(dir. Jim Mickle)
 |
| Dark Sky Films/IFC Films |
*First time viewing
A young man and a legendary vampire hunter make the
journey to the fabled Safe Haven while fending off vampires and religious
zealots along the way.
Last year I kicked off “31 Days of Horror” with Jim
Mickle’s We Are What We Are. Like
that film, Stake Land possesses a
certain literary quality that makes the film stand out amongst its
contemporaries. With its methodically-paced character development, and emphasis
on atmosphere and landscape instead of action, Stake Land delivers a small narrative that serves to flesh out a
larger world that Mickle has created. Martin and Mister’s journey through the
wasteland of America, their encounters and chance meetings along the way are
reminiscent of Stephen King’s The Stand,
though on a much smaller scale. There’s a realism to vampire apocalypse and the
way our heroes must contend with them. Ultimately, the film has far more in
common with The Road than say Blade, albeit with a bit more optimism
thrown in. As Martin and Mister pick up companions along the way, their duo
becomes a family, one where every character is likeable and every death hits home.
While the climax is a bit contrived due to a tonal shift and a splashy fight
scene with a revenge-driven villain, Stake
Land manages to regain its emotional footing by the end.
Scare Factor: 1/5 Stake
Land focuses on human characters instead of vampires, and while certain
elements are familiar, Mickle manages to pack emotional punch after punch.
Plus, Danielle Harris is in it, and you can’t go wrong with Danielle Harris.
**Available to watch on Netflix Instant
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