Ultraviolet
By Mal Simons, Blockbuster.co.uk

“Hello. My name is Violet and I was born into a world you may not understand.”

From the writer / director Kurt Wimmer, who brought us the excellent Equilibrium comes this stylish and action packed sci fi masterpiece starring the wonderful Milla Jovovich and Cameron Bright. It is the future and a war is raging between humans and an infected group called haemophage (blood vampires). Initially the infected were forced to wear armbands, then they were isolated from the community and then eventually they started to disappear. The survivors fight to stay alive against a corrupt human government, obsessed with the idea of being infected and who are determined to kill them all.

Milla Jovivich stars as Violet, a haemophage who is sent to infiltrate a Government building and pick up a case containing a weapon that is supposed to be the answer to destroying the remaining haemophage survivors on Earth who are on the verge of extinction. She manages to recover the case but opens it against orders. Inside, she discovers a human child (Cameron Bright), an innocent in the struggle but who’s blood may hold the answer to end the war once and for all. When her people try to kill the boy, she protects him and in doing so, she is forced to go on the run from both her own people and the corrupt and vicious government determined to get him back.

Violet is assisted by her friend and fellow haemophage Kurt (William Fichtner), a vampire scientist who clings to the hope of finding a cure to this form of vampirism. Together, the two of them they try to uncover the truth about their disease and to stop the destruction of their people.

“I have seven hundred soldiers here with me. What do you really think you can do against that many men?”

Writer and director Kurt Wimmer has done a terrific job yet again, allegedly based on the 80s flick Gloria and written with Milla Jovovich in mind. Ultraviolet is one of the most stylish movies to have come out of Hollywood in a long while and a worthy successor to Equilibrium. Like his previous movie, the film’s lead uses a variety of swords, guns and martial arts to fight her way through legions of enemies, in a mixture of Eastern and Western styles. Wimmer’s take on vampirism is different to the norm – it is a disease that accelerates the user to the point that they have superior abilities but a shorter lifespan (12 years from point of infection). It is this refreshing mix of storytelling and incredibly stylish action that make this film so great.

Don’t get me wrong, this is not as good as 2002’s Equilibrium; like that movie, this is an action-packed treacle-coated guilty pleasure but one which is simply a joy to behold. The action sequences alone make this film worth watching – if only to see how intricate and cool they all are… quality. If you enjoyed Aeon Flux or Equlibrium, you’ll love this. Add to your list now!

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