Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter

Rating: 6/10 (8 September 2013)

I think sometimes what works well in a comic book doesn't necessarily translate effectively on screen. Mostly shot in sepia-toned dreary, saturated tones, Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter becomes beholden to a CGI dependency; like crack to an addict, Hollywood these days can't do without that visual effects fix. Abraham sees his mother fall to vampirism thanks to a rotten slave owner bloodsucker named Jack Barts (Marton Csokas). Barts is associated with New Orleans slave owner (and chief vampire), Adam (Rufus Sewell; he's reached that point where he reeks villainy from every pore, but he's typecast). Adam was responsible for the murder of the wife of vampire hunter, Henry (Dominic Cooper), and so Henry enlists the aid of twentys-year old Abraham (Benjamin Walker; a surprising lack of charisma, but it seems his look was more important in the casting of the role) to help him go after bloodsuckers. While some are good with "weapons of iron", Honest Abe is better at spinning and wielding a chopping ax. The chopping ax is a character of the film like Abe, and he can sure whip it aroundof course, this ax will be needed drastically if Abe is to survive the bloodsuckers and those extended mouths with all their sharp teeth. Part historical drama, part dark comic horror action, Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter tries to incorporate back story and Civil War elements with those nasty bloodsuckers imitating regular folks. This had me laughing: vampires support the Confederacy because Abe is the enemy of both. You have battle scenes where Confederates have vampires alongside them engaging the enemy. Henry has a secret Abe later learns, but Lincoln follows his orders towards vampires masquerading as commoners, using the ax as his weapon to behead them. Other friends of Lincoln (and eventually help him against his foes) include his first employer (a shop owner), Joshua Speed (Jimmi Simpson) and a slave he saved from the whip, Will Johnson (Anthony Mackie). There's a pivotal scene when Abe goes to rescue Will from Adam in his New Orleans mansion, certain to be the major "Abe fights the vampires" of the film, as well as, the finale on the train (where Adam is after the silver and we are led to believe Speed has betrayed Lincoln) where wooden tracks are set aflame. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is Mary Todd and her betrothal (and courting with) Abe is given importance; not to mention, their son's attack by Adam's evil henchwoman, Vadoma (Erin Wasson), which will later lead to Mary Todd getting her due justice. The obvious liberties are taken with Lincoln's life prior to his monumental presidency, and how (while President during one of America's most turbulent times in history) he still continues to kill vampires even after he's become President of the United States, but the sheer audacity of such an idea I give applause. Does it work? It is far-fetched and unrealistic but why wouldn't it be? The heavy use of CGI is what left me rather wanting, and the lead actor just never quite leaves a significant impression as Abraham Lincoln, one of the nation's most critical figures of history. Seeing the Union use silver to even the odds at Gettysburg, with vampires in Confederate uniforms meeting their ends, is equal parts amusing and rather thrilling.