The other Lincoln

Rating: 5/10 (23 December 2012)

Based on the same-titled quasi-biographical horror novel by Seth Grahame-Smith retells the story of Abraham Lincoln (Benjamin Walker), portraying him as much more than a statesman responsible for toppling slavery, instead delving into his hidden identity as a vampire slayer. During his youth he witnessed his mother taken away by vampire Joshua Speed (Jimmi Simpson), thus the festering anger evolves into an unrelenting desire for revenge. Reckless in his craze Lincoln is confronted by reluctant vampire Henry Sturges (Dominic Cooper), who promises to teach him how to channel the hatred and become the ultimate scourge of vampires. Despite great success Lincoln ultimately stabilises his life in the arms of Mary Todd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and thus forfeits one craft focusing on his political career. However the path he started cannot be left so easily and simply...
Unlike the Steven Spielberg directed biography this Abraham Lincoln portrayal won't be getting any love at the Oscars or Golden Globes. Directed by Timur Bekmambetov of "Night Watch" fame offers more of the same in terms of style: bombastic expressive flair with an utter disrespect for substantial script backdrop. Despite an absolutely ridiculous concept, apt for much ridicule, the story premise isn't as cringe-worthy as expected. Various tidbits of Lincoln history fit in nicely to the concept of his career as a vampire hunter, whilst the involvement of vampires into the civil war is pretty sensible, if contemptuously disregarding for historical recounts.
All in all groups of audiences will cringe at the audacity of the idea, whilst others are certain to find an appeal. More inclined to the later, I was however put off by the somewhat turgid style of Bekmambetov, who does manage to put together luscious action sequences, but fails to instill enough heart into proceedings to make it anything more than eye candy. At times a peculiarly fun, if bloody, pastiche, else a somewhat nonsensical venture into triviality. Unfortunately not playful enough or conversely dark and dreary, instead has a cartoonish feel collaged with dramatic sequences from Lincoln's life. That said it seems necessary to underline that somehow the absurdity of Lincoln being a vampire slayer is scrumptiously fleshed into his biography, making it somewhat passable and not a sheer ridiculous running joke. Some of the CGI is somewhat plastic and strikingly obvious, especially regarding a sheer terrible vampire chase on top of stampeding horses. Not entirely a failure, but still not entertaining and engaging enough to be anything more than a pass-time: a fun idea devoid of enough fun to make it fulfill its promise.