It’s not often that I can’t decide whether a movie’s going to be really cool, really funny, or really stupid.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (coming to theaters June 22, 2012) is one of those movies that’s really hard to gauge. The trailer isn’t very helpful in communicating what kind of film it’s supposed to be. The title and premise are hilarious in their own right, but judging by the trailer’s epic battle sequences and the solemn voice-over narration, the film seems to take itself somewhat seriously. Uh-oh.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Seth Grahame-Smith, author of Pride, Prejudice and Zombies. The film is directed by Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted) and produced by Tim Burton (Edward Scissorhands). The two have collaborated before: both helped produce the computer-animated sci-fi film 9 (2009).
Burton’s signature touches are clearly visible in the look of the film: the costumes, the lighting, and the sets all carry his dark, expressionistic aesthetic. And though I’m not overly familiar with Bekmambetov’s work, some of canted angles and slo-mo shots in the trailer seem to resemble the cinematic style of Wanted.
This will be a summer flick to keep your eye on. I’m sure it’ll be an interesting one, to say the very least.
-Alyssa
