Movie Review: Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter

The title sums up the whole movie well - it's an action horror with American history as you've never seen it before.

In the opening, the late-President announces "history prefers legends to men" - but as we know, books don't tell the whole truth.

We meet Abraham Lincoln as a young boy, protecting his African-American friend from the whip of the Lincoln family's nasty slave-trading boss, Jack Barts.

This triggers a chain of events when Abe later witnesses Barts' killing of his mother and vows revenge.

Years later, when a grown-up Abe attempts to kill Barts, he discovers he's actually a vampire.

Here begins our two very different storylines tangled into one.

Abe is saved from Barts by a young man named Henry, who is all too familiar with hunting vampires.

He moulds Abe into our axe-wielding, monster-killing hero.

Barts was only the tip of the iceberg and we follow Abe through a series of vampire slayings that were perhaps too easy.

It becomes his mission to rid the new world of the undead by night (although they weren't bothered by sunlight) and end slavery by day.

For those of you not interested in politics, don't worry, it's only a side story.

But it's Abe's knowledge of killing vampires that helps him to end the Civil War.

Although seemingly ridiculous, this movie aims to be an action-horror rather than a history lesson.

Nice special effects, plenty of bloody fight sequences, and even a little romance are on offer.

Perfect for people who are willing to watch period dramas but need action to enjoy them.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

(R16) 105 minutes

2.5 / 5 Stars