ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER

I wanted to love ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER but left the theater just thinking it was okay. The film would have worked a lot better for me if the filmmakers went with a more B-movie approach. The vampire action is great but feels very few and far between with the historical drama going on. Director Timur Bekmambetov (NIGHT WATCH, WANTED) utilizes a lot his trademark slow motion for action scenes which mostly work to excellent advantage in his other films but here it just seems overused to complement the 3D.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER is the reconstructed true life story of Mr. Lincoln revealing a secret history about him moonlighting as a vampire hunter. When he was a young boy Lincoln witnessed the life of his mother taken away by a vampire. From that day forward he vowed vengeance on bloodsucking creatures of the night. After years of searching and formulating a plan clouded by hate, his encounter with the vampire goes awry. It is here that we meet vampire hunter and future mentor Henry Sturgess. Henry tells Lincoln about the secret society of vampires that are quickly infesting the south. After some easy convincing and Axe wielding training , Lincoln is ready to kill some vampire butt.

Whenever Abraham Lincoln is not killing vampires he works at a general store studying to become a lawyer. He also meets his future wife Mary Todd and has a few debates with Stephen Douglas. With a normal life interrupting his slayer skills Lincoln wants the vampire responsible for his mothers death then he is done. Wish granted but not without getting the attention of Adam the apparent leader of the vampires. Retired from the Axe wielding business and now President of the United States of America Lincoln would like nothing better to do than put his vampire slaying behind him but Adam reminds him that you better finish what you started.

Like I said earlier this movie really didn't do anything for me. It felt too History Chanel mixed in with vampire lore for me. My expectations were for something a little more Sam Raimi-ish in tone especially with Tim Burton producing. It's sort of his trademark I know but director Timur Bekmambetov went way overboard with the slo-mo action scenes.

What may win me over however is the performances. I really dug the actor playing Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Walker did a fine job. I thought the story arc with the character was very convincing. Dominic Cooper as the vampire hunter Henry Sturgess was a performance I enjoyed and wanted more of. The lovely Mary Elizabeth Winstead (who is always easy on the eyes) gave a nice and elegant portrayal of Mary Todd. The rest of the cast just kinda fell flat.

I do like director Timur Bekmambetov and await his next film so in that respect ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER may grow on me? Until then I can only give this the recommendation of a rental if you like the altered history genre or vampire genre.