniform, she now wields newfound powers, including remarkable speed. Her swift actions turn the tide, swiftly dispatching the Lycans while her newfound allies rally together to drive back the intruders.

At the same time, Semira escapes her confinement, wreaking havoc on the guards. Selene and David confront Marius, only for his cunning to separate them, leaving David vulnerable to Semira's wrath. Marius's blood mixes with Selene's lips, inundating her with visions of his memories, including the painful murder of Michael Corvin by Marius.

Overwhelmed by despair, Selene bites her wrist, unleashing the powerful memories within her blood, recalling happier moments with Michael. Fueled by a mix of rage and grief, she delivers a lethal blow, severing Marius's spine and putting an end to his terror. In the aftermath, David prevails over Semira and presents Marius’s severed head to the retreating Lycans, encouraging them to carry away their injured.

Following these battles, Selene, David, and Lena are honored with the esteemed title of Elder, recognizing their exceptional courage in the face of adversity. The story also unveils that Selene, after her resurrection, reconnected with Eve, whose telepathic guidance played a pivotal role in Selene's survival through treacherous challenges. This serves as a profound testament to the unshakeable bonds formed during their harrowing journey together.

Last updated: November 19, 2024 at 16:00

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Plot questions answered

Underworld: Blood Wars Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Underworld: Blood Wars (2017): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does Semira betray Selene and frame her for murder?

Semira orchestrates a complex plot to gain Selene's powerful vampire abilities. She poisons Selene, murders the trainee Death Dealers, and frames Selene for these crimes. Semira's ultimate goal is to drain Selene's blood, believing she can inherit her legendary fighting skills and strength.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Semira personally advocates for Selene's pardon, positioning herself as an ally to gain her trust.

  • semira
  • betrayal
  • poison
  • frame
  • murder
  • vampire powers
Q2

Why are the vampires seeking vengeance against Selene?

The vampires blame Selene for Viktor's death, viewing her as responsible for the loss of their ancient elder. This vendetta drives the Eastern Coven's initial hostility toward her, despite her previous service as a Death Dealer.

Foreshadowing: The film opens with the vampires' anguish over Viktor's death, setting the tone for Selene's precarious position.

  • viktor
  • death
  • vengeance
  • vampire coven
  • blame
Q3

Why does Thomas die during the rescue mission?

Thomas and David launch a dangerous rescue operation to free Selene from Semira's captivity. During the mission, Thomas is killed, his death serves as a tragic consequence of the betrayal and fuels the conflict between the remaining heroes and Semira's treachery.

Foreshadowing: Thomas advocated for Selene's pardon and vouched for her, making his sacrifice deeply personal.

  • thomas
  • death
  • rescue mission
  • semira
  • betrayal
Q4

What is David's lineage and why does it matter?

Elder Vidar reveals that David is the son of Grand Elder Amelia and Thomas's true love. This makes David the rightful heir to the Eastern Coven's leadership, a status Semira had usurped. His heritage grants him legitimate claim to rule the coven.

Foreshadowing: David's mysterious background is hinted at throughout the film before the revelation.

  • david
  • heritage
  • lineage
  • heir
  • amelia
  • eastern coven
Q5

Why does Marius retreat from the Nordic Coven stronghold?

Marius leads the Lycan siege on Var Dohr specifically to capture Selene, believing she knows Eve's location. After Alexia wounds Selene, Marius discovers Eve's whereabouts remain unknown to him, forcing a strategic retreat to continue his search for the hybrid-creating blood.

Foreshadowing: Marius's entire invasion hinges on Eve's blood, which he needs to create his hybrid army.

  • marius
  • retreat
  • eve
  • blood
  • hybrid
  • lycan siege
Q6

How does Selene survive after being wounded and falling into the lake?

The Nordic Coven resurrects Selene after she surrenders to the icy lake. This resurrection grants her enhanced powers, including remarkable speed and strength, transforming her into an even more formidable warrior for the final battle.

Foreshadowing: Selene's apparent death by the lake sets up her dramatic return as a resurrected warrior.

  • resurrection
  • nordic coven
  • lake
  • superpowers
  • return
Q7

How does Selene manage to kill Marius?

When Marius's blood enters Selene's system during combat, she experiences visions of him murdering Michael Corvin, her former lover. Overwhelmed by grief and rage, she bites her wrist to channel these powerful memories, fueling her with enough strength to sever Marius's spine.

Foreshadowing: Michael's death is referenced throughout the film as Selene's unresolved trauma.

  • marius
  • death
  • michael corvin
  • memories
  • blood
  • vengeance
Q8

Why does Varga abandon Semira and join David?

After witnessing Semira's complete betrayal and her isolation following the battle, Varga abandons her and aligns with David. This shift reflects Semira's complete downfall, no allies remain with her as she faces imprisonment.

Foreshadowing: Varga was Semira's co-conspirator but recognizes her failure and switches allegiances.

  • varga
  • semira
  • david
  • betrayal
  • allegiance
Q9

How does Eve help Selene after her resurrection?

After Selene is resurrected by the Nordic Coven, she reconnects with Eve, who uses telepathic guidance to help her navigate the treacherous challenges ahead. Their bond proves crucial to Selene's survival and victory.

Foreshadowing: Eve's blood was the key to Marius's plans, establishing her importance to the overall conflict.

  • eve
  • telepathy
  • guidance
  • resurrection
  • bond
Q10

Why does Semira want to drain Selene's blood?

Semira seeks to drink Selene's blood to inherit her legendary vampire abilities, her enhanced strength, combat skills, and status as a powerful Death Dealer. This mirrors the vampire lore that elders can pass powers through their blood.

Foreshadowing: Semira's interest in Selene's return goes beyond tactical necessity, she specifically wants the blood's power.

  • semira
  • blood
  • drain
  • powers
  • vampire abilities
Q11

Why are the Lycans so desperate to find Eve?

Marius believes Eve's blood holds the secret to creating a powerful army of hybrid creatures, part vampire, part Lycan. This would give the Lycans an unstoppable advantage in the war against the vampires.

Foreshadowing: The film's conflict centers on Eve's significance as the key to hybrid creation.

  • eve
  • blood
  • hybrid
  • lycan
  • marius
  • army
Q12

How does Selene earn the title of Elder?

Following the victory against Marius and the Lycan siege, Selene is honored as an Elder alongside David and Lena. Her bravery, sacrifice, and decisive role in defeating the Lycan threat earn her this prestigious position within the vampire hierarchy.

Foreshadowing: Selene's journey from exiled warrior to respected leader frames her entire arc.

  • selene
  • elder
  • title
  • honor
  • vampire coven
  • leadership

Movie threads

More Movies Like Underworld: Blood Wars, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Underworld: Blood Wars tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Supernatural war movies like Underworld: Blood Wars

Stories of brutal, ancient conflicts fought between immortal factions. If you enjoyed the epic conflict in Underworld: Blood Wars, discover more movies about ancient wars between immortal factions. This list features similar action-horror stories with desperate battles, grim politics, and a heavy atmosphere of loss set in dark fantasy worlds.

  • epic
  • brutal
  • desperate
  • vengeful
  • factional
  • action-packed
  • Tone: dark, grim
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a central warrior fighting for their faction's survival against an ancient enemy. The plot is driven by betrayals, strategic sieges, and pivotal battles, often culminating in a costly victory that doesn't erase the deep-seated enmity of the war.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared focus on a world-spanning supernatural conflict. They share a bleak, high-intensity mood, fast-paced action sequences, and themes of survival, loyalty, and the heavy toll of endless war.

Movies about vengeful resilience like Underworld: Blood Wars

Characters pushed to their limits, fighting back with everything left to lose. For viewers who liked Selene's determined fight in Underworld: Blood Wars, this list features movies about resilient heroes on a path of vengeance. Discover similar stories with heavy emotional weight, intense action, and bittersweet endings after great sacrifice.

  • vengeful
  • resilient
  • tragic
  • intense
  • desperate
  • brutal
  • Tone: dark, tragic
  • Pacing: fast, driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: A tragic event propels a highly capable but wounded protagonist into a conflict where they must overcome overwhelming odds. The story is a linear, action-driven ascent through challenges and betrayals, culminating in a final confrontation that resolves the immediate threat but leaves the character forever changed by their losses.

Why they belong together: This thread groups movies based on the protagonist's emotional journey of vengeance and hardened resilience. They share a heavy, intense mood, straightforward and fast-paced plotting, and a cathartic yet bittersweet conclusion where triumph is tempered by sacrifice.

Every angle

Underworld: Blood Wars (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Underworld: Blood Wars in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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