Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

"History prefers legends to men. It prefers nobility to brutality, soaring speeches to wild deeds. History remembers the battle, but forgets the blood. However history remembers me before I was a President, it shall only remember a fraction of the truth..."

When his mother is killed by a vampire, Abraham Lincoln (Walker) vows revenge.  Ten years later, as an adult, he meets Henry Sturgess (Cooper) who teaches Abe how to successfully defeat vampires.  After learning all Henry can teach him, Abe leaves home to start his war against vampires.

He settles in Springfield, working as a clerk for Joshua Speed (Simpson) by day, and destroying the vampires on Henry's list by night.  In Springfield, he reconnects with childhood friend Will (Mackie), and falls in love with headstrong Mary Todd (Winstead).  Soon news of his exploits reaches head vampire Adam (Sewell) and his sister Vadoma (Erin Wasson).  Can he stop the vampires and keep his friends safe?


In 2009 Seth Grahame-Smith wrote a novel mash-up of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" and the zombie genre in the successful "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies."  A year later he wrote another mash-up called "Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter," which was again met with success.

I read and enjoyed the story ("Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" was better, but I love "Pride and Prejudice")... it was interesting and didn't take itself too seriously.  When I learned the story was being adapted for film, with Grahame-Smith writing the screenplay.  The film plot was similar to the book, but they changed some important details, which changed the story.  It worked, but I missed some of the aspects that were removed.  The biggest / most noticeable  difference is the ending... I like the end of the book (don't worry, I won't ruin it for you), but the movie did something different.  Their ending works, but I missed the book ending.

If you go into the film expecting a mindless action flick where Abe Lincoln kills vampires, then you won't be disappointed.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012) 105 minutes
Rating: R for violence throughout and brief sexuality
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Starring: Benjamin Walker as Abraham Lincoln
Dominic Cooper as Henry Sturgess
Anthony Mackie as Will Johnson
Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Mary Todd Lincoln
Rufus Sewell as Adam
Marton Csokas as Jack Barts
Jimmi Simpson as Joshua Speed