Synopsis/Details
In the aftermath of Abraham Lincoln's assassination, the nation mourns the loss of its leader. However, whispers of conspiracy and the supernatural begin to swirl around the circumstances of his burial. The story opens with archival footage and newspaper headlines detailing the chaos following Lincoln's death on April 15, 1865, and the subsequent funeral train that carries his body across the country. As the train makes its way to Springfield, Illinois, the narrative shifts to a chilling scene in 1901 where a group of men, led by caretaker Edward S. Johnson, pries open Lincoln's coffin in Oak Ridge Cemetery, only to find the President's body eerily preserved, untouched by time.
The film flashes back to the night of Lincoln's assassination at Ford's Theatre, where John Wilkes Booth famously declares, 'Sic semper tyrannis!' before fleeing into the night. As the funeral train continues its journey, Dr. Charles Brown, the embalmer, grows increasingly uneasy about the state of Lincoln's body, noting that it appears too lifelike. The tension escalates as the train arrives in Baltimore, where mourners gather in droves, and the body is displayed for public viewing.
In a parallel narrative, we follow the story of Lewis Sweeney and James Kenall, two men who plan to steal Lincoln's body in 1876, believing it to be a valuable relic. Their heist is thwarted by undercover Secret Service agents, but the legend of Lincoln's body continues to haunt the town. The film explores the psychological toll on those who come into contact with Lincoln's remains, particularly Thomas Reese, the caretaker who experiences disturbing visions and dreams of Lincoln watching him.
As the years pass, Robert Todd Lincoln, the President's son, grapples with the legacy of his father and the secrets surrounding his burial. In 1901, he decides to have Lincoln's body moved again, fearing the implications of its preservation. The film culminates in a tense confrontation as Nellie Jacobs, a determined journalist, uncovers the truth about Lincoln's body and the attempts to suppress its secrets. Her investigation leads her to the heart of a conspiracy that threatens to unravel the very fabric of American history.
The climax occurs when Nellie confronts Robert Lincoln and the agents tasked with keeping the truth buried. As the public demands answers, the film raises questions about memory, legacy, and the lengths to which people will go to protect their myths. The story concludes with a haunting image of Lincoln's sealed tomb, suggesting that some truths are too powerful to remain hidden, and that the past is never truly at rest.
