There are a number of things you may not have known about the 16th President of the United States and indeed if you google the top ten things you didn't know about Abraham Lincoln I was not aware of any of them. But what is not listed is that he was also a leading fighter for the war against Vampires!!
"For whatever else I am - a husband, a lawyer, a president - I shall always think of myself first and foremost as a hunter" - Abraham Lincoln
Now as someone, who loves history, has a bug bare about misinterpretations of historical events and has been known to shout about said misinterpretations, you would think this would boil my piss. Casing point of when you google Abraham Lincoln, one of the automatic search questions is indeed - "Was Abraham Lincoln a vampire hunter?" That being said I am able to take this film at face value and I have to say I enjoyed every minute of this crazy fable that for all intense and purposes cannot be disproved of ever happening. The only written account of these events is in Lincoln's personal journal that has been lost forever.
The tale starts with a young Abraham who is working alongside his friend who is being whipped by one of the guards. It is pointed out that none of the workers are slaves regardless of their ethnic origin. Young Abraham steps in and thus begins the life long campaign towards the Emancipation Proclamation.
Making a film about the highly popular President is in itself a risk, but to dare to make such a tall tale about the President most American's feel was their greatest is upping the stakes for failure (pardon the pun). I am sure many will disagree with me, I can foresee this film is very much love or hate for many viewers. But I would disagree with anyone that does not give this film 10/10 for the courage to make such a bold and crazy tale of such a historically great person.
Some of the casting in my opinion is hit and miss. Adam (Rufus Sewell) as the nemesis vampire, is lacking. It seems he is playing the same arrogant character I have seen quite a few times which makes you think of some of his past roles and detracts from the performance in this film a little bit. Dominic Cooper as Abe's trainer and vampire guide is a bit weak if I am honest, not that I think its his fault its just the character himself is a bit dull and lacks any real emotional hook. Even when you learn about his back story I didn't find myself empathising with him on any level.
But then we have Abe (Benjamin Walker) and Mary Todd Lincoln (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) The chemistry between the two actors is obvious from the beginning and they play their roles perfectly. The first time you see Lincoln become a hunter with his trusty axe, he already has his trademark 'Stove Pipe' hat and long tailed coat, an image so synonymous with him, you instantly get a pang of geek out as he takes on the evil vampires. However, from the moment he meets young Mary Todd you see how the relationship calms him and moulds him into a more passive activist who wishes to ensure all men are equal.
As a scare jump film it actually does an O.K. job, from the first attempted slaying through to the last dramatic action. I have to say I was captivated by this ridiculous film that dared to push the boundaries of what can be historically acceptable. At no point, did my attention waiver and if anything, I found myself having to catch up with my notes as I had forgotten the whole point of this journey.
There is also a modern feel, that doesn't detract from knowing this is set in the 1800's, but not in a chavvy east end Guy Ritchie way..... (please don't think I am saying bad things about Guy Ritchie) but it has a good mix of using CGI and beautiful scenic angles. For me the cinematography and direction of this are amazing, I loved the way it was shot and I love how it was all edited together.
There is however a but, how big this but is will be up to your own individual interpretation. The insinuation that all Southern confederates were in alliance with Vampires and maintaining the slave trade to keep them fed was a bit much for me. Along with this, the depiction of the slaughter of Native Americans was the result of vampires just did not sit right. These points over simplify two aspects of American history that individually are very sensitive topics. However, this is a film review and not a political debate, but are the only aspects that let the film down. The very clever opposing fact however, was the use of other factual events and giving a slightly differing but harmless spin on them whilst staying true to there narrative.
So as we come to the end, the film could have been a couple of minutes shorter and been a far better close. The final scene is not needed in the slightest and should have been left with President Lincoln rushing to get to the theatre. The score throughout is spot on, really helping to drive the correct emotional response in both the action and political moments of the film, with which surprisingly does leave you with a lasting emotional effect.
Overall, I think this is a great, fun and hugely entertaining film that takes itself serious in just about the right amount. Is this a historically accurate representation? No, but it never tries to make you believe it is. Does it offer a fun side to an historical figure who helped mould the history we know so well? Yes, 100% it does and for that I love it.
I will end with a quote that is apt even more so today than ever... thank you for reading.
"that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under god, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth" - Gettysburg Address, November 19 1863
Farquaad's Rating - 4 Star or 8/10
IMDB - 5.9/10 (143,720)
Metascore - 42 (35 Critic Reviews)
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