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abe lincoln

ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER

With Benjamin Walker, Dominic Cooper, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Rufus Sewell, Anthony Mackie, Erin Wasson

Written by Seth Grahame-Smith (based on his novel)
Directed by Timur Bekmambetov

An historic drama this certainly is not... Who would've thought that one day Abraham Lincoln would be the subject of a big budget vampire movie! Well, that day has dawned, thanks to the wildly imaginative producer Tim Burton and director Timur Bekmambetov bringing Seth Grahame-Smith's novel to the screen. With his amazing Night Watch and Day Watch (made in Russia), Bekmambetov is no stranger to vampires, Burton also recently taking on the subject with Dark Shadows (which also had Grahame-Smith attached as scribe). Thus, no strangers to odd subjects masterfully executed, this team is perfect for a movie like this.

Here we catch a vivid, bloody and action-laden look at the formative years of America's 16th president, and how the death of his mother at the hands of a vampire led him to become a prolific hunter of the undead, guided by his friend and vamp-killing expert Henry Sturges. With a silver coated axe as his weapon of choice, Abe's culling gets the attention of the head vampire in the South where a full blood-sucking invasion is looming.
A well-executed period piece in its own right, one would however think that the actors couldn't keep a straight face with the notion of the theme, but all put in a serious portrayal of their characters on the verge of America's civil war era (although humour is by no means excluded).
Sewell is his uaual camp self, and not the best choice for the main villain (while his female side-kick is pretty mean). The Devil's Double Dominic Cooper always delivers a good performance.

A live action graphic-novel feel is executed with stylish cinematography and choreography, slotting this very comfortably into the post-Matrix action genre with a good dose of horror, as it follows a narrative smartly fusing the hidden vampire-hunting days of Lincoln with pivotal historic moments around his life and presidency - in 3D.
Quite a blast!

I'm curious to hear what right-winger and Killing Lincoln author Bill O'Reilley has to say about this re-take on history!
With so many school kids having a dismal grasp on historic events, maybe this may give some clueless ones hints about Lincoln - but I fear many exam answers down the line will be sporting gems relating Lincoln's vampire slaying days(!)

(See trailer above)

4 / B
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Paul Blom

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- A - B - C


Click below for more Timor Bekmambetov movies

nightwatch
daywatch

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planet apes
alice
dark shadows





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