Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Movie in the Works

[DACrowe]

For the logistics of vampires rising to the top of Southern aristocracy (or even just journeying from Europe to the New World in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries) requires they can move about in light.

Besides, the idea that sunlight can kill vampires comes exclusively from the 1922 Nosferatu film. Even Stoker's classic Dracula novel has the count move about during the day. One small thing I will credit Twilight with is it has freed up writers from 20th century conventions. Sadly, instead of doing something interesting with it, they mostly use it as an excuse for the vampires to get in love triangles with teenage girls.

Oh well.

 

[SuperSoldier985]

The 3D in this movie was very interesting and pretty damn scary at times

 

[The Infernal]

For the logistics of vampires rising to the top of Southern aristocracy (or even just journeying from Europe to the New World in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries) requires they can move about in light.

Unless they do the old 'sleeping in coffin, wake me up when we get there' shtick. lol

Besides, the idea that sunlight can kill vampires comes exclusively from the 1922 Nosferatu film. Even Stoker's classic Dracula novel has the count move about during the day. One small thing I will credit Twilight with is it has freed up writers from 20th century conventions. Sadly, instead of doing something interesting with it, they mostly use it as an excuse for the vampires to get in love triangles with teenage girls.

Oh well.

Dear god.... mentioning Twilight in an almost positive light. Arrrgh. j/k

While it's a good point and some good movie knowledge, I can't help but think if you're going to tackle a subject like vampires which generally conform to certain well known (and perhaps expected) conventions then you should either be consistent with those or find a convenient and simple way to inform the audience that you are subverting them (and on a side note don't do something stupid like glitter skin).

I don't think the movie conveyed that well enough and it would seem a bit of a mixed message since the vampires seemed fairly consistent with convention outside of their tolerance of daylight.

 

[ShredderX]

I saw it today and liked it. Walker looked like a young Liam . Abe was pretty bad ass. Would've thought Teddy Roosevelt would've been the main president featured in a genre movie mash up like this due to his ruff-ryder, Indiana Jones type nature and an Image comic featuring him hunting monsters I bought awhile back. All in all, I thought it was a pretty good movie, and heard some of the kids leaving the theatre say they wanted to read about Lincoln and the Civil war.

 

[Marvolo]

Disappointed with how they chose to end it. I liked the bar bit, and the play on the gun drop, but leaving out the theater and aftermath gave Mary Todd no conclusion or any conclusion really. It wasn't even clear it was Lincoln at the bar. Plus, I wanted to hear Henry say "Some men are too interesting to die." If by some chance this gets a sequel that would make a good tagline, tho.

Overall, it was a bit of a mess with some cool scenes. The adaption just tried to do too much in too short an amount of time cutting large swaths of story away along with a lot of the heart that endears the reader to Lincoln's struggle in the book. It felt like they didn't entirely know what they were going for. It was a poor adaption to say the least. Benjamin Walker did a great job as Lincoln and brought a lot of charisma and heart to the role making up for what was lost in the adaption. I'd watch him play Lincoln again in a heartbeat. Henry and Will were good, also. My favorite moment was the train scene when Lincoln and Will are passing the axe back and forth while cutting down every vampire coming at them. Epic to say the least. Lincoln cutting those vampires down in the mansion was a close second. Walker's skill with that ax was astonishing to say the least. I'd give the film a 6/10. On blu-ray it has a strong chance of becoming a guilty pleasure of mine. I feel like had this been an original idea, and not an adaption it would have been better, and I hope a sequel can realize this feeling. An original idea for a sequel could lead to an extremely fun and good quality film.

 

[Mike_D202]

Yeah I was disappointed by the ending also, it reminded me too much of "Lincoln Vs. Zombies" (exactly as shown, Lincoln leaving with Mary to the theater and that was it). I also wish they would have included the struggling author that is reading Lincoln's journal that Henry gave him. They left a lot out that would have fleshed the story out a bit more instead of it feeling "rushed."

 

[Marvolo]

I definitely want to see more of Benjamin Walker. There is something about the guy.

 

[Schlosser85]

How much screentime does Rufus Sewell (vamp leader Adam) have?

 

[Marvolo]

How much screentime does Rufus Sewell (vamp leader Adam) have?

A fair amount, tho, him and Lincoln have very little screen time together.

 

[Project862006]

I definitely want to see more of Benjamin Walker. There is something about the guy.

he is gonna star in the next ed zwick film "The Great Wall" with henry cavill

ben has a very classic look to him kind of reminds me of young colin firth or liam neeson he is gonna be a super hero sooner than later me thinks

 

[Schlosser85]

wow, he does look like a young Liam Neeson

 

[nightwing06]

While flipping through the Previews comic shop catalog about 2 years ago a title for a new book made me pause.
It was titled Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter ,i thought it was amusing that someone would use a historical figure
as a vampire hunter.Then i thought would this work as a film?When the trailer hit and was met with laughter from
the audience each time it played in the theatre,i said maybe this wont work.
But surprisingly it does work for the most part,and i rather liked this mash up of history and horror.
As Lincoln Benjamin Walker who has such a resemblance to Liam Neeson i half expected him to say the line
from Taken: I will find you,and i will kill you!! does a fine job as the 16th Prez of the United States
I also liked the inclusion of William Johnson (Anthony Mackie),friend and personal valet of Abraham Lincoln.
Peppered with terrific action sequences ALVH is a fun action romp.
It begins to go off the rails when Abe seems to becomes Neo from the Matrix and walks away unscathed from romps that
would even make The Hulk's nose bleed.Some extremely predictable turns also take away from the film.
Still far better than what i thought it would be
Scale of 1-10 a 7

 

[marvelman2006]

Thats wild:

 

[marvelman2006]

I gave the movie a 4/5 just for the fun factor and I dont know what people were really expecting with this honestly. It angers me that crap like pirahnna 3D can get a fresh tomatoe but this gets butchered.

 

[Spider-Man Luvr28]

Disappointed with how they chose to end it. I liked the bar bit, and the play on the gun drop, but leaving out the theater and aftermath gave Mary Todd no conclusion or any conclusion really. It wasn't even clear it was Lincoln at the bar. Plus, I wanted to hear Henry say "Some men are too interesting to die." If by some chance this gets a sequel that would make a good tagline, tho.

Yeah, I was watching & hoping something else would happen at the end with Mary & Abe but then it cut to the bar scene & I was like, "Ooh..." But I agree.

 

[The Infernal]

I gave the movie a 4/5 just for the fun factor and I dont know what people were really expecting with this honestly. It angers me that crap like pirahnna 3D can get a fresh tomatoe but this gets butchered.

I agree. I can understand people who have read the book being disappointed with the adaptation not living up to what they expected, but I read the IGN review that seems to mark the film down because it takes itself seriously and because it wasn't a proper biopic as well. I mean who honestly expected that Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter was going to be a fairly factual biopic?

 

[Bruce Malone]

I agree. I can understand people who have read the book being disappointed with the adaptation not living up to what they expected, but I read the IGN review that seems to mark the film down because it takes itself seriously and because it wasn't a proper biopic as well. I mean who honestly expected that Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter was going to be a fairly factual biopic?

That's how the book was though. Not to say films have to be 100% translation of their books but it was that bio quality that really made you care for Lincoln in the book and flesh out the character.

 

[The Infernal]

That's how the book was though. Not to say films have to be 100% translation of their books but it was that bio quality that really made you care for Lincoln in the book and flesh out the character.

Really? Then I stand corrected. I've not read the book. Though it still feels weird that someone's marking the film down because it isn't more factual.

 

[Doctor Jones]

This movie was bombastic, loud, and messy. With no apparent attention to craft at all. Just green screen thrown in with green screen and CGI to the point where I just didn't care. I can get on board with CGI, but not when it's as messy as this. The director seemed more interested in getting to the action than the build up to it, which made it all seem rushed. This guy is kind of like the poor man's Wachowski Brothers. It went by so fast I couldn't really appreciate much what was going on, save for Walker as Lincoln and Winstead who played a very likeable Mary.

I went in aware of what this kind of movie this was and just wanted to have a fun time. Instead it wasn't very fun at all. There's some cool moments for sure, and at least they fully embraced the silly nature, but it just didn't live up to what it could have been. The movie just isn't that well made.

 

[Schlosser85]

How much screentime does Erin Wasson as Vadoma the female vampire have?

 

[Octoberist]

Also might I add the cinematography was bad. I know, I know..this ain't supposed to be a Malick film but everything so murky and CG here.

 

[marvelman2006]

How much screentime does Erin Wasson as Vadoma the female vampire have?

about 35 minutes if you add shots where shes just standing there.

 

[marvelman2006]

My one problem with the movie was the ending with Vadoma where

Spoiler

What was she hoping to do by sneaking into the union camp and trying to go one on one with mrs lincoln? Just seemed like instead of saving her for a sequel they just said screw it we'll kill her now.

 

[Spider-Man Luvr28]

Got first place over at the UK box office:

Despite mixed reviews and a poor showing across the pond, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter debuted in first place at the UK box office, although its opening haul of £1,119,117 is far from spectacular, especially considering it benefitted from two days of preview screenings, without which the Timur Bekmambetov action-fantasy would have found itself languishing in fifth.

http://www.flickeringmyth.com/2012/06/abraham-lincoln-vampire-hunter-tops-uk.html

 

[Boom]

This was one of the worst movies I have seen in a long while. I went in expecting it to be bad (but entertaining enough), yet they somehow managed to lower the bar and get under it. It was just a complete and utter mess of a film with almost no redeemable qualities.