Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

This post should really be entitled 'A Film I Did Not Except to Enjoy'. Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter is as silly as the title suggests. The basic premise of the story is that not only was Mr Lincoln one of the most famous American presidents, champion of the abolition of slavery, and the tallest US president; he was also involved in a lifelong battle against the forces of the undead. Yes, I know that sounds quite daft, and it is, but daft in a really good way.

If you are prepared to suspend belief and stick your tongue very firmly in your cheek, AB:VH is thoroughly enjoyable. The film is based on the novel by Seth Grahame-Smith (author of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies), who also wrote the screenplay. Despite the surreal storyline, it has a strong cast - most notably Benjamin Walker who makes a very convincing Lincoln, and Rufus Sewell as a thoroughly evil chief vampire - and never makes the mistake of taking itself too seriously. It's a non-stop roller-coaster of a movie; the action starts almost immediately and continues at a pace throughout. Oh, and not one of the vampires sparkles - I think that's always a plus point!

If you missed it in the cinemas it's now available on dvd, and it's well worth grabbing a copy if you're looking for something that is scary but fun for your Halloween entertainment.

Suggestion from my playlist

The Levellers are (in my opinion) one of the most underrated of British bands. Not sure why, but possibly because they had such an overt political message that they weren't deemed appropriate for mainstream radio in the past. Despite this, they have a loyal following and are still going strong 17 years after the release of One Way (see video above).

The band currently have a new album out, Letters from the Underground. I've heard a few tracks and really liked them, particularly A Life Less Ordinary which was offered as a free download and has become a regular on my playlist. Their music has matured, but still has that certain edge and individuality that marked them out from the hoards of folk/rock bands of the early 90s.

You can find out more about Letters from the Underground and listen to some of the tracks you might have missed over at The Levellers official website.

The Tudors - Series 2

The second series of The Tudors started on BBC 2 last Friday. For the initiated, the series is a dramatisation of the lives of the Tudor ruling dynasty, focussing on Henry VIII. It has come in for some criticism for being silly and inaccurate (this is true), but it's good fun - think an intellectual soap opera -  and well worth a look if you are a fan of historical drama.

Series 2 starts with Henry being made head of the Church of England and about to marry Anne Boleyn. You can catch the first episode on BBC iPlayer for the next few days.

Watch films online

Channel 4's On Demand service gives you the chance to catch up with any favourite programmes you might have missed for 30 days after the initial broadcast. There is also a section devoted to films, including Films to See Before You Die (you can see the widget for that in the right sidebar). I'm not sure if this service works outside the UK though (maybe someone could have a try and let me know).

To use 4oD, you will need Internet Explorer* and you will also have to download a small programme, which is used to stream the material. Otherwise, it's all pretty simple and completely free. At the moment films on offer include Natural Born Killers and Once Upon a Time in America.

* I was surprised to see that, I would have thought Channel 4 would have been a bit more accomodating to users of others browsers.

Summer Reading Recommendation

Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks is set in the Derbyshire village of Eyam in 1665 - the year that plague spread devastatingly through the country. The story follows the fortunes of three central characters: Anna, a serving girl; the local rector and his wife, Elinor as they try to cope with the appalling tragedy unfolding around them.


I wasn't sure if I would like this book - the blurb on the back cover made it sound somewhat politically correct and I'm not a fan of historical fiction which gives a modern interpretation to archaic events or people. However, I was pleasantly surprised. Geraldine Brooks does a wonderful job of making the characters and events accessible to a modern audience, but still maintains the feel and attitudes of a remote 17th century village and offers a lot of interesting historical detail without ever making the reader feel they are being lectured to. 


The book really turns on it's characters, and all are beautifully drawn and believable. The relationships between the central characters are intriguing, and complex - I won't say too much because I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't read it, but all is not what it seems!


All in, Year of Wonders is a wonderful novel and well worth a look if you want to add something a little different to your summer reading list.

Find out more about Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague

Something to read, something to do, something to watch

I don't know about you, but I have a habit of heckling the protagonists in action and horror films. I can't help it, actors seem to lack the rudimentary knowledge required to survive serial killers/movie monsters/homicidal aliens. However, what, in reality, would be the average person's chances of surviving car chases, alien invasion or the attentions of unpleasant cannibalistic types? Find out here.

If you are a budding film maker in need of some exposure, pop over to the BBC film section and find out how you can submit a short film to their Film Network And while you are there, take a look at a favourite of mine, Spring Heeled Jack, a delightfully dark fairytale.

PS: Don't forget to vote in the latest poll, you will find it in the sidebar!