Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Review: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter




One would easily think that a movie titled Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is a comedy or at least a political satire but this movie isn't. I'm not familiar with the source novel but I've read that the author is known for twisting history with bizarre fiction but in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter the movie's attempt to blend Abraham Lincoln's past with a generic horror tale didn't work at all.

Abraham Lincoln saw his mother die in the arms of a vampire when he was a child. He vows to seek revenge and when Abe grew up (Benjamin Walker) he meets Henry (Dominic Cooper) who will help thim rain on how to hunt down and kill vampires.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is really a serious movie about the 16th president of the United States of America and his secret life as a vampire hunter. The movie uses real events in the life of Lincoln and incorporates a horror story. The movie does it by connecting issues of wars and slavery to vampire concerns and there are also appearances of notable historical figures in its contrived attempt to make it historically "authentic". But let's face it the concept is so silly that playing it straight made the movie a chore to watch. The performances are fine and committed while the production values are mostly good except for the horse stampede scene which was sloppily executed with some of the actors' harnesses visible. But over-all the movie is so dull and lifeless.

Genre mash-ups are not expected to be fun or satiric all the time but if a movie is going to take an outrageous premise there must be something in there that is at least compelling to watch so the viewers can suspend their disbelief and just join the ride. Unfortunately, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter takes itself way too seriously and loses a component in the process to make it watchable.

Rating: 4/10

No comments: