“Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” is an action-horror film released in 2012, directed by Timur Bekmambetov, and it is based on a novel written by Seth Grahame-Smith. The film showcases an alternate timeline in which Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, leads a double life as a vampire hunter, fusing history with supernatural fiction.
Synopsis:
The story starts when a young Abraham Lincoln witnesses a vampire murder his mother, leaving Lincoln with a need to avenge his mother’s death. He is trained by Henry Sturges, portrayed by Dominic Cooper, in the ways of vampire hunting. Henry helps Lincoln balance his political career and his nighttime vampire hunting. He later learns of a vampire scheme to take control of the United States, and he is forced to fight the vampire leader Adam, played by Rufus Sewell, in the Civil War.
Cast & Characters:
Walker merges Lincoln’s fierce attitude towards leadership and his fierce nature as a vampire hunter into one character.
As Cooper takes on the role of Mr. Sturges, a vampire slayer filled with a desire to kill his own kind, he also guides Lincoln with his vendetta.
Rufus Sewell as Adam – A character who is depicted on screen by Sewell, the centuries old vampire with goals of ruling America, makes a great primary antagonist.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Mary Todd Lincoln – Winstead portrays Lincolns Wife who is thrust into the war against the undead.
PRODUCTION DETAILS:
Timur Bekmambetov, the director for this production is famed for his imitable style of visuals and uses a blend of slow motion action and CGI to depict his version of America in the 19th century, while it is being attacked by vampires. The screenplay, based on Seth’s own novel, was transformed into a script by Seth Grahame-Smith, who made an attempt to combine reality with fiction as reimagined history of Linclon’s life and presidency is told through the novel.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
The responses from critics were varied on this particular film. As of today, it appears that the film holds a 33% rating on rotten tomatoes where the critics believe that “the film has visual style to spare, but its overly serious tone doesn’t jibe with its decidedly silly central premise.”
Roger Ebert famously said regarding the film, “without a doubt the best film we are ever likely to see on the subject,” after appreciating the unique premise of the film.
Some liked the brilliant action and visual effects of the film while other critics bashed the film for its lack of historical context and tonal changes.
Box Office Records:
“Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” made around $37.5 million in the domestic market and received $78.9 million internationally, which comes to roughly $116.5 million globally.
Regardless of its marketing attempts and focusing on a niche premise, the movie was still a box office failure as it raked in a little less than two times its production budget worth $67.5 million.
Evaluative Considerations:
The blurring of the lines between history and supernatural action results in a novel, yet divisive cinematic experience. Real-life events interwoven with imagination results in disbelief that most of the audience may not buy into. While the action sequences are entertaining, the more serious aspect of the film clashes with the fantasy of the premise, resulting in a fragmentation that some viewers and critics alike found difficult to digest.
Final Remarks:
Novels about pivotal historical figures are often repetitive but “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” puts a twist to that notion with its unique narrative glued together by Horror, Action, and Dramatization. The film captures the twisted side of the history and showcases themes surrounding Abraham Lincoln’s sense of duty, vengeance, and the darkness that clouds over him. Due to the stylized action sequences it contains alongside its one-of-a-kind premise, the film is notable in the field of alternate history cinema.
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