Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter ***½ (7/10)

Rating: 7/10 (29 December 2017)

Available on Blu-ray Disc (Region B)
USA 2012 English (Colour); Horror/Action/Fantasy/Thriller (Twentieth Century Fox/Dune); 105 minutes (15 certificate)
Crew includes: Timur Bekmambetov (Director); Seth Grahame-Smith (Screenwriter, adapting his Novel ***½ [7/10]); Tim Burton, Timur Bekmambetov, Jim Lemley (Producers); Michele Wolkoff, John J. Kelly, Simon Kinberg, Seth Grahame-Smith (Executive Producers); Caleb Deschanel (Cinematographer); François Audouy (Production Designer); William Hoy (Editor); Henry Jackman (Composer)
Cast includes: 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); Alan Tudyk (uncredited)
"President by day. Hunter by night."
Having discovered that vampires exist and that his mother was killed by one, the future 16th President of the United States (Walker) is recruited by a mysterious, shades-wearing figure (Cooper) and trained to lead a double life as a silver axe-wielding hunter, determined to rid his troubled nation of these ferocious demons, and of their invincible creator (Sewell).
Crying out not to be taken seriously, what develops nonetheless from this pretty preposterous premise is a straight-faced blast of an offbeat monster movie (incorporating two massive set pieces), with excitement and style to spare, and lashings of gore.
Its otherwise authentic biographical background makes for a grotesque history lesson (of sorts).
Blu-ray Extras: Commentary, Documentary, Graphic Novel, Music Video, Trailer. ***½ (7/10)