Like most American families in the 1840s and 50s, the Lincolns and the Booths practiced a religion that also embraced aspects of Spiritualism. By using this framework for the biographical history, Alford explores the societal turmoil that allowed Lincoln to become president and John Wilkes Booth to become an assassin.
Images from the Library of Congress archives
Just about any film will have its strengths and weaknesses, but some of these I never expected from veteran Spielberg. Its main strength lies in the acting. Daniel Day-Lewis is, unsurprisingly, fantastic as Abraham Lincoln. He humanizes the president that we are all too familiar with as a piece of money or a stone face…
So, the title tells you just about all you need to know. Knowing the basics, I expected a silly action flick. And it is. The film (and presumably the book, although I haven’t read it) weaves in biographical details about Lincoln into a completely ridiculous tale about vampires. As a boy, Lincoln’s mother is killed…