Trailer for “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” Debuts

It’s fitting that 20th Century Fox would release a trailer for a film based on the life of Abraham Lincoln, being that President’s Day is less than week away. What’s surprising, however, is what the trailer reveals about one of America’s most beloved presidents: that Honest Abe slayed the undead with an axe.

Fox has released the first trailer for the upcoming horror movie “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.” The film, which takes a few, ahem, “liberties” with history, tells the life story of the 16^th President of the United States, albeit from a totally new and ludicrous point of view. Along with emancipating slaves and saving the Union, Honest Abe lives a second life as a vampire hunter. Seems when he was done splitting rails as a teenager, he used his axe to take down bloodsucking ghouls.

“Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” is actually based on the 2010 book of the same name. Seth Grahame-Smith, who wrote the book and the other popular horror mash-up novel “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,” also wrote the screenplay for the film. TimurBekmembetov, best known for his work on the 2008 film “Wanted,” directed the film, with pop horror director Tim Burton acting as a co-producer.

Whether you’re a history buff with a sense of humor or a vampire fanatic with a thing for stovepipe hats, you’ll have to check out the trailer. If you like what you see, head to theaters on June 22 and catch the film in 2D or 3D. From the looks of the trailer, the film will be heavy on effects and action. I suppose slaying vampires is a bit more exciting than watching a 3D recitation of the Gettysburg Address.