Movie: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Rated: R
In theaters: June 22
Pitchforks: 3 out of 5
If truth truly is stranger than fiction, then the release of “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” looks to put one of our most beloved adages (and Presidents) to the test.
Based on the book by the same name, author Seth Grahame-Smith, who also wrote the book “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,” wrote the screenplay for the film as well. He clearly enjoys tying his love of classic works of literature, as well as one of America’s most admired Presidents, with his clear hate and disdain for the undead.
Who can blame him? For most, zombies and vampires are not a good thing, but with some movie and television shows looking to show a side of these demons that wants to evoke empathy – even our devotion (Team Edward), Grahame-Smith would rather just kill them all. What better vehicle is there to get such a message out to the public than a film depicting a 6-foot-4-inches tall man from Illinois, gifted with the ability to wield a silver-bladed ax?
Add in the fact that he would become President; this rendition of “Honest Abe” could be argued as evidence to our nation’s first superhero. Team Abe, if you will.
The film follows Lincoln for most of his life. Showing him a young boy, struggling to understand how slavery can exist in a world of “free men.” He witnesses a vampire poison his mother, and from there, revenge is all he knows. After a failed attempt to avenge his mother’s murder, Lincoln meets Henry Sturgess (Cooper) who teaches him how to fight – and be victorious – over the forces of evil.
As Sturgess and Lincoln plot (and carryout) which vampire to kill next, the calling of a lifestyle in politics begins to take hold over Lincoln. Once it is discovered that vampires are behind the slave trade in the south, Lincoln sets his sights on the presidency to right this most obvious of wrongs.
Director Timur Bekmambetov, who also directed “Wanted,” is no stranger to the portrayal of slaying vampires. Having also directed “Night Watch” and “Day Watch,” Bekmambetov looks to build off his similar distaste for blood suckers with Grahame-Smith, while ramping up his lessons learned in action-suspense-thriller storytelling from “Wanted.” Outside of a chase/fight scene on literal horseback, along with another battle atop a train in-route to the south, Bekmambetov and “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” feels more miss than hit.
The action scenes are great displays of elegant violence in slow-motion, but the story development, dialogue and chemistry between characters feels off most of the film. Parts of the film beg the question, should audiences take this seriously – or laugh with it (or at it, perhaps)? Honestly, it’s hard to say.
While the idea of ridding the world of slavery and vampirism makes sense, embracing the idea that the man on the right side of the ax is none other than Abraham Lincoln himself, will prove to be the truest test between movie-maker and movie-goer.
Producer Tim Burton, known for offering audiences a healthy mixture of humor, darkness and the strange, probably struggled with how best to use Johnny Depp and opted for Bekmambetov to handle the film instead. A shame really, as one could have expected to witness a better start to the coming summer blockbuster season.
The idea of melding fact and fiction is a time honored tradition in storytelling, this one however, needed more time.
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Reach the reporter at jbfortne@asu.edu
