Stake & Garlic Mr President?

Although Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter has a very offbeat, silly title, the film itself rarely reflects the absurdity of its premise. Instead of a Buffy The Vampire Slayer post-modern wink at the audience you get a very serious dramatisation of the life of a very important American President….only this time a subplot about his involvement in killing vampires is interwoven throughout familiar historical events.

While this sounds like a novel approach to a daft idea it never successfully works as a film. The problem is by playing it straight the tone is too dry and humourless, a problem which is compounded by some underwritten drama and direction which often lacks energy outside of the action. The performances are solid, if unspectacular, the action spectacular if a little flat and the whole enterprise is lacking in energy and emotion.

Still, it’s from the director of Wanted so there’s style aplenty, it’s beautiful to look at and it’s an intriguing look at an alternative vampire mythology with a historical perspective. I only wish it had been a bit more compelling.