Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Before I review the film itself, I’d like to express my disappointment in Steven Spielberg for not debuting a trailer for his long-awaited “Lincoln,” coming out this December, in front of this film. I don’t know about you, but that would strike me as a touch inspired.
Now, onto a look at this adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith’s mash-up, revisionist novel, which pits our 16th, and greatest, President against the undead. Say what? Yup, and what would you say if I told you that the Civil War was fought over slavery, but mainly because the South used the slaves as food for vampires? Wait! Where are you going?
Here’s the thing: if you’re looking for a history lesson on Honest Abe, go ahead and wait for Spielberg’s film. This is pure B-grade schlock, a grindhouse premise that shouldn’t be a multi-million dollar movie produced by Tim Burton, directed by “Wanted’s” Timur Bekmambetov, and released by a major studio. And yet, here we are, with a $69 million action epic in which Lincoln’s mother died at the hands of a vampire when he was a child. As he grew up, determined for vengeance on the beast who killed her, Abe was recruited by Henry Sturges (Dominic Cooper) to hunt and kill the undead demons who are threatening to divide the nation. Is Abe up to the task, and more importantly, will he be able to uphold his responsibilities when he meets his future wife (played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead), and decides that politics might help him in his cause?
Bekmambetov and screenwriter Grahame-Smith play this absurdity straight, which is the best way to approach such a crazy premise. If they had played this as camp, the result could have been an unmitigated disaster of “Batman & Robin,” but thankfully, director, screenwriter, and producer are perfectly in sync when it comes to bringing this lunacy to life, as well as an actor in Benjamin Walker who brings a suitable level of gravitas to the role. Also fortunate is that Bekmambetov has returned to the take-no-prisoners energy of his cult, Russian hits “Night Watch” and “Day Watch” after the mean-spirited “success” that was his 2008 hit, “Wanted.” This isn’t to say that “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” has more substance than any of these previous films; good Lord, it so doesn’t. But “Wanted” just rubbed me, and others, the wrong way with its oh-so-serious, emotionless tone, while “Night Watch” and “Day Watch,” as well as his new film, are just bat-shit bananas, with just enough interest in the human story to keep our watching. Style drives Bekmambetov as a director, and if for no other reason, “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” should be seen for two of the wildest action scenes I’ve ever seen; one during a horse stampede, the other as a train moves along a flaming bridge. As art, this film is indefensible on even the most lenient of scales, but damn is this fun. The trick is to just go along for the ride.
