One of my favorite sub-genres in the horror world has always been the vampire film. But recently these undead movies have, pardon the bad pun, sucked. Films like the Twilight saga, the Underworld trilogy, and “Daybreakers” are, in my opinion, driving a stake through the sub-genre’s heart. Of course if you sift through all the crap, you’ll find a gem or two. Last year’s “Let Me In” was one of the best films of the year and quickly shot into my top five favorite vampire movies of all time. I’m not saying that “Stake Land” is in the top five or anything, but it was a pleasant surprise.
“Stake Land” takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where a group of survivors must face two deadly threats. On one hand, there are the vamps that wiped out most of humanity. On the other, fanatical Christian cults which at times seem more dangerous than the blood suckers.
Even though this is an ultra-low budget movie, (And you can tell by the extremely cheap locations. I swear that abandon factory is the same one behind my cousin’s house.) it doesn’t feel like it is. Surprisingly the cinematography looked good and the story was fine. I’m digging this wave of “psychotic Christian” movies. (I can’t wait for “Red State”) The movie also provided a couple of good jump scares and some moments of genuine suspense. The acting was standard for a horror movie with the exception of Danielle Harris. This was the best performance that I have ever seen from her. It was definitely better than the recent “Blood Night: The Legend of Mary Hatchet”.
I don’t really have anything bad to say about this film. It won’t be for all tastes, especially since there’s no bad romantic story line, but if you take it for what it is I think you’ll enjoy it. So if you’re a fan of post-apocalyptic movies, vampire films, or Danielle Harris, I would recommend this movie for you. I promise this is better than the entire Twilight Saga, but that’s a rant for another time.
-Daniel Richardson