I remember when my kids bought ‘Pride & Prejudice and Zombies’ by Seth Grahame-Smith in 2009, I assumed it would be just a silly little parody with no depth or sense of quality … boy was I ever wrong! The great story from Jane Austen was respectfully handled and transformed into story of love and manners – and zombie killing on the English countryside. There have been numerous others since then that have varied in quality … but the next one to really capture everyone’s imagination was another book by Seth Grahame-Smith, Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter.
Now the book is being made into a movie, and it looks awesome! Timur Bekmambetov is the director, someone who most might know from the Angelina Jolie film Wanted, but who I know from the films from the Russian novels Night Watch and Day Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko. His style shines through in these trailers as well … and the actors and scenes are at once ridiculous and compelling.
Here is the synopsis:
The film explores the secret life of our greatest president, and the untold history that shaped our nation. As a young boy, Abraham Lincoln (Benjamin Walker) witnesses the shocking death of his mother, leading him on a path to an ongoing war – and ultimately to the presidency – he chronicles in a hidden diary. The journal reveals the incredible story of a clandestine warrior who never stopped fighting for the country he led and the people he loved.
Here is the first trailer from about a month ago:
And here is the newly released trailer:
The film is due out on June 22nd. I’m going – are you?