Movie: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012)

President by day. Hunter by night.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012) is an action fantasy horror movie based on the novel of the same name by Seth Grahame-Smith. Tim Burton is the producer. The director is Timur Bekmambetov, well-known for his dark fantasy action movies, Day Watch and Night Watch. Another notable movie by Timur is Wanted.

Synopsis: America's greatest president, Abraham Lincoln (Benjamin Walker) has a secret life and an untold story that shapes the nation. Upon discovering the vampires' plan, led by Adam (Rufus Sewell) to take over the country, he takes on the mission with his mentor Henry (Dominic Cooper), and friends William (Anthony Mackie) and Speed (Jimmi Simpson) to eliminate the undead, thus becoming history's greatest vampire hunter.

The concept of mixing a real-life historical figure with the myth of vampires sounds like a joke to me but such a clever twist is surprisingly entertaining.

The main premise of the movie is that the vampires are the main force behind slavery in the South and the Civil War starts when Abraham Lincoln as the President of the United States campaigns to abolish slavery by eliminating the vampires.

Apart from a good story, this movie is also packed with impressive action scenes. The battlefield scenes between human and vampire soldiers are epic. Superb visual effects include elegant splatters and sprays of vampiric blood (black) and gore from slow-mo decapitations. Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov give us their lethal doses of Gothic gore!

Another point, the entire cast is effective. Great chemistry and superb performance! Young actor Benjamin Walker who resembles a young Liam Neeson portrays both the young and old Abraham Lincoln effectively. Mary Elizabeth Winstead portrays Lincoln's wife Mary Todd almost effortlessly. Rufus Sewell, the ruthless vampire leader gives you the jitters with that dirty, semi-insane look on his face.

Overall, this is one helluva movie that lives up to its trailer, I would say it exceeds our expectations. I believe most of us leave the cinema in awe.

Now I wonder, will the novel Queen Victoria: Demon Hunter by A. E. Moorat be made into a movie too?