Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012)

A review - by Shlomoh Sherman
May 10, 2013


Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012)
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Writers: Seth Grahame-Smith (screenplay), based on his novel
Stars: Benjamin Walker, Dominic Cooper, Anthony Mackie
Plot Keywords: vampire - president - lawyer - vampire hunter - revenge
Tagline: Are you a patriot or a vampire?
Genres: Action - Fantasy - Horror - Thriller
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated R for violence throughout and brief sexuality
Parents Guide: content advisory
Country: USA
Language: English
Release Date: June 22, 2012 (USA)
Also Known As: Abraham Lincoln: Cazador de vampiros
Filming Locations: Oak Alley Plantation - 3645 Highway 18, Vacherie, Louisiana, USA
Box Office: Budget: $69,000,000 (estimated)
Gross: $37,516,013 (USA) (September 14, 2012)
Company Credits: Production Co: Abraham Productions, Bazelevs Production, Tim Burton
Runtime: 105 minutes
Nomination: Young Artist Award for bBst Performance in a Feature Film
- Supporting Young Actor - Cameron M. Brown (Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation). Soundtrack: "Powerless" written by Chester Bennington, Rob Bourdon (as Robert G. Bourdon),
Brad Delson, Phoenix Farrell (as Phoenix Farrell), Joseph Hahn, and Mike Shinoda and
performed by Linkin Park, courtesy of Warner Bros. Records Inc. By arrangement with
Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing
Trivia: Trent Reznor was approached about scoring and playing a minor part in the film,
but the news leaked before the final decision and Reznor voted to pass on the project as
the surprise element of his participation had already been lost.
Goofs: Shortly after Adam takes the pocket watch from Bart's hand , he slams the coffin lid
down before walking away. Moments later, when the coffin is in shot again, the lid is in a
different position.
Quotes: [first lines] Abraham Lincoln: [voice-over] "History prefers legends to men."
Credits: There are no opening titles
Recent Quotes:
Since when are vampires weak against silver? - SANDROALGRA
Fair play to you, Americans - UNLUSAN
Vampires can't kill each other....WTF - GUNDAMTINH
Liked this movie a lot! Why do you guys complain? - HAN-61
Things you've learned from Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter - XX_PETER_PORKER_XX
I was scared away by the title..but it's actually a great film - LIMMITEDGRAVITY
Plot Summary: Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States, discovers vampires
are planning to take over the United States. He makes it his mission to eliminate them.


Storyline

Before I saw the new Tim Burton movie, I never knew that the Confederate government and Confederate army were composed of the Living Dead. And I also never knew that for the Battle of Gettysburg, the Union army was issued silver bullets and silver bayonets.  And lastly, I never knew that the mother of the 16th president of the United States was killed by a vampire.

It the death of his mother that begins Abe Lincoln's career as a hunter and killer of vampires. And the plot thickens. Why does the South need a constantly new supply of slaves from Africa, you may ask. And I'll tell you. It's simply because after working the slaves in the cotton fields all
day, most of the plantation masters simply feast on their blood ... WAY!

Early in his career, before he ever realized that he'd be getting into politics and running for the nation's highest office, a man befriends him who will show him how to go about the business of vampire slaying. Abe and his friend, Henry Sturgess, settle in Springfield, Illinois where they go about the business of ridding the city of its local night-time fiends. It is in Springfield that Abe meets the woman who is to be his wife, Mary Todd.

During this time, Lincoln is encouraged by Sturgess to enter politics so that his political career may take him to Washington DC where the forces of blood-sucking evil are making preparations to take over the United States by launching a war to sustain and spread slavery in order to spread their supply of negro blood.

Lincoln soon discovers that Henry Sturgess is himself a vampire but who is an abolitionist intent on stopping the spread of slavery and is sympathetic to delivering America from the hands of the dark Confederacy. Sturgess is the good-guy vampire of the story.

Ultimately Lincoln becomes president as the film moves on to its final scene where Lincoln and his wife are to attend a performance of OUR AMERICAN COUSIN. Before walking to Ford Theater, Henry Sturgess offers to make Lincoln immortal so that he can conmtinue his work without fear of violence being perpertrated upon him. Lincoln refuses the gift and history tells the rest.

The film was an interesting idea and typical Burton fare. Lincoln has long been a personal hero of mine and he is now also a favorite horror film hero as well. Four score and seven movie reviews from now, this one will still rank high with me.


Cast overview, first billed only:
         Benjamin Walker ... Abraham Lincoln
         Dominic Cooper ... Henry Sturges
         Anthony Mackie ... Will Johnson
         Mary Elizabeth Winstead ... Mary Todd Lincoln
         Rufus Sewell    ... Adam
         Marton Csokas   ... Jack Barts
         Jimmi Simpson     ... Joshua Speed
         Joseph Mawle ... Thomas Lincoln
         Robin McLeavy ... Nancy Lincoln
         Erin Wasson ... Vadoma
         John Rothman ... Jefferson Davis
         Cameron M. Brown ... Willie Lincoln
         Frank Brennan ... Senator Jeb Nolan
         Lux Haney-Jardine ... Young Abraham Lincoln
         Curtis Harris ... Young Will


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