Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Plot synopsis:
In 1818, Abraham Lincoln (Benjamin Walker) lives in Indiana with his parents, Nancy (Robin McLeavy) and Thomas (Joseph Mawle), who work at a plantation owned by Jack Barts (Marton Csokas). There, Lincoln rushes to the aid of his friend, a young African American boy, William Johnson (Anthony Mackie), being beaten by a slaver. Because of his son's actions, Thomas is fired. That night, Lincoln sees Barts break into his house and attack Nancy. She falls ill the following day, and dies shortly afterwards. Thomas tells Lincoln that Barts poisoned Nancy.
Nine years later in 1827, a vengeful Lincoln tries to kill Barts at the docks, but Barts, who is actually a vampire, overpowers him. However, before Barts can kill him, Lincoln is rescued by Henry Sturgess (Dominic Cooper). Sturgess explains that vampires exist, and offers to teach Lincoln to be a vampire hunter. Lincoln accepts and, after a decade of training, travels to Springfield, Illinois. During his training, Sturgess tells Lincoln that the vampires in America descend from Adam (Rufus Sewell), a vampire who owns a plantation in New Orleans with his sister, Vadoma (Erin Wasson). Sturgess also tells Lincoln of the vampires' weakness, silver, and presents him with a silver pocket watch.
In Springfield, Lincoln befriends shopkeeper Joshua Speed (Jimmi Simpson), and meets Mary Todd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). Though Sturgess warned him not to form any close relationships, Lincoln develops romantic feelings for Mary.
Lincoln successfully finds and defeats Barts. Before dying, Barts reveals that Sturgess is also a vampire. Lincoln confronts Sturgess, who reveals that, several years ago, he was attacked and bitten by Adam. Because Sturgess' soul was impure, he became a vampire, and that prevented him from harming Adam or any other vampire (since "Only the living can kill the dead"). Sturgess has since been training vampire hunters, hoping to destroy Adam.
Disappointed, Lincoln decides to abandon his mission. However, Adam learns of his activities and kidnaps Johnson to lure Lincoln into a trap at his plantation. Adam captures Lincoln and tries to recruit him, revealing his plans to turn the United States into a nation of the undead. Speed rescues his friends, and they escape to Ohio.
Lincoln marries Mary and begins his political career, campaigning to abolish slavery. It is at this time in the movie Lincoln symbolically puts on the top hat which he dons the rest of the movie. Sturgess warns Lincoln that the slave trade keeps vampires under control, as vampires use slaves for food, and if Lincoln interferes, the vampires will retaliate. After Lincoln's election as President of the United States of America, he moves to the White House with Mary, where they have a son, William Wallace Lincoln (Cameron M. Brown). William is later bitten by Vadoma and dies.
Confederate President Jefferson Davis (John Rothman) convinces Adam to deploy his vampires on the front lines. Lincoln orders the confiscation of all the silverware in the area and has it melted to produce silver weapons. Speed, believing that Lincoln is tearing the nation apart, defects and informs Adam that Lincoln will transport the silver by train.
On the train, Adam and Vadoma, who have set fire to the upcoming trestle, attack Lincoln, Sturgess, and Johnson. During the fight, in which Speed is killed, Adam learns that the train holds only rocks. Lincoln reveals that Speed's betrayal was a ruse to lure Adam into a trap. Lincoln uses his watch to stab Adam, killing him, and the three escape the train before it explodes. Meanwhile, Mary and the ex-slaves have transported the silver to Gettysburg through the Underground Railroad.
The now leaderless Confederate vampires stage a final, massive assault and are met head on by the Union. Armed with their silver weapons, the Union soldiers destroy the vampires and eventually win the battle. During that battle, Mary confronts Vadoma, the vampire that killed her son, and kills her.
Nearly two years later, on April 14, 1865, Sturgess tells Lincoln that the remaining vampires have fled the country. Sturgess tries to convince Lincoln to allow him to turn Lincoln into a vampire, so that he can become immortal and continue to fight vampires, but Lincoln declines.
In modern times, Sturgess approaches a man at a bar in Washington, D.C. as he once approached Lincoln.

Tags: revenge, stupid, historical fiction, violence, flashback

Review:
If I had any complaints it would be that I did feel like the film dragged a bit in the middle.Overall, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is a fun flick that delivers on exactly what it promises.
And, yes, Benjamin Walker makes a good Lincoln especially with the beard later on in the movie.
Ridiculously over the top but in a very entertaining way.The action doesn't stop from the get go and there's a narrative that runs through the whole movie that keeps you interested.The SFX are impressive too.Performances are good, particularly Rufus Sewell who plays a very good villain.
After watching Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter at home I asked myself why I didn't go to see it in a movie theater during the summer.
Benjamin Walker creates a fantastic hero in Abraham Lincoln, a secret vampire hunter and the 16th President of the United States.
It plays very much like a comic book movie, and it takes liberties with the facts of Lincoln's life while poking fun at some of them.
Sadly, instead of any story approximating the book, I got a mess of not-so-special effects with a way over the top story.During the sequence with the burning trestle bridge (I don't want to be any more specific because I don't like posting spoilers) I actually turned to my wife and said, "This is stupid." She agreed.My 11 year old daughter liked the movie so maybe grownups weren't the target audience for this mess.If you liked the book, keep away.
Some look at it and see the name "Abraham Lincoln" and expect the movie to contain more of an historical aspect to the flick; however, in reality, it is a movie regarding Vampires.
The only thing similar with this movie and that book was its title and the vague idea that Abraham Lincoln was something other than just a president.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter sounds like a strange silly title.
People would expect it as a ridiculously fun bloody action film starring one of America's greatest Presidents.
It's entertaining but it could have been a lot more fun.With that kind of title, people would expect it as a campy horror action film with a different version of Abraham Lincoln that has a potential to be a movie icon.
When the movie began being advertised in theaters myself and my friends joked about it sounding ridiculous, my boyfriend and I decided we'd like to see it for the action sequences and creativity aspect of such an outlandish title.
The movie almost completely leaves out the historical events surrounding the main plot, and in doing so leaves the story lacking a real point and focusing on "How awesome can we make this Abe vs Vampire confrontation look??" Absolutely ridiculous.
I've recently read books about the American Civil War and Lincoln's assassination so probably know more than the average Brit about the President and this period of America's history and there were nice details, incidents and characters taken from the period and Lincoln's life that were included to give a bit of authenticity to the story.
With a title Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter you'd expect to see tongue firmly in cheek but instead it is played completely straight as a historical epic/action film.
In terms of action, the film delivers; it's still the director's tamest and sanest work, but what we get would be something comparable to an "Underworld" movie.The story for this madness is generally sound, believe it or not.
Regardless of how you accept the idea that Abe slays the undead in his off-hours, the film does a fine job of weaving historical accounts and personal history in with the vampire storyline.
Music for this movie has some really awesome parts.There could have been more to the film: more crazy action, more to the Civil War scenes, more consistency to the plot, etc.
Still, if you're looking for stylish vampire-slaying action like I am, the film generally satisfies.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is the new movie from director Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted, Night Watch) and Tim Burton, based upon the book by Seth Grahame-Smith, who also wrote the film's screenplay.
The music by Henry Jackman worked great, as it blended in with the film itself, cued in for the right moments when needed.Overall, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter was a fun, well-made film that could be considered an action masterpiece as it never let up on its impressive action or suspense.
Abraham Lincoln, the Great Emancipator, did not merely take up arms against the act of slavery but against the very thought of it, the idea that it is somehow acceptable.Abraham Lincoln, played by Benjamin Walker -- a young Gary Cooper who astoundingly triumphs in an iconic role that could have failed so easily -- learns quickly that his town of Springfield is rife with vampires: the pharmacist, the blacksmith...
What was presented before me was Abraham Lincoln's life not only in Lifetime movie drama form but also a way, way over the top action flick.
He was in no real danger either; he was almost caught a few times but somehow just got lucky, too lucky to create a real suspenseful movie I think.All in all, I can deal with the history inaccuracies and even the action, the seriousness this film tried to portray just made is god awful corny.
Even if Abe just had some one-liners, I think I wouldn't be so disappointed.Please don't see this movie, unless you want ridiculous way-over-the-top action.
The movie had great acting, an actual story - not filler, excellent special effects and entertainment!
Even worse, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is developed with quite a laziness, without any energy or any excitement during the action scenes.Another big problem from Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is Benjamin Walker's poor work in the leading role, because he shows a total lack of credibility and charisma in his character.
At least, I have to say that the rest of the actors makes a decent work in their roles, highlighting Mary Elizabeth Winstead.In conclusion, I can't recommend Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, mainly because I found it very boring.
If my wife had not insisted I stay, I would have walked out in the first ten minutes of this one."Abraham Lincoln Vampire" Hunter makes that film look like pure gold and "Ishtar" tolerable..
A slick, action heavy vampire slayer movie that has more in common with Blade than Interview with a Vampire, like the novel, this re-imagines a history in which Abe Lincoln became a vengeance lusting, ax wielding vampire hunter, where vampires have a part in American History.
I've been a fan of Timur Bekmambetov's films "NIGHT WATCH" and, especially "WANTED..I really thought there was the potential for something pretty special here...A b-movie classic in the making..
you know what, and that it was based on a novel of the same name, I expected no more than some cheesy CGI mediocrity.Boy, was I wrong.Let's start with the best thing about the movie: the action scenes.
Dominic Cooper was also very memorable in his role as the "trainer" of Honest Abe, and was always a pleasure to watch on-screen.The movie's pace is always consistent, and always generates excitement, be it through the simply outstanding action scenes, or the more dramatic ones.
Originally, I thought a more humorous tongue-in-cheek would be appropriate for a movie like this, but I definitely would agree that the serious tone that the film employed definitely worked to its advantage by so seamlessly interweaving real-life history with the vampire mythos.
If you're in for some simply awesome vampire-slaying action, or even if you're into the historical aspect of Abraham Lincoln, the film delivers on every level.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012) *** (out of 4)This horror/action film sets up to tell the true story of Abraham Lincoln (Benjamin Walker) who witnessed his mother getting killed by a vampire so he dedicates his life to stopping the bloodsucking creatures.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER might have a silly title but it's actually a fairly ambitious little movie that really took me by surprise.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER should have been a really, really bad movie but I think for the most part they got it right and those with a little knowledge of the real history around the war should find the touches interesting..
But in this movie they're a cheap plot prop to weave a tale purporting to explain everything about Abe Lincoln and the US Civil War. In some ways it reminded me of Dick, the movie about the Watergate Scandal where "Deep Throat" turns out to be two teenage girls, and many of the veiled happenings of that scandal happen to have been caused by Betsy and Arlene, one way or another.To really appreciate Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter in that respect, it helps to know something about US history leading up to and during the Civil War. At the very least, you should look up Harriet Tubman, Jefferson Davis, and Gettysburg in Wikipedia before seeing the movie.Bekmembatov manages to pack a good deal of history, dialog, action, and story telling into this movie.
Sometimes she was adequate, other times she was spitting her lines out too quickly, as do many pretty young women when playing this kind of historical role.The script veers between using fairly accurate language, to complete anachronism, like "How'd that work out for ya?!" But you know, the story is about how Abe Lincoln was killing vampires, so yeah.On the other hand, the sets, costumes, and other artwork seemed historically accurate and some of the CGI provides a new look at that era.
There's a scene of the Mississippi River at New Orleans full of paddle wheel riverboats that lingers with me.So in the end I turned out liking the vampire prop, and the bad-ass Lincoln as portrayed by Benjamin Walker..
But like I mentioned before simply as a vampire hunter film, this one isn't very good.
The introduction to the film and Lincoln as a vampire hunter felt like a run through.
Maybe if this film had dropped the gimmick, which is what the Abraham Lincoln aspect is, and made a movie about a vampire hunter during the same time, we could of had a far more interesting film on our hands.Oh yes, in the summary/header I put three alternatives for those looking for good vampire films.
Similarly movies such as 'Abraham Lincoln- the Vampire Hunter' succeed in keeping the legend on.
I really don't know much about the real life Mr. Lincoln (other than the fact that he was lovingly called Abe Lincoln), but I believe that Benjamin had indeed been able to imbibe the character perfectly and has done justice to Abraham Lincoln.This movie indeed boasted of some excellent action sequences and especially those involving copious amount of blood spilling- it was quite graphic.The 3-D effect was good, the setup- quite wonderful.
Just because the CGI is good and the story is almost not bad, it does not give people the right to make Abe Lincoln a ridiculous character.
The movie went away from everything great about the book and made the whole idea of Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter as hooky as it sounds.
The development on them was really good.So overall, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is great, and probably one of the biggest surprises of the year..
Like in the movie poster, the real life figure of Lincoln is seen to identify him as a vampire hunter.Anthony Mackie was the high note in the movie, as he played Abe's long time friend Will, who later joined in the hunt of the un-dead.The plot is a little loose, as it portrays vampires as one of the pioneers of slave trade.
The Abe Lincoln character could be any young American fighting vampires.If the plot had been about Lincoln fighting vampires while he was in power, maybe some kind of well thought out conspiracy, with an older and better lead actor, then this might have been a good film.Unfortunately it's garbage.
The movie left out essential details that help molded Abe's character into a vampire hunter in the book.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is a film that appears to either be just a title joke or a joke trailer.
If you don't like horror films or vampire stories, don't go see it and don't review it.
So I'm going to review it.I'm going to start by making one exception to the rest of my good review without giving too much away, of what I did NOT like about the movie: There is one scene, in the middle of the film, which was completely ridiculous.
If you can overlook this one flaw, you have a good, entertaining film.With that out of the way -- The rest of the movie was great.
The story plot is almost the same as a book, but a lot of the story itself has changed drastically, just to make it an action-horror film rather than a movie with a lot of dialog.
the only thing that i take on the writer is trying to convince us that this is true events all the time ( which appears in making Abraham GROW OLDER through out the movie after being the vampire hunter they claim ) , now to the movie , it is a well made movie , sound effects and graphics are well done , the music is very very good , the action scenes and fights are super , i really enjoyed them , some fright moments and horror scenes that are well combined to achieve the goal , this is a very good horror movie ,,, the actin yet stands good , not bad not excellent , simply good , and ( Benjamin Walker ) reminds me of the great ( Liam Neeson )in all aspects , overall i recommend this movie to you , go watch it and take some pop corn with you , you will like it :-) 7 out of 10 , cause the writer did a simple good job ..
the World, The Thing).The story starts you with a young Abraham Lincoln (Benjamin Walker) dealing with the death of his mother due to a Vampire.
From then on you see young Abraham Lincoln grow as a person with him becoming a great vampire hunter, a politician, and a love life.
This is as far as I want to go with the story but from there Abraham Lincoln deal with becoming the 16th President of the United States, deal with the Civil War, and hunt vampires.The 3D was actually pretty good at some of the heavy action scenes which was awesome, but for the slower parts of the film is was just added depth.
I recommend seeing it in 3D for some of the really fun action scenes, but if you are not into the whole 3D craze, then the standard 2D should be just as good.I really did enjoy this movie for how realistic they made the story seemed.
They tied in this fictional story of vampires with the real life story of Abraham Lincoln so well that it seems like this movie could have been real.
Timur the director did a great job in making this movie( really liked his work in Wanted and night watch) .
It's a great time at the movies and good, bloody, ax spinning, vampire killing fun..
Like a Russian Doll that never ends, you keep having to remind yourself, "well the way this scene is playing out is f*cking retarded, but then again it is Abe Lincoln fighting vampires".
A film with Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, the guy with the iconic beard and a very tall top hat, hunting vampires?
It's not all garbage, but with light-hearted action and the thrill of supernatural violence written all over the premise, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter proves to be a major let-down.Maybe a simpler story would've helped?
(Ha!) Though I found the axe-wielding Abe Lincoln to be a truly laughable character (as well as this film's story hinging on the very edge of being a total Looney-Tune cartoon, sans any humour), I was actually quite impressed by the striking cinematography that prevailed, as well as the attention to detail which was placed on the period setting.All-in-all - This was a pretty average horror movie (with some decent gore).
"Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" is fist of all a nice and entertaining movie.
Still, after watching this I looked some more titles up and there are actually a lot of monster movies where Abraham Lincoln is the protagonist and kicking a lot of monster butt.
I mean, seriously, who has that much of a twisted imagination or has dropped enough acid to come up with a story that makes Abraham Lincoln, one of the greatest Presidents in American history, into someone who hunts vampires?
Sure, it's not Lawrence Of Arabia, but it was never supposed to be; instead, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is entertainment well done, and as such, it's an enjoyable watch..
I kept thinking to myself during the film that the premise that Vampires defined Lincoln's actions as well as the politics during the dark period of slavery in America, was as good a premise as any other historic biographical.
Verdict: In many ways, the acting in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by the lead and many of the supporting cast may well be a work of tongue in cheek ingenious; an, unbeknownst to the director, mutiny against the terrible script and tone of this, the worst film of 2012.
Just watched 'Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter' (2012)History's not my strong suit, but I have this nagging feeling that they seem to have taken liberties with some of the historical facts here.
Together with his friends and helped by his experience, Abe must once again save the situation which is in need of a savior.It's an interesting action-horror movie which "creates" a different version of the history of Abraham Lincoln, posing him as a vampire hunter with a silver axe as his weapon.