Stake Land (2010) Online

I checked out the IMDb rating for this before deciding to watch it at the cinema and decided it was worth a trip at 6.8, horror flicks rarely creep above 8 as they are generally poorly acted with little or no depth to the story. Not many scary films keep you gripped but this one hit the spot for me. The acting was generally very good, the sets first class and the story went at a nice steady pace with just the right amount of horror thrown in to keep you on your toes. If you enjoyed The Road you will love this as it makes you think, you find yourself putting yourself in the characters shoes and there are lots of subtle things in the movie where actions not words set the scene. If you are looking for a mindless blood fest or sexy vampires then give this a miss, if however you are looking for a horror film with an actual story and some decent acting then sit back and enjoy.

I saw this movie because I love post-apocalyptic movies. The idea of a world with less human beings meddling with it always looks enticing. Its the same reason why we take vacations in remote locations.

First thing you will notice about Stake Land is it looks great. I am not much familiar with the cast except Connor Paolo. The actors act naturally which looks great in a film such as this. The plot is simple. It is a story of survivors of a vampire epidemic. But its the execution of the plot which is why this movie is so good. The director knows what he can and cant do. 10 out of 10 for the director's efforts.

Lastly, I wont say its a different movie than the rest of vampire movies coming out these days. But Stake Land should be watched because it has the ability to suck you in its environment within the first 10 minutes. And trust me it never lets it go.

Synopsis: Orphaned Martin is taken under the wing of bad-ass Mister as they travel across vampire-ravaged America in search of the refuge known as 'New Eden'.

Aside from the fairly frequent jumps, scares and gore, Stake Land feels surprisingly subdued for a recent horror film. With its melancholic tone, ravaging of the religious right and focus on characters over action, the film succeeds in being a bit more thoughtful than many of its contemporaries. And don't go into this expecting sanitized, pretty-boy vampires a-la-Twilight. These monsters are old school to the core- more like zombies than modern takes on vampires; all ferocious snarls and messed up faces. With fairly few jumps or scenes that are likely to scare a grizzled horror fan, Stake Land is easier to recommend for its realistic world-building, mournful soundtrack and interesting, well-drawn characters.

Opening with Martin's voice-over as he introduces himself and his traveling companion, the enigmatic father figure and teacher, Mister, the film quickly flashes back to a vicious encounter between Martins family and the horrific vampires. Sticking with most of the rules of the vampire myth, it is soon established that stakes and sunlight are still useful in this tale of vamp vs human conflict. The pace is deliberately slow and the film painstakingly constructs a very authentic feeling vision of post-apocalyptic America. Guarded communities living in fear while supplies dwindle, drinking and sleeping together in packed bars until the sun rises and religious nutjobs taking over the wilderness to rape and murder as they please. It is this rendering of the Christian crazies that strikes the biggest false note in the story, feeling over-blown and too simple for the subtleties of much of the rest of the story and character drawing.

The cast are great, particularly Nick Damici as Mister who delivers a convincing performance with the familiar role of mean old git with a soft heart underneath. Kelly McGillis is barely recognizable as a constantly victimized nun (bet she must be wondering what happened to the days of getting jiggy with Tom Cruise in a Navy uniform) and the youngsters, especially Connor Paolo are good in their less demanding roles. It's particularly nice to see Danielle Harris still working, even if she has lost some of the spunk of her early appearance as Bruce Willis' daughter way back in The Last Boy Scout.

Jim Mickle should be applauded for his direction; the film works very well as a whole, with good performances from the cast, a bleak soundtrack and pacing that could have easily been spoiled by trying to appeal to a bigger audience. It is a brave movie; not overly rushed and taking its time to build to its understated climax. The action and horror are handled well and the villain is a right nasty piece of work that should stick in the memory.

The film is most memorable for its details of life after the vampires take over. The small communities that have popped up round the country feel realistic and lived in. A sense of community, of something we have lost to some extent in 2011 shines through and gives the film a nostalgic feel, as if the vampire apocalypse may help America return to a simpler, more caring time. The positioning of the cult of Christian crazies dropping 'bombs' on peaceful communities and their obsession with deliverance and the 'will of God' is the least subtle and most forceful of themes on display and does feel a little OTT in places but the journey of the characters and their encounters with ordinary folk ground the film and make up for its excesses in other areas.

Stake Land is a very well made film and can be enjoyed as a simple horror film but also as an experience of a post-apocalyptic society and the highs and lows of living in a world with a drastically reduce population.

Ever since the success of 28 Days Later back in 2002, the post- apocalyptic genre of films has been a crowded market with its fair share of successes and failures. Notable releases such as The Road and Zombieland have been accompanied by such misfires as Doomsday and I Am Legend that, whilst entertaining, ultimately failed to hit their mark. Stakeland is a brave and accomplished entry in Jim Mickle's career, and although there are only a handful of original ideas throughout the film, the ideas taken from other movies are handled with enough skill that they serve only to enhance the overall viewing experience. It must be said, some of the director's own ideas are fantastic and show a great potential for the future - a future that the ragged band of survivors we follow throughout Stakeland may not be able to enjoy.

After our protagonist is saved from a disastrous situation which leaves him as the sole survivor of his family, he is taken under the wing of his rescuer; the elusive 'Mister', whose similarities to Whistler from Blade appear to be more than pure coincidence. Together,they embark on a road trip that tests them to their very limits as they encounter a whole host of dangers and struggle to survive whilst roaming throughout North America, picking up a number of travelling companions on the way.

In a storyline not too dissimilar to The Mist, some surviving factions of humans believe that God has sent the vampires to punish humanity and it is these that pose almost as much danger to our band of travellers as the dangerous breeds of vampire that stalk them. These cults are a welcome addition to the film, enhancing the aspect of danger and providing the basis for some of the film's more memorable moments in a standout scene where a supposedly safe town is assaulted from the air.

The initially nameless main character - played brilliantly by Connor Paolo (the spitting image of a young Colin Farrel) - has his life turned upside down at the start of the movie, however, we do not get to see how the whole world initially turned upside down, and the cause of the vampire's origins is rarely touched upon. His story is told through countless monologues that overlay the fantastic imagery of sparse vistas and urban decay, creating a sense of scale that is far beyond what we see on the screen. Whilst the other characters we meet do not have enough time to develop fully, they all play an essential part in the story, and although some scenes could have been far more powerful if the audience were affected by their plight, the suspense was enough to keep me on my edge of the seat throughout.

There are few scares to be found in Stakeland but the overall sense of foreboding doom and the generous helpings of violence and gore should please the majority of horror fans. Anyone with even a passing interest in post-apocalyptic films will definitely take a lot from Stakeland and although it is not quite a genre classic, it will certainly become a cult favourite in a few years time.

If you like this, you will love these:

The Road, 28 Days Later, Near Dark, The Signal

I am a fan of the post-apocalyptic genre. In recent years we have seen cannibalism, zombies and vampires mixed in the storyline. Worthy to note, 'The Road', 'The Book of Eli', 'I am Legend', 'Zombieland'.

My personal opinion is, I am very impressed with Stake Land, in terms of being a very well made film. You simply have to admire the cinematography (lighting and shooting style was responsible for the realism factor), storyline (character development was top notch), production (realistic locations and sets), directing (credit to the director & his team) and acting (thumbs up).

I can declare this is one of the best post-apocalyptic movie of the decade.

Watched this film last night and was amazed at the level of suspense kept throughout the picture. From the opening scene to the final credits it manages to keep you on edge, mostly with clever use of flicking backwards and forwards between day and night so regularly. The whole post apocalyptic world portrayed is fantastically grey and creepy and the addition of a religious fundamelist outfit takes the film to another level. The acting is solid and all of the main characters hold their own independently. Nick Damici should be proud of his writing and acting in this and also newcomer director Jim Mickle will be one to watch out for in the future. All in all if you like vamp films then this is an interesting twist on the genre, definitely a must see !

While I did enjoy this movie, I am by no means in love with it. To me it seems a bit like a modern True Grit mixed with I Am Legend. Bear in mind that's not a bad thing. I'm just using a reference to recent movies as a context. Although I will say that I am already a bit dismayed with the whole sub-genre of "Let's get to the last piece of unspoiled humanity by killing our way through zombies/vampires/what have you".

I like to think the film is really more about the bond that holds humanity together rather than killing vampires to get to some fabled promised land. Sure, killing bad guys is fun, but it's rather meaningless without knowing why the characters protect each other. I quite like the whole "Us against the world" feel of the film. To me the plot line was only so-so, but what really got my attention was the acting. Certainly not Oscar material, but everyone is just about perfect for their part. When all is said and done, I'd definitely recommend it for what it is...I just kind of wish it didn't have to be all about vampires.

After reading some of these reviews, i thought they were a bit harsh. But with that said, i respect there opinions about this movie.

I enjoyed this movie, from start to finish i was well entertain, sure it's gloomy, the story is simple, the action was good, and so was the script, there might not have been many words spoken in the movie, but it fits in well to make you feel like immerse in there gloomy Vamp filled world.

Everyone in the movie acted well yes, there is no big name actors, and i'm happy about that. You don't need big name actors to make a good movie.

Not sure what other people expected from Stake Land, but i got what i expected, survivors trying to survive, not just trying to survive against vamps, but also against human desperation and cruelness.

Decent acting, decent script, great movie, 9 out of 10

Jim Mickle has crafted a complete world of bad guys, vampires, and enough evil people to make the entire paranoid world. This is one of the most complete-feeling pictures I've seen in a long time. The characters really feel like they're in this alternate universe of Mad Max meets I Am Legend.

Also, you will learn many important tips for surviving the coming zombie/alien/vampire apocalypse. Cyclone fencing and chicken wire over your car's windows when you sleep at night. And garlic oil on your stake doesn't hurt.

There are some beautiful images in this movie too, with wonderful performances throughout. Now get out of my way, I gotta go kill some vampires...

It's a little hard to sum up this movie. At its most basic its a survival horror flick but to leave it at that would be a gross injustice. At some points the movie almost seems like it wants to leap out into popcorn horror land, only to be rather unceremoniously (and sometimes quite brutally) dragged back into the bleak "reality" of dealing with the aftermath of Zombie Apocalypse (tm).

And bleak it is. Make no mistake. Whether its the casual and sometimes quite horrible ways in which characters die, or the rather blasé attitude to their predicament that the characters often display, the overall theme of the movie is rather dark indeed.

Ostensibly the story of the main male character, a young-ish boy called Martin, the movie follows his travels with the enigmatic "Mister", who is an experienced vampire killer. Mister teaches the boy how to survive and kill vampires and they meet up with any number of other travelers as the story progresses.

However, it would be unwise of you to grow too attached to any of the characters as the grim world they inhabit takes its toll in rather unpleasant ways.

It would also be wrong of you to go into this movie thinking it might be like Zombieland. This movie owes more to the likes of "The Road" than it does Zombieland. The humour is very thin on the ground here and even when the characters find a refuge from the outside horrors, the one thing you can guarantee is that the respite will be short-lived and rudely disrupted.

Perhaps if the film has any point to make it is this - that even when all is lost and things are at their worst, that even when nightmares walk the land, the creature that is most dangerous to man, is man himself. It's a rather depressing thing to take away from this movie, but that is what I got.

Even at the end of the journey, there are no guarantees that everything turns out for the best. Just a vague hope.

So to summarise, though I found the movie entertaining, it was also rather depressing. I'd still recommend it, just make sure you know what your going into beforehand.

In a near future, the North America is an anarchic country after a vampire apocalypse. The teenager Martin (Connor Paolo) is preparing to travel with his parents when they are attacked by a vampire. Martin is rescued by the stranger Mister (Nick Damici) and after killing the vampire, they head to the north expecting to reach the New Eden, former Canada.

Along their journey through the destroyed country, they rescue and befriend other survivors and have to fight not only against the vampires, but also a dangerous brotherhood of fanatic religious members led by the insane Jebedia Loven (Michael Cerveris).

The unknown and melancholic road-movie "Stake Land" is a little gem to be discovered, with a dramatic story of a vampire epidemic in USA. The plot is a combination of "The Omega Man" and "The Road" with "The Walking Dead" and "Mad Max" and really works very well. Most of the recent horror movies has shallow stories with one dimension characters, but in "Stake Land:, the characters are well developed and there is no corny redemption or salvation for most of them. If you enjoy horror B- movies with lots of gore, naked teenagers and clichés, you will certainly be disappointed with "Stake Land". My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Stake Land – Anoitecer Violento" ("Stake Land – Violent Nightfall")

By far the best horror film I've seen this year and probably going to be the contender for best horror film of 2011 just about beating Black Death. The film is full of dread, macabre, terror, pain and sadness but also filled with hope. The acting is surprisingly good for a independent, low-budget vampire/apocalypse flick with Nick Damici and Connor Paolo being the standout and to me breakthrough performances as vampire hunters on a journey to salvation. The atmosphere,vampires and unbalanced human beings doing evil deeds against one another sends chills down my spine and is terrifying and raw that makes this movie stand above the rest of its kind and raises the bar for vampire/apocalypse movies, it packs a bleak punch. The movie kind of though goes through similar territory from movies like The Road, Carriers, Daybreakers, Zombieland without the comedy aspect and a dose of Black Death but it still manages to stand on its own and it's very novel in its own right. The movie is pretty brutal throughout and doesn't hold back and is definitely not for the faint of heart or the easily offended and that's what I like about this movie because it's very bold and brave and is balls to the wall type of attitude that's rare and usually can't be found in most wide released, mainstream horror flicks and it's like a present to fans who like their vampire movies hard and mean and are sick of movies like Twilight who are giving them a bad name, so thanks for this movie it's a gem! Overall I was impressed and a movie like this deserves all the fans it can get and deserves a wide release and not shocking it doesn't because Hollywood is too dense to see a great movie even if it slaps it in the face! The ending left it open for a sequel so I really hope we get to see the light of day of Stake Land 2, bring it on geniuses. Highly recommended! 3.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Very Low Budget and Surprisingly Atmospheric and Poetic, this is a Somewhat Different Take on the Vampire-Zombie-Post Apocalyptic Genre that has Seen its Share and it is Refreshing that this is Not More of the Same. Sure it is the Same in Parts but is Crafted in a Stylish New Way with its Gloom and Doom Rendered with a Soft Musical Score and Beautiful Cinematography.

The Movie has a Soft Bite but is Hardly Soft. There is A Lot of Expected Kills and Bloodletting but these are Punctuations Solidifying the Heartfelt Story of Survival, Bonding, Family and Terror. Religious Undertones are Present but Not Driven by Any Hammering. Just, Once Again, a Soft Sell.

This is One of the Better Entries in the Overloaded Genre and Manages to be Apart from the Saturated Gore of Most. It Doesn't Put these Creatures In Your Face at Every Turn but are a Menacing Threat Throughout. It is Director Jim Mickle's Steady and Symphonic Hand Here that Makes this an Underrated and Overlooked Horror that has been Drowned in the Deluge of Vampires, Zombies, and Post Apocalyptic Movies.

This is Simply...One that's Worth a Watch for Fans of the Genre and those that are Usually Not Willing to Take a Chance Among So Many of These Types that are Out There.

Stake Land is a dark vision of a post-apocalyptic America that stands out in a sea of formulaic look-alikes. In director Jim Mickle's world, creatures who blur the line between vampires and zombies are creeping northward toward the Canadian border and eating everyone in their path. This is no typical genre film, though, as the real story unfolds slowly and deliberately with surprises at every turn.

Nick Damici is "Mister," vampire hunter and mentor to orphaned teen Martin (Connor Paolo) as they fight "the vamps" on their trek to New Eden, a monster-free zone where humanity has staked a claim. But darkness is the real enemy here, as they only come out at night, of course. Then there are the cult groups who see the plague as a golden opportunity to spread their own unique brands of oppression.

A veteran film crew member, this is Jim Mickle's second feature as a director. He co-wrote the script with Damici, who stars along with Paolo, Danielle Harris (Belle), Kelly McGillis (Sister), and Michael Cerveris (Jebedia Loven). The production team includes genre icon Larry Fessenden.

Utilizing mostly exterior shots, Stake Land's look is appropriately dreary, grimy, and gray. The cool color palette of blues and muted earth tones enhance the dullness of life in this dying landscape. Each new stop along the way seems to shout, "Abandon hope, all ye who enter here." The viewer can almost smell the stench of death and feel the blood being drained, literally, from the victims' bodies. Ryan Samul's widescreen cinematography serves to punctuate the diminishing importance of the individual on this sad but still breathtaking landscape. Yes, there is still hope in them thar' hills.

The music masterfully matches the combination of horror and poignancy. Jeff Grace has composed a score that is a character unto itself. Like the best genre films, the soundtrack serves to telegraph only slightly the horrors to come without overpowering the narrative with heavy-handed cues.

Most of all, though, Stake Land is a character-driven coming-of-age tale. Mister is an effective father figure to Martin, whose past is a mystery but can be gleaned from the circumstances surrounding their unlikely relationship. Damici's Charles Bronson/Clint Eastwood works even in his slightly over-the-top characterization. Gruff yet tender when called for, violent yet gentle toward those he protects, Damici is pitch-perfect.

But it's Paolo's narration that leaves no doubt the story is being told from Martin's point of view. He struck me as someone to watch for in the midst of the darkness that is Snow Angels. In a film that is distinctly down, he provided most of the much-needed comic relief. He began his film career in Mystic River and played the young Alexander in the film of the same name. He's made nine feature films and numerous television appearances since the age of 12, including two highly acclaimed episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Paolo is perhaps best known as Eric on Fox's hit television show Gossip Girl.

This is clearly his biggest role to date and he's on screen from start to finish. Paolo is the heart and soul of Stake Land. Despite his growing attachment to Mister and increasingly violent encounters with the antagonists, his innocence and vulnerability are never abandoned. The film works largely because his performance is so authentic. With Stake Land, Paolo firmly plants his flag as a young leading man on the cinematic landscape.

Take The Road, I Am Legend, The Karate Kid, and The Forbidden Kingdom and put George Romero at the helm and you have Stake Land, a truly original horror film -- no small achievement in a genre that's currently populating local cinemas. Don't miss it. Its nightmarish images will stay in your mind long after the credits roll.

Great, low budget horror! I was really surprised at how good this film was.

It's basically 28 days later meets the road. I actually liked it so much

I watched it twice. The vamps looked great and there was plenty of flesh ripping gore.

I don't know how I missed this one until now. It's more of a zombie / infected hordes film than a vampire movie, so don't get turned off by

the vampire storyline. If your a zombie horrer film fan, then u should def check this one out.

OK, reasonable scenario for apocalyptic drama. However, why can't any storyteller come up with a better 'evil dead' mechanism than the tired and overused vampires?

The main (older) character is two dimensional, while we can see the young man develop. Then the stereotypes come fast and furious. The delicate female character (pregnant), without sufficient development. The older ex-religious character. The black ex-marine buddy. Really.

Perhaps the most offensive is the recurring use of Christians as the true terrors. Cannibals, opportunists. "All this good being ruined by Christians dropping vamps from the sky". Sorry if that's a spoiler, but it's that contrived. How would it play if we said Jews or Muslims were in cahoots with the vampires??

In contrast, the best aspect, and probably freshest, is the use of the vamps eye teeth (er, fangs) as both currency and validation of purpose.

Lastly, a question for the continuity office... in a what post-apocalyptic world is there corn ripe for harvest??

This movie very much had a B-film movie feel from the onset. The story is very much a classical cliché of the post-apocalyptic genre ; some characters are making their way through the wasteland for some "greater place" to start their new life. In this case it is a place that is poorly described "New Eden" up north somewhere.

The main characters are the "though guy" Mister , and the boy Martin. Along the way the do pick up some companions that are eventually killed by various monsters. You never really get to know any of the characters as the dialogs is weak and uninspiring. As a consequence you don't really care when all of them are killed.

The story is annoyingly full of inconsistencies that are just to great to accept. As the unenigmatic couple are driving along they come over a nun that is being chased by some bozos wearing sacks (why would people start wearing sack just because the world is going under). Our hero saves the nun and kill the sack people. Then next thing is that they are captured by "the brotherhood; which is a gang of pseudo-religious morons that like raping old women. They are seemingly a small group living in tents. Then they escape and drive for a few days toward their destinations, and then they meet the same group again with the same leader , where did they come from ? Then they drive even further away to a protected town with no monsters. Then the "brotherhood" shows up in a chopper dropping vampires on them, what the hell? Where did these hillbillies get a chopper, and why are they dropping vampires?? no answer to that. Our heroes escape and continue for days/weeks towards the north. They have a pregnant woman in their little gang. The funny thing is that she goes from not having a visible pregnancy to being in the last trimester and ready to give birth within a matter of days. Then after all this traveling to the north; guess who they meet ?? It is the leader of the "brotherhood" again, who is now incidentally also a vampire. How the hell did he find them, and in his state how the hell did he manage to get their (they had a car, he did not).

Weaak characters, weak story , only reason for 2 stars is that it was mildly entertaining.

On the plus side, the site scout earned his money. Cold white-cloud breath, cliffs, tall grass, bare trees, peeling paint, rusty buses-- they all are well chosen and properly gritty, though one has to wonder why the characters didn't plunder by staying at a rich folks' empty mansion. My hat's off to whichever producer green-lighted the decision to film this in real out-of-the-way rural North America, not some back lot in Hollywood.

There was also a mildly clever plot device involving a helicopter. Y'gotta wonder, though, how they kept it fed with airplane-quality fuel when the entire nation couldn't seem to find a gallon of fresh paint.

Everything else, sadly, is uninspired dumbed-down copying from Zombieland: plot, titles, subplot, and characters. I'm listening to the film as I write this, and I have not heard one single line of dialog that was pithy. No one-liners. No surprises. No character development.

The film crew kept everything in focus, but never had an interesting angle...and that perfectly sums up the entirety of the film.

If you want a clever take on vampires, watch "Day Breakers". If you want interesting camera angles and a fun new direction in plot, watch "30 days of night". If you want darned fine acting, titles of incredible inventiveness, and a script so much fun that you'll break out a notebook and jot down half the dialog while your pencil shakes from your laughter, rent/buy "Zombieland" and invite your best friends if they promise to bring popcorn and pizza. Keep a notebook handy.

I will give this film high marks for production value and acting, but the script is so moronic and devoid of simple logic and thought that the film ends up becoming just a sad waste of talent.

First, the story is completely devoid of a "Why?" There are so-called "vampires" everywhere, but never the slimmest explanation about why all this is happening. Nor is there any explanation of how one becomes a vamp, or how the virus is transmitted, or why the vamps can't be killed by normal means, why you need a stake to the heart/spine/breastbone/whatever, why they can't stand the light, even a flashlight or a torch, but have no fear of crosses or religious items, etc.

Then we have all the moronic sentiments expressed. Sister has compassion on vamps, even though there is no rhyme or reason why she should. She seems to represent the gentle side of religion, even though her Roman church has slaughtered more people, both infidels and Christians alike, than any protestant movement in human history ever came anywhere close to!

The bloodthirsty Aryan Brotherhood is the only representative of Christianity left in the world besides Sister's misguided bleeding-heart sentimentalism. The writer/director obviously has no firsthand knowledge of actual Christian people; everyone in the film is just a shallow stereotype born out of the imagination of his religio-phobic mind.

Goodness is represented by a bunch of just plain folks who seem to follow some sort of idealized redneck secularism ("we don't tolerate no religion, nor politics!) whose only values are drinkin', smokin', frickin', fightin', & bein' compassionate toward the unfortunate when it suits their mood.

Then there's the outright stupidity that pervades every move made by the main characters. Here are a few of many poignant examples:

Why did Mister kill Martin's father? We never see anyone transform from human into vamp throughout the entire film; so what was that all about? We'll never know, I guess. Jebediah Loven does, but we are given no explanation as to why he did when so many others just die. And why can he still think when other vamps can't? Maybe his god did hear his prayers? Go figure. The whole thing makes no sense.

How did sister end up arriving safely in the next community after they were all captured by the Brotherhood when Mister and Martin had so much trouble on their own journey?

Why are all the main characters traveling North during the onset of Winter? If they are trying to survive, they are pretty stupid to go North, since food gets more scarce and temperatures will freeze them to death before the vamps will get them. What the heck is so great about New Eden, anyway? Why are they safe when everywhere else is gone to the vamps and the brotherhood? Maybe it's because they have no religion or politics? How did that come about? We are never told anything.

While they're staying in the bus, Mister is able to reinforce the windows with more of the ubiquitous chain-link fencing which seems available everywhere (even in the remotest wilderness areas) during this apocalyptic era. Maybe the vamps poop it out?

Then Willie gets taken by vamps when he leaves the bus at night to take a pee (couldn't he have peed in a beer can and dumped it outside in the morning?). So after he's found dead, the rest of the characters leave the safety of the bus and start traipsing over the countryside, camping outdoors at night, and just generally asking to get punked by the vamps. I suppose it was just an overriding imperative that they all go hunt the "Thinking Vamp" for some reason?

Then Martin and Mister both leave Belle asleep and go chasing after an obvious decoy by the vamps--and guess what? Belle gets snatched! NO DUH!

What was Jebediah forcing Martin to drink, and how was it supposed to effect him? It doesn't seem to have had any at all!

Then Martin gets his skull bashed against the edge of a ceramic tub by the superhuman strength of a vamp, but has recovered enough just seconds later without any medical attention in time to kill the vamp from behind and save Mister!

Why did Mister just up and leave? So Martin could have some cuddle time with his new girlfriend? Such a gentleman!

Then the nonsensical ending: Martin and his new squeeze arrive at the unguarded, unwatched, wide open welcome entrance to New Eden.......... And that's all folks! Wha??????

I suppose they just ran out of film or something? Never mind.....

Greetings from Lithuania.

What a great movie that was. This is definitely the best horror movie i saw in 2011. The plot is simple. If you saw "The Road", you'll know what to expect (except for vamps:)). The beginning somehow reminded me "Zombieland" but that one was forgotten after a few minutes. The acting is really good, especially from Nick Damici. Make up effects are really cool. Director and co-writer Jim Mickle did a really great job in creating a bleak, hopeless and relentless world.

I was hooked from beginning to the end.

This is a very highly satisfying movie.

Beware of negative reviews from fans of the post-apocalyptic zombie survival genre. This is NOT simply another genre film. It's not even an action film, really. It's a slow, poetic tale of survival and human bonding. And a coming-of-age tale for the pessimistic modern age.

Do NOT go in expecting non-stop action. Yes, there is action, and extreme violence. But where most zombie films are all action with maybe an occasional pause for character development, this one is the reverse: character development sparked by occasional moments of extreme physical peril.

Also, don't be fooled by the apparent vampire motif. The vampires in this film are mindless animals, much more akin to Romero's living dead than to Stoker's undead. They wear rags, not flashy evening attire. And they seem to act largely from instinct.

Finally, don't be put off by knee-jerk objections to the film's 'negative view of religion.' The movie is in no way a dig at any religion. In fact, there's no actual religion IN it. Just an obvious recognition that a complete social breakdown might leave room for groups of thugs to rally under a well-known banner. Kelly McGillis, in a surprising turn as the stoic nun, is the film's only passing nod to religion. It's a subtle comment, but essentially a very positive one.

Ignore all that, and rest assured: Stake Land is a brilliant, unforgettable film. With just one problem: finding its proper audience. To appreciate it, you need a good tolerance for gore, and an understanding of the conventions of the Living Dead genre. PLUS the willingness to accept a slower, more philosophical story. If you meet those seemingly divergent qualifications, you've got a major treat in store.

Radical rethinking of the vampire genre(and the zombie genre too) hearkens back to the early zombie films of George Romero. This is a film that rocks your world not because of the violence and gore but because it is a film of characters.

The film concerns a teenager who hooks up with a man called Mister after is parents are killed by vampires. The vampires, more like zombies, have run rampant over the world leaving only pockets of humanity, some still like us others are in a nasty cult that sees the vampires as God's angels. The film follows our two characters as they try to find a legendary town where they will be safe(even though they've been told there is nothing there).

A masterpiece pure and simple. As I've said at every opportunity this film blew me away and then some. Its not because of what it shows with the violence rather its because the characters and situations are so well drawn that they have few equal in any film of any sort. You care about everyone (except the bad guys) and you feel bad when anything bad happens.

In all honesty I could waste my time and tell you everything about this film and its plot but that would be pointless you need to see and experience this film for yourself. Its that thing which I despise- an instant classic.

See this film.

I rented this movie in the hope that maybe, just once, I could find a fresh movie that once again is focused on society breaking down and some form of mutant creatures taking over the world. In this case, vampires. But not in the sense that you'd expect.

These vampires are powerful beings who prey on weary humans. They are fast, powerful, vicious and wild. They resemble zombies more than vampires, but what the heck. This didn't really mean much to me at the time. As the movie progressed, I was frequently turned off by the constant monologue of the kid, Martin. He rarely spoke a word, but when he did, it was constantly devoid of any emotion or passion. Obviously the writer's wanted to create a sad, melancholy tone, but the acting of Martin was diabolical. The only feeling he conveyed was one of immense boredom and indecisiveness. He rarely spoke a word, or did anything except stare into space and sadly think to himself. It was unbearable to watch.

Mister, the wizened man who somehow knows everything there is to know about killing these vampires, was one of the more interesting characters. Though he too rarely said anything of note. In fact, nearly all of the character's lines were bad. Nothing interesting or insightful, just sadness and self pity from everyone there.

Plenty of the film was spent with them trekking through the countryside in slow motion, with anguished looks on their faces to a cacophony of dreadfully boring and somber music. This went on for the whole film.

Not all of it was bad, though. It did take a unique look at an apocalyptic world with elements that I hadn't seen before. For that, it was interesting to see unfold. The breaking down of society as we know it and the setting up of certain organization's was a nice, fresh way of looking at a post-apocalyptic world.

I was left with many questions at the end, mainly concerning the large amount of plot-holes in Stake Land. First thing's first, how is this rag-tag team of a kid, a military personnel, a nun, and the token experienced mentor able to take on this horde and make their way across the land, yet the United States Armed Forces failed to do so? Armed with pointy sticks, make-shift bows-and-arrows, they took on whoever fought them and usually won. Yet elite soldiers with guns, bombs and vehicles equipped to go to war couldn't beat them? Alright.

And why did they conveniently stumble across people's remains? The military personnel, for example, (I can't recall his name, sorry) after being murdered, his clothes were found when they took off. The pregnant woman was also found screaming after they stumbled off blindly in hope of reaching New Eden. They're strolling through the countryside and forests absolutely devoid of life, yet there's no vampires to be seen. However, you'll find plenty of them hiding in cars at a car park. This film just couldn't bear to pass off a bad situation. Whenever any of the antagonists found something relatively nice, it goes to s**t. Unsurprisingly.

It was predictable, too. And the ending completely contradicted itself, and for a silly reason. They aimed to create a meaningful ending with Mister disappearing, but failed miserably. And what was up with that, anyway? Mister spends the whole movie fighting life-and-death, tooth-and-nail, going to all lengths to reach New Eden, yet when he's on the verge of reaching it, decides to just turn around and walk away. For no apparent reason. That was one of the many inconsistencies this movie presented to me.

At the end of the day, it was decent. I had heard largely positive views so maybe my expectations were a little high, but this just failed to deliver on almost all accounts. Was it scary? Not at all. Thrilling? Yes, to a certain extent.

Would I recommend it? Surprisingly, yes, I would. Although I personally disliked it immensely it's enjoyable to a degree. Be warned though, leave your brain at the door before you watch this film, because it just did not make an ounce of sense.

"Stake Land" is a film about Martin (played by Connor Paolo) and Mister (Nick Damici), who travel across the nation that has become over run by blood-thirsty vampires, in search of New Eden, a settlement in Canada that promises to be a safe-haven in an apocalyptic country. Along the way, they meet up with other, equally-like-able characters such as Sister (Kelly McGillis), Belle (Danielle Harris), and Willie (Sean Nelson), as they struggle along as desperation and death surrounds them with false promises of hope and safety.

This film was amazing on every level for a horror film, and I would say that the greatest thing going for the movie are the characters. You have Martin, who is learning the ropes of killing vampires after he is saved from a vampire ,who killed his whole family, by Mister, and you have to give Connor Paolo credit for making the character very human and like-able, even though his emotions when his family is killed isn't really "all there". But my favorite character has to be Mister. I just love the way he grasps this apocalyptic vampire world by it's bloody throat and commands it to listen. Every time he's on screen, he steals the show.

But I would also say that another big character in this film is the apocalyptic setting. The whole landscape is strewn with carcasses of the long-forgotten, and the hanging bodies and lying skeletons (some of them not exactly adults, either) just sets one of the creepiest atmospheres that I have ever seen in my life as a horror film buff.

And while what some people say about the ending might be true (I'll admit, it underwhelmed me a bit) the film is one of the tightest apocalyptic/horror films that I've seen in a while. The director, Jim Mickle, is on a two-for-two winning streak for me (his previous film, Mulberry St, was ,to me, the best "Horrorfest" entry of that year) and he really sets this great gritty and grim mood for the film. He has written some great characters that I would LOVE to see again (after all, the ending kinda does leave opening for a sequel). Overall, it's a great film that any fan of the apocalypse or vampire genre should see.

Finally, a breathe of fresh air of vampire killing with a lots of blood involve! Just the way I like it. Even though Blade is one of mine all time favorites vampire hunters, the guy who plays Mister is so bad-ass fighting all the vampires one by one. The setting in this movie is surprisingly good for this underrated film. I didn't think it was boring at all because it kept moving in a good pace of having Martin narrate throughout the movie experience his new life with Mister. Now the vampires look great with no CGI crap involve, custom makeup that makes them look creepy as hell . You wouldn't want to miss this film, its great for people who love vampires!

8.3/10