Hold on to your hats. You may think that this movie is strange and ridiculous. Well, yes. The premise is strange and ridiculous but I found it to be a very good movie and I enjoyed the triumph of good over evil. I read the book about a year ago and enjoyed the book. It is one of several contemporary books that combines a traditional story with horror themes. They are called "mashups." I was surprised when I saw that "they" were making this book into a movie and I convinced Alice that we should see it. I confess. She didn't really like it very much.
It was filled with vampires and lots of computer generated action. Yes, and there was more blood and gore than necessary and a lot more than I cared for. But the plot was unique and some of the historical scenes were absolutely riveting. Oh, I confess that the depiction of Mary Todd Lincoln just didn't live up to facts but the weaving of the evils of slavery and racism and Lincoln's unique bravery in a variety of situations made for an interesting movie. I understand that a movie about the last year or so of Lincoln's presidency is in the work. Unlike this movie, that one will be factual but they will have to work hard to have a better actor for Lincoln and will have to work hard to keep that movie as interesting.
This movie was described as an action fantasy horror film and it lived up to that. Vampires figure into Lincoln's life as his mother dies from a Vampire bite and his hatred of vampires (and slavery) is based on that fact. Henry Sturgis who happens to also be a vampire enlists Lincoln to do his dirty work of eradicating vampires because he himself cannot do it because of an unwritten code that vampires cannot kill other vampires. Hey...I said it was a fantasy.
Lincoln's friend, Speed, and a boyhood black friend, William Johnson, join forces just before the Battle of Gettysburg in supplying the Union forces with silver bullets. A fight against vampires on a speeding train is truly unbelievable but totally "logical" and heart-pounding.
The movie ends with Lincoln on his way to the Ford Theater. His vampire friend Henry is trying to convince Lincoln to become a vampire himself to continue the fight but Lincoln refuses. The book has a somewhat different ending.
One criticism--I long for the vampires to be a little more human and a little less horrifying. I think that this would have been an even better movie with fewer sensational scenes and a little more dramatic interaction. In that, the book was probably better.
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